Downtown After Hours

Friday, April 27, 2018

Thursday, April 26

Happy Hour Concert: 50!
Begins 6:30pm
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
A sendoff of TFO’s 50th season with music that stands the test of time. Stuart Malina will conduct. Enjoy the spirited mix of live symphonic music, free drinks and snacks, and a meet-and-greet with TFO musicians. Complimentary beverages include Cigar City beer and Tito’s Handmade Vodka drinks. Happy Hour Concert: 50!

Coppertail Final Four Dinner
Begins 6:30pm
Bizou Brasserie
Beer Madness is taking over Downtown Tampa. Bizou’s Chef Cody is serving up a four-course dinner in his home court. Coppertail Brewing Company’s Beer Master will complete the dream team, pairing local Coppertail brews with each delicious course and coaching guests through an unforgettable dinner experience. A beer reception will immediately precede the four-course dinner. Coppertail Final Four Dinner

Little Women Preview (2018)
7pm to 8pm
Tampa Theatre
Join WEDU PBS for an advance preview of Little Women, and be among the first to see the first hour of the new Masterpiece mini-series. The three-part adaptation is based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. This special screening is free and open to the public. Little Women Preview (2018)

Patel Conservatory presents Peter Pan, Jr.
Shows Thursday through Sunday
Patel Conservatory
A timeless classic musical whisks you away to a place where dreams are born and no one ever grows up! Performed by students in grades 3-8, Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. Patel Conservatory presents Peter Pan, Jr.

Spring Dance Happening
Shows Thursday through Saturday
University of Tampa – Falk Theatre
Highlighting the talents of UT’s student choreographers and performers, this event features a variety of dance styles and genres. The show is free and open to the public, so take your seat for a lively dance performance! Spring Dance Happening

Friday, April 27

Tampa Bay Condo & HOA Expo
Begins 10am
Tampa Convention Center
This condo and home owners’ association expo is a must-see for property managers, board members and condo associations. The event is open to the public. Tampa Bay Condo & HOA Expo

Fourth Friday
4pm to 10pm
Downtown Tampa and Ybor City
When the sun goes down, the streets of Tampa and Ybor will light up with music, laughter, art, friends and FREE fun. This evening of special offerings and programs by cultural venues, restaurants, and more takes place on the fourth Friday of every month! Fourth Friday

Grown Up Night
Begins 5:30pm
Glazer Children’s Museum
Grown ups will take over the Museum to climb, jump, and build in the exhibits! Play like a kid again with parachutes, slinkies, and hula hoops. There will be free snacks and beer until they’re gone and a cash bar available! This event is for ages 21 and up. Grown Up Night

UT Softball vs. Eckerd
Begins 6pm
University of Tampa – Naimoli Family Softball Complex
The Spartans hit the diamond to defend their turf against the visiting Eckerd College Tritons. This event is free and open to the public, so grab a seat and catch some college softball action! UT Softball vs. Eckerd

Friday Concerts in the Park
Begins 7pm
Water Works Park
The return of spring means the return of Tampa’s longest running concert series. Celebrating 31 years of high-quality entertainment, the eight-week series highlights music of different genres to satisfy all tastes in a fun, family-friendly way. Local food trucks and vendors will also be available onsite. Friday Concerts in the Park

Black Box Spring Film Festival
Begins 7pm
University of Tampa – Vaughn Center
A screening of students’ best short films, including the best experimental, narrative, documentary, and animated films. This event is free and open to the public. Black Box Spring Film Festival

Soft Glam Wine
Begins 7pm
Araliya Event Venue
Wine flies when you are having a fun makeup time! At this ladies-exclusive event in Channelside, participants will learn how to apply personal makeup like a pro. There will be music and complimentary wine all night. This is a perfect event for a girls’ night out! Soft Glam Wine

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel
Begins 7:30pm
The Portico
The play tells the uproarious story of two bumbling Alabama brothers who have never shot a duck, but think they shot an angel. As they lament their fates in a murky swamp, they are chased by a cynical tabloid journalist and his reluctant photographer. The story has been hailed by audiences as a rare comedy with a surprisingly heartfelt lesson. Proceeds from this two-day production benefit The Portico, Metropolitan Ministries, and Stageworks. Duck Hunter Shoots Angel

