Top Events Taking Place In Tampa Bay May 17-19

TAMPA BAY, FL -- Wondering what to do this weekend? Here are some suggestions.

St. Pete Taco & Beer Fiesta

The third annual St. Pete Taco & Beer Fiesta will take place Friday, May 17 from 6 to 11 p.m. at Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Drive S.E., St. Petersburg.

The free event will feature a variety of crafts breweries and gourmet food trucks featuring a wide selection of tacos and other Mexican fare. The first 300 guests will receive a free sombrero.

Click here for information.

Temple Terrace BrewFest

In a new partnership with the Rotary Club of Temple Terrace and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, Temple Terrace will host its fifth annual Temple Terrace BrewFest Saturday, May 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Woodmont Park, 415 Woodmont Ave., Temple Terrace.

The event, which attracts more than 1,500 attendees, will include samplings of more than 100 beers from 35 brewers. Additionally, there will be food trucks, retail vendors and live music.

Pets and children are welcome although attendees must be 21 or over to purchase tickets and participate in the beer tastings.

Proceeds will go to the newly opened Hachem Foundation Temple Terrace Boys & Girls Club.

Click here for tickets. Tickets will also be available at the event.

97X Barbecue Music & Arts Festival

Grow Financial will present the 97X Barbecue Music & Arts Festival Saturday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Coachman Park in Clearwater.

Performers will include Taking Back Sunday, Blue October, Grandson, Flora Cash, Shaed, Oliver Tree and Matt Maeson. The event will also include live paintings and art installations.

General admission tickets are $35. The 97X BBQ VIP Experience for $125 features dinner, two free Bud Lights, private restrooms and access to the pop-up acoustic performances.

Click here for tickets.

Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Film Festival

The Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Film Festival benefiting Tampa Bay Waterkeeper will take place Saturday, May 18 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Hyde Park Village, 1602 West Snow Circle, Tampa.

The festival is an opportunity for anglers, local fly shops and guides who rely on the Tampa Bay Estuary to come together to support the nonprofits that support the ecosystem.

There will be a silent auction with trips and gear up for grabs. Sweetwater Brewing will provide beer. For free tickets, click here.

Tunnel To Towers Tower Climb

The third annual Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb in Tampa celebrating Armed Forces Day on May 18 will take place Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. at One Tampa City Center, 201 N. Franklin Street.

Participants will follow in the footsteps of the first-responders who climbed the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, to rescue those trapped inside.

The event will honor 9/11 heroes, local first-responders, military members and veterans. Proceeds will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation in memory of firefighter Stephen Siller, who lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001.

Click here for information.

Cookie Monster Weekend

Busch Gardens is celebrating Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary with spring weekend events. This weekend celebrates the character Cookie Monster. On May 18 and 19, kids can hunt for cookies among the flowers with the one and only Cookie Monster and his closest friends.

Guests will also enjoy arts and crafts, meet Julia and friends in the all-new area AbbyCadabby's Garden located on the pathway to Sesame Street Safari of Fun and build their own ice cream sundaes at the Sesame Kids' Pavilion.

Also this weekend, "Jungle Jack" Hanna will be at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for shows, autograph signings and special meet-and-greets. The internationally known animal expert will share animal facts and his travel tales throughout the day at Stanleyville Theater. The daily shows are included with park admission.

Click here for information.

Sweet Corn Festival

Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church will host the Sweet Corn Festival on May 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Craig Park on the Bayou, 100 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs.

There will be music, games and crafts as well as sweet corn, barbecue, corn dogs, fish, chicken wings and drinks.

Hands Across The Sand

Pinellas County communities will participate in the international Hands Across the Sandcoordinated day of action to say "yes" to clean energy and "no" to seismic air gun blasting, offshore/nearshore drilling and fossil fuels.

On Saturday, May 18 at 11:45 a.m., participants will gather on the shoreline and join hands for 15 minutes to show their solidarity.

Clearwater

Clearwater will participate from 10:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. at 4 Rockaway St., Clearwater Beach. Participants will gather on the shoreline behind and between Frenchy's and Palm Pavilion restaurants. At 10:30, there will be a beach cleanup then participants will join hands along the shore at 11:45 a.m. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. under the black Sea Shepherd tent and Ocean Allies table along with other conservation groups.

Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs will participate in the national Hands Across the Sands event as part of the annual Sweet Corn Festival, a community event with music, food, arts and crafts and information about creating a sustainable community. The free event will take place at Craig Park at Spring Bayou. Contact Robert Murphy at murphydalzell@aol.com.

Madeira beach

Madeira Beach invites supporters to meet at Archibald Beach Park, 15100 Gulf Blvd., at 11:30 p.m. Email BarefootAndria@gmail.com for more information.

Dunedin

The Salty Soul Foundation will host a cleanup along both sides of the causeway from bridge to bridge from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before joining hands at 11:45 a.m. Registration will be on the south side of the causeway next to the public bathrooms.

Park on the south shore of the causeway or, better yet, park east of the causeway and walk down. Click here for more information.