Sports

Major league baseball is played year round in Clearwater. Clearwater is proud to host the Philadelphia Phillies spring training. The Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports and have been in Clearwater since 1947. In addition to the major league team, Clearwater is home to the Class-A Clearwater Phillies of the Florida State League. The Toronto Blue Jays spend their spring in Dunedin and the New York Yankees play in Tampa; in fact, six additional spring training teams are located within one hour of Pinellas County. The Major League Baseball Tampa Bay Devil Rays call St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field home the rest of the year.  

Take a Side Trip to Tarpon Springs:

One of Florida's most fascinating small towns and only 13 miles north of Clearwater:  Tarpon Springs calls itself "the Sponge Capital of the World." Greek immigrants from the Dodecanese Islands settled here in the late 19th century to harvest sponges, which grew in abundance offshore. By the 1930s, Tarpon Springs was producing more sponges than any other place in the world. A blight ruined the business in the 1940s, but the descendants of those early immigrants stayed on. Today they compose about a third of the population, making Tarpon Springs a center of transplanted Greek culture.

Sponges still arrive at the historic Sponge Docks, on Dodecanese Boulevard. With a lively, carnival-like atmosphere, the docks are a great place to spend an afternoon or early evening, poking your head into shops selling sponges and other souvenirs while Greek music comes from the dozen or so family restaurants purveying authentic Aegean cuisine. You can also venture offshore from here, because booths on the docks set up sightseeing and fishing cruises. Make your reservations as soon as you get here; then go sightseeing ashore or grab a meal at one of the many Greek restaurants and bakeries facing the dock while waiting for the next boat.

For more information, call 727-938-5378

Antiques

Gas Plant Antique Arcade

1246 Central Ave., St. Petersburg

Florida's largest antique mall, with 150 dealers in four huge floors of fine antiques from all periods

Annual Events

January

Martin Luther King Jr. National Parade

727-327-0085

Downtown St. Petersburg

The Annual Drum Major for Justice Parade begins at 1:15 p.m. The celebration also includes the Martin Luther King Jr. Festival of Bands competition, which features several renowned marching bands as they perform in a special salute to Dr. King.

Call for exact location and date

Pinellas Folk Festival

727-582-2123

Heritage Village

The Pinellas County Historical Society presents its annual festival held at Heritage Village. This free event features traditional folk music, storytelling and pioneer crafts and performances by skilled artisans. Sheep to shawl activities, vintage 1890s baseball, a traditional rug hooking and embroidery show and a food court are all included in the day's activities.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call for exact date  

March

Annual Heritage Village Antique Car Show

727-582-2127

Heritage Village

Come and check out this wonderful display of restored antique automobiles and hybrid cars. There will also be music and hands-on activities.

This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call for exact date

April

Tampa Bay Marathon Swim

727-531-7999

Holiday Inn Sunspree, St. Petersburg

The annual Tampa Bay Marathon Swim challenges long-distance swimmers to go 24 miles from the Holiday Inn Sunspree St. Petersburg across Tampa Bay to Ben Davis Beach in Tampa. All participants must be 19 or older and registered with United States Masters Swimming. Three- and six-person relays are also available for the race. Prizes include T-shirts and awards for completing the race and for the top finishers in various age groups.

Call for exact date, fees, and directions

May

Civil War Days and Annual Heritage Village Skirmish

727-582-2123

Heritage Village

Heritage Village hosts this living history event as Union and Confederate troops battle. The event includes artillery demonstrations, infantry drills and the big battle. Period crafts and other items will be for sale at the event.

Admission and parking are free

The annual Heritage Village Skirmish is scheduled for 2 p.m. Artillery demonstrations and infantry drills will be held on the hour. Other activities include the Officers Call, a court martial, and the Grand March. Bring comfortable seating or ground cover for the battle.