Final Portrait (2018)
7:30pm to 9pm
Tampa Theatre
In Paris 1964, famed painter Alberto Giacometti bumps into his old friend James Lord, an American critic and art lover, and asks him to be a model for his latest portrait. The work will only take a few days, promises Giacometti, and flattered by the request, Lord complies. But as the days turn into weeks, he realizes how much of his life has been wasted by the erratic genius. Final Portrait (2018)

In the Time of the Butterflies
Shows Friday through Sunday
Stageworks Theatre
Based on Julia Álvarez’s popular novel, this is a fictionalized account of the story of the courageous Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic. With immersive video and animation dispersed across the stage, the piece paints a visual dreamscape of the interior lives of the activist sisters, the beauty and ferocity of the natural world, and the music heard on the radio of the time. In the Time of the Butterflies

Little Black Dress
Begins 8pm
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
From the creators of Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody and Disenchated, this hilarious ladies-night-out musical follows best friends Dee and Mandy as they don their little black dresses to chronicle life’s major events: birth, death, dating, sex, love, friendship … and male strippers. With improv, audience participation, and fun music, this show is a perfect fit for any woman! Little Black Dress

The Florida Orchestra – Celebrate Broadway
Begins 8pm
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Join Broadway star Daniel Narducci and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay for an evening of Broadway showstoppers from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Camelot, and more. Bob Bernhardt will conduct. The Florida Orchestra – Celebrate Broadway

Saturday, April 28

Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races
Begins 8am
Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park
Building off the success of last year’s inaugural event, which included more than 48 teams and 1,050 athletes, this year’s races will bring paddlers and spectators together from across the state and country for a day of competition, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and more. This event is free to spectators and family friendly. There will be musical entertainment from Southern Train, as well as a variety of food trucks, drink vendors, and merchandise vendors. Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races

Saturday Session: Music In Movies
9am to Noon
Tampa Theatre
Dr. Steven Ball will present an open-to-the-public educational experience for patrons to learn more about the Mighty Wurlitzer, the rise of the organ as the instrument of choice to accompany silent films, and the importance of music to the film-going experience. Saturday Session: Music In Movies

Over The Edge
9am to 5pm
Hilton Tampa Downtown
Join downtown’s tallest fundraiser and “rappel for a cause” down 17 stories. No rappelling or climbing experience is required for participants. The Over the Edge staff will provide the technical expertise, training and equipment needed to perform this event. The goal of this event is to to find “Bigs” for the hundreds of “Littles” currently on the Big Brothers Big Sisters waiting list. Over The Edge

Isthmian Games Family Day
Begins 11am
Tampa Museum of Art
Learn how the ancient Greeks played as we explore sports and festivals in antiquity. Enjoy free gallery admission, art making, live music, and SONO Café samplings. Isthmian Games Family Day

Art Spot
11am to 2pm
Tampa Museum of Art
Let your imagination run free as the Museum’s art facilitators introduce exhibition-specific methods of art making filled with fun and creativity for you and yours. Art Spot

UT Softball vs. Eckerd Doubleheader
Begins 1pm
University of Tampa – Naimoli Family Softball Complex
The Spartans hit the diamond for two games against the visiting Eckerd College Tritons. This event is free and open to the public, so grab a seat and double up on the college softball action! UT Softball vs. Eckerd Doubleheader

Jazz Combo, Interactive Arts Ensemble and World Drumming Ensemble
Begins 2pm
University of Tampa – Naimoli Family Softball Complex
The Jazz Combo, directed by Thomas Jemmott, performs a mix of jazz standards, funk classics and contemporary pop songs. UT’s Interactive Arts Ensemble, directed by Victor Ezquerra, uses technology in creative ways to compose, improvise and perform experimental, interdisciplinary works. The World Drumming Ensemble, directed by Nathan Strawbridge, is a high energy performance group where students perform music of West African drumming styles. All three will perform in this fantastic free show! Jazz Combo, Interactive Arts Ensemble and World Drumming Ensemble

