Clearwater-St Pete Area Upcoming Events and Annual Calendar of Activities

If you're planning to spend Spring Break, a winter or summer vacation in Florida, the Clearwater/St Pete area is a good place to go since there's usually something to do. You can always visit the beaches as well as close by venues in Orlando which has Disney World, the Outlet Malls and Universal Studios.

Closer by there is also Tampa which has Busch Gardens, Ybor City and Hyde Park. Or if you happen to be in the area in early March then you can hop over to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. Popular headliner musicians in country, pop and rock perform nightly for a fraction of their usual cover charge on the Festival's open-air stage.

This is a guide to the events that usually take place throughout the year. Some of them already have posted their dates and venues, which are noted here. For the rest of the listed events you will need to check with the links, included in this guide, to find out when the event particulars will be listed.

All Year Round:

Sunset at Pier 60:

10 Pier 60 Dr, Clearwater Beach
Time: 2 hours before sunset-2 hours after sunset

Sunsets at Pier 60 are celebrated every night at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. You will find crafters, street performers, live music and artisans. You will also find movies and concerts on the weekends. You can also fish, eat out, shop and walk or play on the beach.

January:

Florida Gulf Beaches Marathon:

Floridiana Festival and Highwaymen Artist Show; January 29, 2011:

Garden Club of St. Petersburg
500 Sunset Dr. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
gardenclubstpete@aol.com

This is an annual affair for Floridian roadside kitsch, old tropical decorations and vintage Florida art. The Florida Highwaymen artists will also be there. They are always a special attraction at these events since you can watch some of them work.

17th Annual St. Pete Beach Corey Area Art and Craft Festival; January 29-30, 2011:

Corey Area Business Association:
350 Corey Ave.
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706-1817

February:

Wing N' Rock Fest; February 05, 2011:

501 5th Av NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-894-1000

This is the second year that St Pete is hosting this free outdoor music and food festival in Vinoy Park. You will find different varieties of wings and Budweiser beer along with the live music. All proceeds will go to Animal Based
Charities Inc.

Free Valentine's Day Wedding Ceremony at Florida Botanical Gardens; February 14, 2011, 2pm:

12520 Ulmerton Rd.
Largo, FL 33774
727-582-2100
flbg@flbg.org

This is the only non-Clearwater/St Pete lisiting because it is so special.

For the fifth year, the County Clerk's Office will be preforming their annual free group wedding at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, in their wedding garden. Participating couples need to have applied for their marriage license between December 21, 2010 and February 11, 2011. Those who plan to participate must sign up at the Pinellas County Clerk's office by February 7, 2011.

The number of couples to be included are limited by space availability. You need to be at the gardens by 1pm with your marriage license and identification.

Big East Big Ten Baseball Challenge; February 18-20, 2011:

The Challenge will be held at:

-Jack Russell Memorial Stadium and Al Lang Field for Friday and Saturday triple headers and Sunday double headers both morning and afternoon at both fields.

-Dunedin Stadium on Friday evening for a doubleheader.

-Bright House Field on Saturday evening for a doubleheader and at Walter Fuller Baseball Complex on Sunday morning and afternoon for four games.

Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training; Feb 24-March 28, 2011:

Bright House Field
601 N. Old Coachman Rd.
Clearwater, FL

2011 Spring Break; February 21-April 1:

The Spring Break period for 2011 stretches from February 21 through to April 1, although most colleges have planned their Spring Breaks for the week of March 14-18. Even though Clearwater/St Pete is an unofficial
Spring Break location, that hasn't kept the crowds from coming each year.

This area is especially popular in conjunction with a trip to Orlando or a hop across the bay into Tampa to Busch Gardens or Ybor City. There are also a number of night spots around the beaches that are open for your
enjoyment as well as those in Ybor City or in Hyde Park. Classmate USA will be filming coeds at Clearwater Beach this year.

March:

Corona Light Big Shot Volleyball Tournament; March and October:

2011 Honda Grand Prix St Petersburg; March 25-27, 2011:

Downtown St. Petersburg
400 1st St. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-824-7223

The Honda Grand Prix is a part of the IndyCar Series auto racing. The track is 1.8 miles long with fourteen turns. The route goes throughout downtown St Pete and the Albert Whitted Airport. There will be a track side clubhouse this year.

