In the sultry heat of a Tampa Bay summer, where the air shimmers with possibility and the night holds secrets darker than the depths of the Gulf, this week brings forth a spectacular array of entertainment that would make even the most jaded soul pause. The top things to do in Tampa Bay this week read like chapters from a fever dream—each event more tantalizing than the last, each venue calling out like sirens in the humid darkness.
Adventure Island’s AquaGlow: When Darkness Transforms Water
Overview: Something wicked this way comes to Adventure Island, but it’s the good kind of wicked that makes your heart race with anticipation. AquaGlow emerges from the shadows like a phosphorescent creature from the deep, transforming the familiar water park into something altogether more mystical after sunset.
Location: Adventure Island, Tampa
Event Date: Fridays and Saturdays, June 13 – August 9
Time: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Admission: $39.99
Website: AdventureIsland.com/AquaGlow
The pools glow with an otherworldly neon radiance, while high-energy beats pulse through the night air like a heartbeat magnified. Fan-favorite attractions take on new identities in the darkness—glowing tubes snake through the night like luminescent serpents, colorful mist effects dance like ghosts, and foam parties erupt with the wild abandon of a midsummer night’s dream.
Tampa Bay Automobile Museum: Father’s Day Special
Overview: The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum stands like a cathedral of chrome and steel, housing the dreams and innovations of nearly a century of automotive evolution. This Father’s Day brings a special tribute to all dads with deeply discounted admission.
Location: 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park
Event Date: Sunday, June 15 (Father’s Day)
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Admission: $5 for fathers (Regular: $16, Ages 6-17: $10)
Features: Cars from 7 countries, 56 manufacturers
Within these hallowed halls rest mechanical marvels including a haunting 1929 Ruxton that sits in silent testimony to the engineers and innovations that have shaped our world. A price that would make even the most frugal Maine yankee smile—fathers enter this realm of automotive wonder for the cost of a cup of coffee.
Nikki Glaser Comedy Shows: The Roast Master’s Reign
Overview: Like a comedic force of nature, Nikki Glaser descends upon Tampa Bay with the intensity of a summer thunderstorm. The comedian, infamous for her masterful roasting of Tom Brady, has achieved something rare in this market—complete venue domination.
Location: BayCare Sound at Coachman Park, 255 Drew St., Clearwater
Event Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 7:30 PM
Admission: Starting at $49.50
Website: rutheckerdhall.com
Note: Mahaffey Theater shows (June 12-13) already sold out
This kind of dominance rarely happens among competing venues, but Glaser’s wit cuts through the night like lightning through Spanish moss. Her unprecedented booking across multiple venues speaks to a comedic prowess that transcends ordinary entertainment.
Tampa Fringe Festival: Indie Arts Underground
Overview: The Tampa Fringe Festival emerges from the creative underground like mushrooms after rain, bringing with it an indie spirit that refuses to be tamed. This year’s festival promises something for everyone with a diverse artistic landscape.
Location: Multiple venues (Fringe Central: Kress Contemporary, 624 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa)
Event Date: Preview nights June 11 & 18
Time: 7:00 PM (previews)
Admission: Individual shows $9-$15, Free Kids Fringe component
Website: festival.tampafringe.org
Features: 32 arts companies, 5 venues
Free preview nights offer tantalizing glimpses—each company performing a tight three minutes, like literary appetizers before a feast. The Kids Fringe component provides entirely free entertainment with “Cinderella: Secret Agent” and “A Night of Seuss,” ensuring that even the youngest souls can taste the magic.
MOSI Laser Shows: Cosmic Musical Fusion
Overview: At Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry, something extraordinary happens when laser technology meets musical genius. After quickly selling out their Laser Taylor Swift show, MOSI announced a summer lineup that reads like a fever dream.
Location: MOSI, 4801 Fowler Ave., Tampa
Event Date: Friday, June 13
Time: 6:30 PM & 8:15 PM
Admission: $13 general, $10 MOSI members
Website: MOSI.org
Feature: Second-largest planetarium in the country
Taylor Swift paired with Metallica’s greatest hits creates an unlikely cosmic dance under a canopy of stars. The planetarium transforms into a canvas where pop sensibilities meet heavy metal thunder in ways that defy conventional understanding.
Victor Manuelle Concert: Latin Romance Live
Overview: The renowned Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Victor Manuelle brings his “Retromántico PT.2” tour to Tampa like a warm breeze carrying memories of three decades of musical mastery.
Location: Yuengling Center, 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa
Event Date: Friday, June 13
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: Starting at $53
Website: ticketmaster.com
Tour: “Retromántico PT.2” plus greatest hits
His voice carries the weight of countless love stories, each song a chapter in the great book of Latin romance. Three decades of musical evolution culminate in this single evening of passionate performance.
St. Pete Opera: Carmen
Overview: St. Pete Opera presents “Carmen” under Mark Sforzini’s direction—the story of rage and scorned love that burns like a Florida summer sun.
Location: Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Event Date: Friday, June 13 & Sunday, June 15
Time: 8:00 PM Friday, 2:00 PM Sunday
Admission: $15-$125
Phone: 727-822-3590
Series: Final installment of Dangerous Liaisons trio
This operatic masterpiece explores the dangerous territories of passion and betrayal, where love becomes a weapon and desire transforms into destruction.
Yacht Starship Father’s Day Cruises
Overview: For fathers seeking aquatic adventure, Yacht Starship offers Father’s Day cruises where drinks ordered by dads are complimentary (two per dad).
Location: 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa
Event Date: Sunday, June 15
Times: 11:30 AM, 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM
Admission: $69.95+ adults, $49.95+ children (ages 2-12)
Website: yachtstarship.com
Special: Free drinks for fathers (limit 2)
The Gulf waters become a stage for celebration, where fathers can toast their dedication while surrounded by the endless horizon that speaks of infinite possibilities.
The James Museum: Perseverance Exhibition
Overview: The James Museum debuts “Perseverance: A Woman’s Journey West” on Saturday, June 14—a rare glimpse into the American West through a pioneer woman’s eyes.
Location: 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Event Date: June 14 – September 28 (Opening June 14)
Time: Gallery hours vary
Admission: $23 general, $18 seniors, $15 students, $10 Tuesdays
Website: thejamesmuseum.org/perseverance
Artist: Heide Presse
Inspired by Keturah Belknap’s 1840s journal, vibrant oil paintings and graphite drawings bring forgotten stories to life. Each piece whispers of hardships endured and dreams pursued across the unforgiving landscape of the Oregon Trail.
Additional Weekend Attractions
Classic Albums Live – Rolling Stones:
Location: Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater
Date/Time: Friday, June 13, 8:00 PM
Admission: Starting at $35
Website: rutheckerdhall.com
Pride Splash Party:
Location: Highland Family Aquatic Center, 400 Highland Ave, Largo
Date/Time: Friday, June 13, 7:00-9:00 PM
Admission: $5 per person
Website: playlargo.com
The Night Holds More Secrets
As this week unfolds in Tampa Bay, each event beckons like a mysterious doorway into experiences that could change you forever. From glowing pools that transform reality to comedy that cuts to the bone, from automotive shrines to laser-lit cosmic journeys—the choices are as numerous as the stars reflected in Tampa Bay’s dark waters.
But beware, dear reader, for once you’ve tasted the intoxicating blend of culture, comedy, and aquatic wonder that this week offers, you may find yourself forever changed, forever seeking that next adventure that lurks just beyond the next weekend’s horizon.
Are you on social media? Check out our profile for more local news! Follow @TampaLatest for up-to-the-minute updates in Tampa, Florida.