Little Black Dress
Shows at 4pm and 8pm
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
From the creators of Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody and Disenchated, this hilarious ladies-night-out musical follows best friends Dee and Mandy as they don their little black dresses to chronicle life’s major events: birth, death, dating, sex, love, friendship … and male strippers. With improv, audience participation, and fun music, this show is a perfect fit for any woman! Little Black Dress

Final Portrait (2018)
4:30pm to 6pm
Tampa Theatre
In Paris 1964, famed painter Alberto Giacometti bumps into his old friend James Lord, an American critic and art lover, and asks him to be a model for his latest portrait. The work will only take a few days, promises Giacometti, and flattered by the request, Lord complies. But as the days turn into weeks, he realizes how much of his life has been wasted by the erratic genius. Final Portrait (2018)

Eden Shireen – Live & Local
Begins 6:30pm
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Eden Shireen has written her own narrative in the music industry by expressing her own melodic storytelling with an eclectic blend of pop, indie, and folk. The 21-year singer songwriter from Land O’ Lakes is capturing audience hearts with her freshly scripted lyrical tales of heartbreak and young love. Noted in recent area press as an up and coming young artist to watch, Shireen’s popularity has been on the rise. Eden Shireen – Live & Local

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel
Begins 7:30pm
The Portico
The play tells the uproarious story of two bumbling Alabama brothers who have never shot a duck, but think they shot an angel. As they lament their fates in a murky swamp, they are chased by a cynical tabloid journalist and his reluctant photographer. The story has been hailed by audiences as a rare comedy with a surprisingly heartfelt lesson. Proceeds from this two-day production benefit The Portico, Metropolitan Ministries, and Stageworks. Duck Hunter Shoots Angel

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
7:30pm to 10pm
Tampa Theatre
Starring Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, and May McAvoy, this version of Ben-Hur was the most expensive movie of the silent era and cost more than $3.9 million to make. The film’s cinematographic techniques and sense of huge scale would remain as influential in the world of film as the book was in the world of literature. This silent film will be presented with live accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ by Dr. Steven Ball, Organist Emeritus of the world’s largest pipe organ. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)

UT Wind Ensemble
Begins 7:30pm
University of Tampa – Falk Theatre
The UT Wind Ensemble, directed by Brandon McDannald, performs a mix of classic, concert band repertoire, along with new works for winds and percussion. This event is free and open to the public. UT Wind Ensemble

SeaGrapes Wine & Food Festival
Begins 8pm
The Florida Aquarium
Immerse yourself in a wine and food festival unlike any other. Enjoy fantastic wine and sample delicious food while strolling among more than 7,000 animals and plants, all while supporting a good cause. There will be over 50 wines available to sample and more than 20 different local restaurant partners in attendance. The festive atmosphere will be backed by a variety of live entertainment throughout the Aquarium. SeaGrapes Wine & Food Festival

Sunday, April 29

Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races
Begins 8am
Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park
Building off the success of last year’s inaugural event, which included more than 48 teams and 1,050 athletes, this year’s races will bring paddlers and spectators together from across the state and country for a day of competition, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and more. This event is free to spectators and family friendly. There will be musical entertainment from Southern Train, as well as a variety of food trucks, drink vendors, and merchandise vendors. Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races

Backstage Brunch at Stageworks Theatre
Begins 11am
Ginger Beard Coffee
Settle in for a culinary adventure! Saborea by chef José Alfredo will delight attendees with menus intended to immerse guests in the vibrant culture of each production. Best of all, it’s all-you-can-eat. Guests can also enjoy beers and brews from Pour House Tampa and Ginger Beard Coffee. Backstage Brunch at Stageworks Theatre

Jeff Dunham: Passively Aggressive
Begins at 3pm
Amalie Arena
Record-breaking, global comedy superstar Jeff Dunham is bringing his cast of characters to Downtown Tampa! Dunham will take the stage with his ill-behaved and slightly-demented posse of characters for a gleeful skewering of family and politics. America’s favorite ventriloquist will have you laughing and enjoying the antics of his famous cohorts Walter, Bubba J, Peanut, and more. Jeff Dunham: Passively Aggressive

