Spring's arrival in St. Pete/Clearwater brings milder temperatures along with a diverse lineup of events, from high-speed to low-key. There are art festivals, cultural celebrations, sporting events and a sprinkling of major festivals devoted to art, music and food. Here's a look at just some of the most anticipated annual happenings in St. Pete/Clearwater in Spring.
Baseball fans get double the pleasure during Spring Training when they visit St. Pete/Clearwater, because not one but two teams have southern homes in the area. The Toronto Blue Jays prepare for the long season at Dunedin Stadium, and the Philadelphia Phillies practice at Spectrum Field in Clearwater. Check out all the 2020 spring training games!
In March, downtown St. Pete is transformed into an IndyCar racetrack for a few adrenaline-pumping days when the Firestone Grand Prix comes to town. Come watch drivers race at speeds in excess of 170 mph on a 14-turn course through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, circling the Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater, the stunning Dali Museum and then onto the runways of Albert Whitted Airport, all overlooking the picturesque city waterfront.
Whether you're an occasional hacker with a wicked slice or a weekend warrior with a low handicap, there's nothing more exciting than watching the pros play. You have that opportunity each Spring as the PGA TOUR's Tampa Bay Championship comes to the St. Pete/Clearwater area. The tournament takes place at the renowned Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. According to a recent Golf Digest survey, the Copperhead Course was ranked as the highest course in Florida. This full-fledged FedEx Cup event always promises an exciting field. The tournament includes 144 PGA TOUR golfers and benefits many local area charities.
Highland game days take place in many cities but there's nothing like those held in Dunedin, a town founded by two Scotsmen in the 1800s with tons of Scottish pride still today. With pipe bands, traditional dancing and athletics, you'll feel like you've landed in Scotland for the day. Enjoy food, music, and shop for a traditional kilt to take home as a souvenir.
Offering further proof that singing the blues doesn’t have to be a bummer, the annual Tampa Bay Blues Fest features three days of blues on the Bay. The event is held each April along the picturesque downtown St. Petersburg waterfront in Vinoy Park. In addition to the powerful vocals and high-energy riffs of the biggest acts in blues, you can also sample tasty local treats such as seafood, barbecue, Cuban cuisine and more. Festival vendors also peddle arts and crafts, and premium beer and wine.
There's no better way to see Clearwater Beach's famous white sand in action. Over two weeks of festival fun that brings more than 1,000 tons of sand to life in a 21,000 square-foot walk-through display at Pier 60. The festival also includes a children's play area, street performers, artisans, live entertainment, fireworks, sand sculpting classes, speed sand demonstrations, and a master sand sculpting competition. Bring your camera and create your own story!
You won't be surprised to learn that St. Pete/Clearwater – with all of its artsy, waterfront allure – hosts one of the nation's most magnetic art festivals. Mainsail Arts Festival, held annually over two days in April, routinely draws 100,000 attendees to downtown St. Pete's Vinoy Park, where 200-plus visual artists and craftspeople display their work against sparkling Tampa Bay. Better yet: Admission to the festival is FREE.
The oldest and richest Kingfish tournament in the United States comes to Madeira Beach twice every year in the Spring & Fall when the Kings are running on Florida's west coast. If you fish for Smoker Kings, you should be fishing the 26th Annual Old Salt SPRING King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament. This 3 day event kicks things off on Thursday with the Captains Meeting and goes through Saturday, when anglers will weigh-in their prize catches and claim their awards. Bring the kids out to the waterfront party on Friday where they can get in on the action during the Kids Fishing Slam!