Call for exact dates

July

Arts Center Members Exhibition

727-822-7872

The Arts Center

The Arts Center showcases the extraordinary talent of more than 250 member artists in “Components,” the Members’ Exhibition. This annual show reflects the importance of every Arts Center member to the overall organization.

Call for exact dates, hours, and directions

Studioworks

727-519-6833

Gulf Coast Museum of Art

The annual juried Studioworks exhibition presents the work of the Museum's instructors and students. The exhibition is designed to demonstrate the strength of the Museum's teaching program. All media, including painting, mixed media, photography and ceramics, will be included in the exhibition.

Call for exact dates, hours, and directions

September

Dunedin Wines the Blues

727-733-5886

This popular annual event takes place along the Main Street downtown area of Dunedin with plenty of live blues music, food, wine and entertainment.

The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Call for exact date

Annual Renaissance Night

727-799-2200

Downtown Safety Harbor

This event is always held on the 3rd Friday of September. Downtown Safety Harbor will be visited by gypsies, wizards, musicians, fairies, pirates and animals

From 6 to 10 p.m. Participating shops will be open late.

Call for exact date and directions

Annual Pier Sand Sculpture Contest

727-821-6443

The Pier

TEAM Sandtastic hosts this Annual Pier Sand Sculpture Contest. Sand Clinics will also be held.

Call for exact date, hours, and directions

October

Annual Taste of Palm Harbor

727-934-7001

The Palm Harbor Junior Women's Club will present its annual Taste of Palm Harbor from 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Florida Avenue just east of Alt. U.S. 19. There are more than 25 area restaurants to sample from and an array of Arts and Crafts for people to stroll through.

Call for exact location and date

Florida Birding and Nature Festival 866-352-2473

The Annual Festival & Nature Expo features the best of Florida birding with 25 field trips throughout the region, internationally known bird and wildlife experts and an exciting Nature Expo. The Festival offers a conservation mission with proceeds going to the management of Shell Key Preserve of Florida's most important areas for shorebirds.

Call for exact location, dates, and hours

Annual H&R Train Show

727-526-4682 This long standing annual show features a free model train demonstration with a train layout competition for all gauges of model railroading.

Friday and Saturday, hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Call for exact dates

The Annual Make a Difference Fishing Tournament

727-462-6954

This tournament for children with disabilities is always held the first Saturday in October. Fishing will be done on Clearwater's Pier 60.

Call for exact date and time

Clearwater Jazz Holiday

727-461-5200

For over 25 years, the annual Jazz Holiday brings together all veins of jazz music together in 4 days of free entertainment at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater. From bebop to blues, from big band to the compositions of Frank Zappa, there is something for everyone.

Call for exact location, dates, and times

Annual Florida Orchestra in the Park

800-662-7286

Free concert and fireworks in Vinoy Park on Beach Drive.

Show begins at 7pm., call for exact date

Annual Country Jubilee Festival

727-582-2123

Heritage Village

The Pinellas County Historical Society presents this jubilee with more than 125 craftspeople displaying and selling their homemade goods. The event features pioneer and Victorian craft demonstrations, live entertainment, a petting zoo, historic house tours and food.

The jubilee runs 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Call for exact dates and location

Annual Autumn Harvest

727-893-7326

Boyd Hill Nature Park

This autumn harvest will be held at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement at Boyd Hill Nature Park. There will be an old time farmers market and plenty of events and activities for adults and children.

Call for exact date, hours, and directions

Frenchy’s Stone Crab Claw Festival

727-446-1522

All Frenchy’s locations on Clearwater Beach

Frenchy’s annual Stone Crab Weekend is a popular area event. The event will also feature two tents complete with live music.

Call for exact dates, hours, and directions

Annual Fall Grouper Fest & Art Show

727-394-0756

John’s Pass Village

Grouper Fest honors the area as the Grouper Capital of the World. This festival will feature food, children's activities, entertainment, a display about the heritage of the fishing industry in Madeira Beach and an art show. This event was formerly known as the John's Pass Village Seafood Festival.