The Dark Crystal
3pm to 4:30pm
Tampa Theatre
Jen, raised by the noble race called the Mystics, has been told that he is the last survivor of his own race, the Gelflings. He sets out to try to find a shard of the dark crystal, a powerful gem that once provided balance to the universe. After the crystal was broken, the evil Skeksis used sinister means to gain control. Jen believes that he can repair the dark crystal and bring peace back to the world, if he can only find the remaining shard. The Dark Crystal

Final Portrait (2018)
5:45pm to 7:15pm
Tampa Theatre
In Paris 1964, famed painter Alberto Giacometti bumps into his old friend James Lord, an American critic and art lover, and asks him to be a model for his latest portrait. The work will only take a few days, promises Giacometti, and flattered by the request, Lord complies. But as the days turn into weeks, he realizes how much of his life has been wasted by the erratic genius. Final Portrait (2018)

Yoga in the Park
Begins 6pm
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
In operation since 2010, Yoga in the Park is a free riverside yoga session led by an instructor from Yoga Downtown Tampa. Yoga in the Park

Nightlife & Music

Beyond This Weekend - Upcoming Events

Riverfront Rock
Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13
Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park
Over Mother’s Day weekend, May 12th and 13th, Julian B Lane Riverfront Park will open to the public featuring a series of very special events and musical talent. This 25 acre park features relaxing water views, dynamic public art, sports fields/courts, picnic areas, and a large rowing center. Little visitors can enjoy the new playground and splash pad. In addition, this park will serve as one of the city’s premium event spaces, able to accommodate up to 16,000 people in a single lawn. From recreation to leisure, Riverfront Park has something for everyone! Riverfront Rock

Activities on the Water

Yacht Starship Captain Larry’s Water Taxi eBoats Tampa
Olde World Sailing Line Urban Kai Paddleboarding American Victory Ship
FL Aquarium’s Wild Dolphin Cruise Tampa Bay Fun Boat
Riverwalk Boating Company Pirate Water Taxi Kraken Cycle Boats

Arts & Culture Spotlight

Amalie Arena
Jeff Dunham – April 29
James Taylor – May 12
Justin Timberlake – May 15
Shania Twain – June 2
Maroon 5 – June 16
Daryl Hall & John Oates and Train – June 22
Sam Smith – July 13
The Smashing Pumpkins – July 25
Kevin Hart – August 4
Journey & Def Leppard – August 18
Game of Thrones – September 21
Joyce Meyer Ministries 2018 Women’s Conference – October 25 to 27
Elton John – November 28

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Aesthetics and Perception of Advanced Digital Collage – April 28 and May 5
Forever Young 2018 – Through April 30
Anonymous Women: Camouflage and Calamity – Through June 30
Minor League and Best Friends – Through June 30
Introduction to Smartphone Photography – April 12
Andrea Modica: Artist Lecture – April 13
Q and A’s Photography Workshop – April 22
Hamburger Mary’s Bingo – April 25
Aesthetics and Perception of Advanced Digital Collage – April 28
Iphoneography 101 – May 20

Glazer Children’s Museum
Make it Monday – Weekly 
Toddler Tuesday – Weekly 
Worldly Wednesday – Weekly
Tinker and Tech Thursday – Weekly
Fun Fridays – Weekly
Grown Up Night (+21) – April 27
Going Global – May 1 to 31
Give Day Tampa Bay 2018 – May 1
Free Tuesday with Children’s Board of Hillsborough County – May 1
Parent’s Night Out: “Science of Parenthood” – May 3
May the Fourth Be with You: Star Wars Celebration – May 4 to 6
$5 Day with Riverfest – May 5
Member Morning – May 6
Developmental Checkups – May 8
Mindfulness with Evolve: Family Yoga – May 12
Mother’s Day: Moms Play for Free – May 13
Exercise with iStroll – May 16
Sunshine Sunday – May 27
Memorial Day: Active Military Members Play Free! – May 28
Check the Museum’s website for a full list of weekday programming.