April:

Festival Of Speed:

For three days, there will be exhibitions of the finest aircraft, watercraft, automobiles and motorcycles displayed at the St Petersburg/Clearwater Airport, Vinoy Park, Vinoy Marina and Renaissance Vinoy Resort.

America II Corporate SportsFest:

AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament:

Smooth Jazz Fest:

Sunsets Beach Fest:

The 6th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival; April 13-17, 2011:

Baywalk Muvico Theaters
146 2nd Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-259-8417
info@sunscreenfestival.com

This is an awards event to encourage independent local talent in film making. Some of the celebrity guests attending this year will be Billy Dee Williams, Patrick Wilson, John Travolta, Alexa Vega and Ayanna Bershire.

St. Petersburg Wine and Food Festival; April 15, 2011:

Straub Park, St Petersburg

You're invited to take this opportunity to sample some of the finest local cuisines as well as selected vintage wines supplied by Premier Beverage Company while listening to live music. This event is to benefit American Lung Association in Florida.

Clearwater Fun N Sun Festival:

Venues include Coachman Park and Clearwater Beach. Some of the events feature concerts as well as including the Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival in Coachman Park.

May:

Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival:

This festival usually offers food from local restaurants with wine from around the world. You will enjoy dinners and seminars as well as meet celebrity guests.

Florida Beach Volleyball Tour:

Clearwater Beach Patrol Ocean Mile Swim Series; May-July:

June:

Sunsets at Pier 60 Race Series ; June-August:

July:

Clearwater Celebrates America; July 4, 2011:

Coachman Park
301 Drew. St.
Clearwater

The entire afternoon is planned with activities for the whole family, including live music, food and drink as well as booths, culminating in the evening's firework display.

Pro-Am Beach Volleyball:

Sun, Surf and Beach Soccer Tournament:

September:

Shephard's Annual Labor Day Weekend Event; September 3-5, 2011:

Shephard's Beach Resort
619 S Gulfview
Clearwater Beach

Shephard's annual event offers hip hop music along with other planned activities.

Sand Key Triathlon:

Taste of Clearwater:

October:

Clearwater Jazz Holiday; October 13-16, 2011:

Coachman Park
301 Drew. St
Clearwater

This annual event features four days of free jazz music of every variety. This year's event plans to showcase the most well known performers of Fusion, Latin, Rhythm and Blues and Smooth Jazz as well as local bands.

Clearwater Film Festival; September 29-October 2, 2011:

At Florida's newest film festival you will find both established and new filmmakers from around the world demonstrating their various talents in a wide range of film media.

Super Boat International Powerboat Race:

This annual event involves high speed races between fifty foot boats with 4,800 horsepower engines that take them up to speeds around 100 to 140 mph. The venues hosting this event are Coachman Park, Clearwater Beach as well as Pier 60.

Florida Orchestra Picnic in the Park:

Hispanic Heritage Festival:

Oberto Redfish Cup:

November:

Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic:

Sheraton and Marriott hotels on Sand Key will be hosting around twenty bands from all over this country. Their styles range from swing to different traditional variations. You will find traditional instruments in use, such as the piano, as well as less traditional instruments like the washboard. There will also be a parasol parade and dance lessons in Swing.

Beach Fun Fest:

Best of the Best Car Show:

Christmas Under The Oaks:

Florida Pirate Festival:

ICS State of Florida Chili Championship:

St. Petersburg Times' Turkey Trot:

December:

Lighted Holiday Boat Parade:

This very popular annual event is one of the largest holiday boat parades in this area. There are often around fifty decorated and lighted boats participating. There is a judging and awarding of prizes for winning participants. The route usually flows through the Mandalay Channel along Clearwater Beach.

Outback Bowl Clearwater Beach Day:

Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort is the location for this day of fun, games and other events with the visiting Bowl teams, cheerleaders and marching bands.

Sources:

http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/events/events?type=0

http://www.clearwaterflorida.org/relocation/special_events.asp

http://www.hulahula.biz/

http://www.artfestival.com/FestivalDetails.aspx?FestivalID=73&Type=

http://www.wingandrockfest.com/stpete.html

http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/listings/6638/?event_id=12020#event_12020

http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/listings/6722/?event_id=5940#event_5940

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=phi&m=2&y=2011

http://goflorida.about.com/od/planningyourtrip/ss/springbreak.htm

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/spring-break-2011-wall-calendar

http://www.gpstpete.com/

http://sunscreenfilmfestival.com/

http://www.clearwaterbeachtourism.com/events.htm