Call for exact dates, hours, and directions

Top o’ the Bay Oktoberfest

813-855-4233

R.E. Olds Park

This weekend festival features German music, food, beer and wine, along with full midway, carnival, art/crafters, American food and business vendors. Come enjoy the interactive games and activities such as log sawing, keg hurling, stein holding and the annual Waitress Races

Call for exact dates, hours, and directions

Annual Suncoast Triathlon

813-874-7223

Fort DeSoto Park

The Suncoast Triathlon is the perfect race for both novices and experienced triathletes alike. The triathlon consists of a swim .33 miles, bike 11 miles and run 3.1 miles.

The race begins at 7:30 a.m.

Call for exact date, time of event, and directions

Early November

Annual Loadmaster Trailers Suncoast Kingfish Classic Tournament

727-363-0071 The event is sanctioned by the Southern Kingfish Association and benefits the Tarpon Springs Rotary Club.

Call for exact location, dates, and hours

Annual Art Arbor & Family Fun Days

727-893-7326

Boyd Hill Nature Park

This nature festival offers art, live music, crafts, kid's crafts, storytelling and food. Held at the Boyd Hill Nature Park, it also has reptile and bird of prey programs, guided park tours, scavenger hunts and petting zoo.

Hours both days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For

Call for exact date

St. Petersburg Boat Show

954-764-7642

The Bayfront Center, St. Petersburg

The Annual St. Petersburg Boat Show is making waves for boaters and anglers of all ages. With more than 700 boats, on land and in-water, the St. Petersburg's Boat Show is the largest in-water boat show on Florida's Gulf Coast. Accessorize you new boat with the latest electronics and gadgetry.

Call for exact location, dates, and hours

Celebrations Holiday Show

727-822-7872

The Arts Center

Immerse yourself in the spirit of the season at the Arts Center annual Holiday Show. Specially created works by many artists, glass ornaments and photographs will be on display. Limited edition hand-printed holiday cards custom-made for the Arts Center will debut during the holiday show.

Call for exact dates, hours and directions

Christmas Under the Oaks

727-562-4813

Coachman Park

Usually held in early November, this annual holiday crafts fair sponsored by the Clearwater Junior League Women’s Club, will be held in historic Coachman Park in Clearwater

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call for exact dates, hours and directions

Annual Harbor Wine Festival

727-724-1555

John Wilson Park

The City of Safety Harbor will host this event, which includes wine tasting, food from area restaurants, live entertainment on two stages, arts and crafts vendors and a real grape stomp. Admission is free.

Festival hours are 5 - 11 p.m.

Call for exact dates and directions

Fall Boat Show

800-940-7642

Bayfront Center Yacht Basin

This event is usually held in November. The annual in-water boat show features more than 600 boats, electronics, marine engines and accessories, fishing products, clinics, seminars and entertainment.

Call for exact dates, hours and directions

Times Festival of Reading

727-445-4142

Eckerd College

Usually held in November. The St. Petersburg Times hosts this annual event that features book talks, national and regional authors, book appraisals, music and poet performances and children's story land. The event is free.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call for exact date, hours and directions

Late November

Annual Tarpon Springs Arts & Crafts Show

727-937-6109

Held Thanksgiving weekend 10am-5pm

This annual event features 150 artists and craft persons from around the country who display in downtown Tarpon Springs. Live music and a food festival are also included.

Festival of Trees

727-446-2858 The Harborview Center is host to this Annual Festival of Trees.

Call for exact location, dates, and hours

Arts Center Annual Members Show 727-822-7872

The Arts Center in downtown St. Petersburg features this exhibit of works by Arts Center members. It features art in various media and themes.

Call for exact location, dates, and hours

December

Annual Fun 'N Sun Illuminated Night Parade

727-562-4804

The highlight of the Fun 'n Sun Festival, this spectacular parade begins at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Clearwater along Clevela