Can you believe that THURSDAY marks the arrival of our 2025 Urban Excellence Awards?

Lights, camera, action! This year’s theme is “Old Hollywood” so be sure to channel your inner Marilyn Monroe or James Dean and join us for a dazzling evening!

Purchase your tickets today and join us on Thursday, February 27 at Hotel Flor as we celebrate the businesses, organizations, and individuals that have profoundly impacted Tampa’s Downtown.

To view all of this year’s finalists, head here!

We would also like to thank those who have sponsored this event thus far:

Platinum Sponsor: Port Tampa Bay

Gold Sponsors:

-ENCORE! Tampa

-Glazer Children’s Museumof

-Sacred Heart Catholic Church

-Tampa General Hospital

-USF Health

-The University of Tampa

Silver Sponsors:

-6 Shop Co.

-Carlton Fields

-Planet Smoothie

Purchase Tickets

Happy Black History Month Tampa’s Downtown! This month, it is important to acknowledge, celebrate, and learn about the achievements and contributions made by Black people throughout history!

There are a variety of ways to celebrate Black History Month in Tampa’s Downtown:

• Head to Downtown’s Black English Book Store
• Book a Black history walking tour around Tampa’s Downtown with What it Was Walking Tours
• Stop at the Black-owned food truck Baton Rouge for authentic cajun cuisine
• Attend the Tampa Bay History Center’s Black History Month Reception
• Stop by the Tampa Bay History Center and check out exhibits that showcase Tampa Bay’s Black trailblazers
• Take one of the Tampa Bay History Center’s historic walking tours

Tampa’s Downtown River O’ Green, presented by Grow Financial, returns in almost THREE WEEKS! Head to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Saturday, March 15 from 11:00am – 6:00pm for the biggest Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in Tampa’s Downtown.

Join us as we channel the luck of the Irish with:

• The annual coloring of the Hillsborough River with an appearance from Mayor Jane Castor
• Live performances featuring music, poetry, and traditional Irish step dancing
• Several food and beverage vendors with Irish-themed bites and drinks
• The Leprechaun Hideout – a new addition providing relief from the sun while you enjoy staple Irish beers
• Prizes and giveaways

This event wouldn’t be a smashing success year-after-year without our gracious sponsors! Huge thank you to this year’s sponsors:

-Presenting Sponsor: Grow Financial

-Barrymore Hotel

-City of Tampa

-Freedom Boat Club

-iHeart Radio

-KUDUCOM

-TECO Energy

-Busch Gardens

View the day’s full lineup here

Tampa’s Downtown is a hub for arts and culture! The Tampa Arts Alliance has curated the Tampa Arts directory that lists spaces that conduct business in the artistic realm. This directory is aimed to drive more awareness and traffic to various arts spaces in the area!

Notice anything missing from the directory? Contact the Tampa Arts Alliance today.

View the Tampa Arts Directory

The “Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the U.S. (1868–1945)” exhibition will open Saturday, at the Tampa Bay History Center, running through August 3, 2025. The exhibit highlights the often overlooked story of Spanish migration to the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The exhibit features over 300 photographs, objects, documents, and audiovisual materials, telling the story of Spanish workers and farmers who sought better lives in the U.S. It is presented in English and Spanish and is divided into six chapters.

Get tickets today!

The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts returns to Tampa’s Downtown on Saturday from 9:00am – 6:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am – 5:00pm!

For almost 50 years, artists and art lovers attend to watch as established and rising artists compete for almost $100,000 in prize money. You won’t want to miss a chance to view beautiful work across a plethora of artistic mediums (painting, photography, ceramics, etc.), enjoy live entertainment, family friendly activities, and more!

NOTE: Festival times may vary for VIP ticket holders.

Learn More

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is a huge advocate for car-free transit in Tampa’s Downtown! Consider celebrating Florida Bike Month (March 1 – March 31), by participating in Downtown’s Bike to Work Rally!

Join Mayor Jane Castor and fellow community members on a guided bike commute that will end at Lykes Gaslight Park.

There will be several starting locations to choose from and each commute will be led by experienced cyclists who are eager to guide YOU as you commute to work sustainably!

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our community partners:

• Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of Florida
• City of Tampa
• Florida Department of Transportation/Vision Zero
• Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART)

View starting locations

At the Partnership, it is our mission to serve those who live, work, and play in Tampa’s Downtown!

In order to continue to serve our community in the best way possible, we want to hear from residents and workers in Tampa’s Downtown. Please make your voice heard TODAY by completing our 2024/2025 Downtown Resident & Worker Surveys! Complete the survey(s) to win PRIZES!

NOTE: The survey closes on Friday, March 1

2024/2025 Downtown Resident Survey

2024/2025 Downtown Worker Survey

For over 20 years, Tampa Theatre’s renowned fundraiser, WineFest, has brought fun and excitement to Tampa’s Downtown! This year, the event returns on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8!

This year’s theme is “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Wine, presented by SouthEast Personnel Leasing”! WineFest guests are highly encouraged to dress as their favorite Harry Potter character, or attend in an outfit inspired by the series.

View participating restaurants/wineries + Get tickets

As the month of love comes to a close, the month of music arrives on SATURDAY! We’re excited to partner with Tampa Tunes to bring the joy of music to Tampa’s Downtown!

We’ll be placing a piano in each of Downtown’s seven neighborhoods, ready for anyone and everyone to play for the entirety of March! Stay tuned for locations and details.

Here are some other ways that you and your friends or family can celebrate National Music Month:

• Enjoy Rock the Park, our FREE monthly concert series featuring talented local artists
• See a musical at the Straz Center
• Catch a concert at Amalie Arena

Do you have an idea that has the potential to further beautify Tampa’s Downtown? If so, consider applying for one of our two active grants:

• Neighborhood Enhancement Grant: Tampa’s Downtown Neighborhood Enhancement Grant is a dynamic initiative aimed at fostering vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods. The program offers annual grants of up to $5,000 to each of the seven neighborhoods in Tampa’s Downtown.

• Storefont & Sidewalk Cafe Grant: The Storefront and Sidewalk Cafe Grant serves to create a more attractive pedestrian atmosphere and commercially vibrant environment through street-level storefront improvements and inviting sidewalk cafe settings. The program offers non-matching grants of up to $7,500 and matching grants over $7,500 up to $10,000 administered on a reimbursement basis, allowing for up to $5,000 of grant funds to be reimbursed every two years.

Apply Today!

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