Henry B. Plant Museum
First Fridays – First Friday of the Month
Give Day Tampa Bay – May 1
Blue Star Museums – May 27 to September 2
Imperial Designs – Through December 31

Jobsite Theater
1984 – April 27 to May 20
Dancing at Lughnasa – June 15 to July 8

The John F. Germany Public Library
Tai Chi with Bonnie Birdsall – Tuesdays
Walk-In Tech Help – Wednesdays
Toddler Time – Wednesdays
Crafternoon – Thursdays
Baby Sign – Thursdays
Of the Wild Art by Kelly Quinn – Through April 30
Personal Finance 101: Learn the Lingo – April 28

Patel Conservatory
Peter Pan, Jr. – April 26 to 29
Breakin’ Out – April 28
Spring Into Dance – April 28
Spring Music Spectacular: Around the World in 90 Minutes – May 8
Evening of Dance  – May 11
Beginning Dance 1 Recitals – May 12
End-of-Year Celebration – May 17
Private Lesson Recitals – May 19
Choral and Chamber Music Intensive Concert – June 8
The Wizard of OZ – June 14 to 17
Shakespeare Intensive – June 14
Summer Jazz Intensive – July 20
End-of-Summer Music Blowout – August 1
Showstoppers: Broadway Intensive – August 3 to 5
Summer Evening of Dance – August 10

Stageworks Theatre
The Speak! Tank: Spoken Word Sundays – First Sunday of every month
Christ Fellowship – Wednesdays
In the Time of the Butterflies – April 12 to 28
Backstage Brunch – April 29
James and the Giant Peach – May 10
Jan Roberts in On the Road: A One Helluva Woman Show – May 18 and 19
The Got Jokes? Improv Experience – May 26
Blithe Spirit – June 1 to 16

Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Waitress – Through April 29
The Florida Orchestra – 50! – April 26
The Florida Orchestra – Celebrate Broadway – April 27
Little Black Dress – April 27
Breakin’ Out – April 28
Tampa Bay Symphony “A Tour of the Symphony” – April 29
The Florida Orchestra – Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 – May 4
Next Generation Ballet’s Cinderella – May 5

Tampa Bay History Center
Old Glory – Through July 2018
Walk Tampa – The Ybor City Story – May 12
Walk Tampa – Tampa Bay Black History Tour – April 28 and May 26
TBHC Book Group – The Talented Ribkins – May 17

Tampa Museum of Art
The Classical World: Selections from the Permanent Collection – Ongoing
The Classical World in Focus: Animals in Ancient Art – Ongoing
Monday Meditation at the Museum – Mondays
Art on the House – Fridays
Art Spot – Saturdays
Thirty on Thursday – April 26
Isthmian Games Family Day – April 28
14th Congress District and Next Generation High School Art Competition – April 29
Run for the Roses – May 5

Tampa Theatre
Little Women Preview – April 26
Final Portrait – Through May 2
Saturday Session: Music in Movies – April 28
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ – April 28
The Dark Crystal – April 29
Lean on Pete – May 4 to 10
Spaceballs – May 4
Sing-Along The Little Mermaid – May 6
RBG – May 11 to 17
Best in Show – May 18
The Longest Game – May 24
Mulholland Drive – May 25
Tampa Theatre’s Restoration Celebration – June 2
The Les Brown Experience – July 11
Kings Coast Roast of King Gothalion – July 12
The Perfect Storm – July 13
SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque – September 28

Outside is In - Public Space

First Wednesday, 11am to 2pm at Lykes Gaslight Square Park.
Rock the Park
First Thursday, 6:30pm to 9pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
– Free Weekly Community Fitness Classes at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park –
VKNG DRIP – Monday, 6pm
Zumba in the Park  – Tuesday, 6pm to 7pm
Bamboozle Fit Club Boot Camp – Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm
Yoga in the Park – Sunday, 6pm to 7pm
– Free Seasonal Programs –
Do the Local Motion – First and third Friday, noon to 1pm (October to May). Walking tours take off from Poe Plaza, Jackson and Franklin streets.

Connect With Us!

Connect with us on social media to get the latest on downtown events!

 Downtown After Hours –  Downtown After Hours is a weekly arts and entertainment guide to help you plan your upcoming weekend. Published every Thursday, it provides information on outdoor events, museum exhibits, live performances, movies and more! Subscribe to receive this weekly newsletter.

 

Subscribe