MARCH TOP PICKS: Save the date for our favorite events for families this month!

MARCH TOP PICKS

Our favorite family-friendly events in Tampa Bay

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: MARCH 3-13

The Florida Strawberry Festival is back! This sweet event celebrates the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsborough County and features midway rides, exhibits, youth livestock shows, and, of course, all things strawberry! Enjoy the world-famous strawberry shortcake, strawberry milkshakes, strawberry pie, strawberry pizza and strawberry brisket tacos. Be sure to check out the live entertainment which features acts such as Boyz II Men, Lady A, Sam Hunt and Lauren Daigle (concert admission is separate from general admission). flstrawberryfestival.com

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN CONCERT: MARCH 4-5

Get ready to fight a dragon, swim with merpeople and find out who put Harry’s name in the Goblet of Fire! For the first time ever, audiences can rediscover the magic of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire while a live symphony plays the unforgettable score. strazcenter.org

GASPARILLA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS: MARCH 5-6

The 2022 GFA will showcase artists and their work that includes ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. Taking place along Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, GFA will also feature the works of local young artists and feature children’s activities and a weekend full of live entertainment emceed by ABC Action News Meteorologist, Denis Phillips. General admission is free, and VIP Experiences are available for purchase. gasparillaarts.com

HENRY B. PLANT MUSEUM PICNIC IN THE PARK: MARCH 6

T wi ster II – Twist Again by Betsy Best

Go back in time to a century ago and head to Plant Park for an old-fashioned picnic. Pack your picnic basket, bring a blanket and experience the pleasures of a simpler time. There will be live entertainment, arts and crafts by Paper Seahorse and Tampa Regional Artist and adoptable animals from Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Guests can also enjoy food and drinks from Concho Cuban Food Truck and complimentary ice cream and popcorn from Blue Bell Creameries and Henry B. Plant Museum. Plantmuseum.com

THOMAS THE TRAIN AT THE FLORIDA RAILROAD MUSEUM: MARCH 11-13, 19-20

Get ready for a full day of fun! Thomas the Tank Engine is rolling into town for a day of BIG dreams and even BIGGER smiles. Jump on board Thomas for an interactive train ride, pick up your Dream Pass and head to the Play Pod or say Hello to Sir Topham Hatt. For the little engineers who want a little more excitement, check out the Dream Big Corner for photos ops, lawn games and more. And don’t forget to hit up the Exclusive Pop-Up gift shop for toys and swag! Bring the whole family and imagine how far you will go! frrm.org

After a two-year hiatus, the River O’ Green Fest is back! Starting at 11 a.m. at Curtis Hixon Park, the Hillsborough River will be transformed into a bright shade of green, which visitors can view along the Tampa Riverwalk. The Irish-themed celebration will run until 5 p.m. and will include live entertainment, food trucks, beer and family-friendly entertainment. Riverogreen.com

SHAMROCK FEST AT THE ST. PETE PIER: MARCH 12

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the Pier will kick off an all-new event! This giant Irish rock festival will feature traditional dance performances, a nomadic magician, meet and greet opportunities with leprechauns and more. Guests can enjoy traditional Irish food and drink specials from local vendors. There will also be live entertainment, including Tom Petty and Guns N’ Roses tribute bands. General admission and VIP tickets are available. shamrockfeststpete.com

DINO & DRAGON STROLL TAMPA: MARCH 12-13

Encounter colossal dinosaurs ranging from babies to the huge Brachiosaurus that stands 20 feet tall! Come face to face with the massive Mamenchisaurus standing over two stories high, the mammoth Spinosaurus, the enormous, show stopping T-Rex and the gigantic Apatosaurus, just to name a few! Immerse yourself in the interactive photo experience, climb inside a dinosaur egg or next to the Giganotosaurus. Visitors will be transported into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Enter the Dragon’s Den, which is surrounded by some fantastical, legendary fire-breathing dragons! dinostroll.com

NEW!

The spectacular Tony-nominated Broadway show comes to Tampa! Featuring beloved songs from the original Oscar-winning film along with new songs and an extended score, “Frozen” is an unforgettable theatrical experience. The special effects, stunning sets, costumes and powerhouse performances are sure to mesmerize audiences of all ages. strazcenter.org

DISNEY ON ICE: MARCH 23-26

Audiences get to be a part of Disney magic when Mouse-ter of Ceremonies, Mickey Mouse, leads a parade of more than 50 beloved characters including Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. An ensemble of Disney Princesses including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White and Tiana will also dazzle audiences. The wintry wonderland of Disney’s Frozen also comes to life with Anna, Elsa and the hilarious Olaf as they discover that true love is the greatest magic of all. Exciting moments from Disney-Pixar’s “Finding Dory,” Disney’s “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast” will leave the whole family with memories to last a lifetime! disneyonice.com

TAMPA BAY AIR FEST: MARCH 26-27

The men and women who work and serve on MacDill Air Force Base are proud to invite everyone to experience AirFest 2022. This free event features a variety of military and civilian flight performances, including the United States Navy Blue Angels. It promises to be a weekend packed with heart-pounding air performances and family-friendly activities showcasing all five branches of the U.S. military, as well as first responder agencies. TIP: this event can get loud, so ear protection is highly recommended! tampabayairfest.com

U-PICK SEASON

Strawberry season is here! For a list of the best u-pick farms in Tampa, check out page 18.

PEPPA PIG THEME PARK

The world’s first Peppa Pig theme park is here! Now open to the public, this one-of-a-kind park nestled next to LEGOLAND is a preschooler’s paradise. Peppa’s world comes to life with rides and attractions designed just for little ones. “Little piggies” can take a spin on Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster, meet Peppa and her friends at the Fun Fair, or splash around in the Muddy Puddles Splash Pad. peppapigthemepark.com

IRON GWAZI

Busch Gardens’ newest coaster opens to the public on March 11 and is set to be the TALLEST hybrid coaster in North America! Not only that, but it will be the STEEPEST and FASTEST hybrid coaster in the world.