MAY TOP PICKS
Our favorite family-friendly events in Tampa Bay May 4-8: XOXO Carnival at Armature Works
May 6-7: Tampa Riverfest 2022 This two-day event along the Tampa Riverwalk is back for 2022! Enjoy two food-themed events – Taste of The Riverwalk and TacoFest – and rock out to a full concert series at Curtis Hixon park. Other events include a Wiener Dog Derby, Hot Air Balloon Glow, sidewalk chalk artists and a stand-up paddleboard invasion. New this year is the Lantern Parade where guests can decorate their own lanterns and join in on the parade! The event is free, but wristband purchases are required for the food tent area. Regular and VIP tickets are available. *Link to QR code for online Riverfest piece
May 13-14: Next Generation Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty” Taking place at The Straz Center, this menacing fairy tale tells the story of Princess Aurora who is cursed by a single prick to the finger to a 100-year slumber on her 16th birthday. Doomed by fate, only a prince’s sweet kiss can break the spell and awaken the sleeping beauty. Featuring NGB’s rising stars, this production promises to be all things that ballet is supposed to be – ravishing, exquisite and powerful. strazcenter.org
May 28: Blippi the Musical The energetic and lovable Blippi jumps off the screen and onto the stage in this upbeat and energetic production filled with audience engagement and amazing music. Children will learn about the world around them while singing and dancing along in this one-of-a-kind show. Photo experience is available for this show (must be purchased in advance). Turn to page 30 to learn more! strazcenter.org
Mother’s Day Brunch Time to celebrate moms! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8, and there are tons of great brunches around town to treat mom to. Visit our website for a list of our favorite places to celebrate or scan the QR code!
Last chance to check out Big League Fun at Glazer Children’s Museum! Don’t strike out! If you haven’t had a chance to check out this MLB-themed event at GCM, you only have until May 15! This traveling exhibit allows guests to explore the world of professional baseball and features 2,000 square feet of interactive fun. Partly funded by the Rays Baseball Foundation, the exhibit features fun activities, a simulated baseball experience and trivia challenges. glazermuseum.org
Meet John Graydon Smith, MOSI’s New President and CEO! Last month, MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) named John Graydon Smith as their new president and CEO. Smith has more than 15 years in the museum and science center field. He led the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Troy, New York, from 2006-2010 as it looked to rebrand from a children’s museum into a science center, eventually making Parents magazine’s list of Top 20 Science Centers in the United States in 2008 and 2009. Following his success in New York, Smith oversaw a rejuvenation of the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania. Smith, along with his wife Kimberly and their three school-aged children will reside in Tampa Palms. mosi.org istockphoto.com / Artem Sovenko
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TampaBayParenting.com MAY 2022
istockphoto.com/ Kristyna Vagnerova
Experience your favorite carnival rides, midway games, tasty treats and music from acts like Lil John, The Black Honkeys, Shaggy and Circus Cowboys. From Pied Piper Productions, the XOXO carnival will be filled with over 300,000 fun things for kids and adults. This event will act as a precursor to the Tampa Riverfest. General admission and VIP tickets are available. piedpiper.uvtix.com
