With a number of ghoulish events going on in Tampa this weekend, it's a good time to be a friend of the undead. Even if you're not in the mood for madness, we've got a number of big events for you. We'll start off with...
Scaredy-cats
Friday:
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| *Credit WEBN-TV |
Josh Groban
St. Pete Times Forum
If you sleep with the lights on... then this is probably a safe bet. Part-time talk show host (filling in for Regis Philbin) and young pop-opera star, Josh Groban is looking to bring the lights down low and sing into the audience's soul. Hop off at the HSBC station, if you plan on taking the TECO Line Streetcar. The show starts at 8:00 p.m.
Alex Reymundo
Tampa Improv
Looking for some laughs instead of some shrieks? Check out one of the original Latin Kings of Comedy, along with
George Lopez. Arrive to the Improv in style with the TECO Line Streetcar, get off at the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union Station for the Improv and Centro Ybor.
Shows are 21 and up only. Except Friday at 10:30 p.m. which is 18 and up.
Saturday:
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Winnipeg Jets
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| *Credit: Pointinshoot's Flickr |
Check out the NHL's newest franchise as the Winnipeg Jets fly into Tampa on Saturday to take on your hometown Bolts
. The Lightning are looking to match their longest win streak over another opponent, when they host the Jets, which use to be the Atlanta Thrashers. The HSBC station is your stop if you plan on taking the streetcar to the St. Pete Times Forum.
Time isn't an issue as streetcar service ends at 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. During the week, games also aren't a problem as streetcar service is extended during regular season Lightning games. More information can be found
here.
Fright-seekers
All weekend:
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| *Credit: Ricky Brigante |
Howl O' Scream
Busch Gardens
If you like to pay to get the ____________ scared out of you, Busch Gardens'
Howl O' Scream is probably you're best bet (without driving to the land of Mickey and Potter). It's the last weekend for the annual event with tons of haunted houses, scare zones, roller coasters in the dark and spooky live shows. The theme this year is "The Dark Side of the Gardens: Zombies Live Here.".
Don't bring the little ones, it's obviously too intense for scaredy-cat adults who'll probably be at the Josh Groban concert or Tampa Bay Lightning game. The park stays open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Visit
www.howloscream.com for ticket and attraction information.
Ghost Tour Tampa
Indigo Cafe
Didn't know Tampa has a dark-side? Take a candlelit walking through through Tampa to discover it's haunted and secret past. The tour has multiple stops and include ghost stories, visits to haunted houses and tales of restless spirits and supernatural oddities.
Visit
www.ghosttour.net/tampa.html for ticket and attraction information.
Saturday:
Guavaween
Ybor City
Not so scary... minus some of the scandalous costumes you'll see people wearing. Let your inner zombie go wild with this Tampa tradition. The roughly 20-year-old festival began as a big Halloween party between local Ybor residents and now has morphed into one of the area's biggest annual celebrations. We actually wrote a whole
write up on Guavaween, which you can find
here. Basically, festivities begin at 3 p.m. and are expected to end early the next morning. Admission is $12 in advance and can be purchased online from the
Ybor Chamber's website. Tickets are $17 at the gate.
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| Just a taste of the madness... |
Ybor City garages fill up fast for the event, so either plan to arrive early or plan to park in the Channelside/Port Authority garage or the Fort Brooke parking garage and take the TECO Line Streetcar. Please note that beginning at 2:30 p.m., southbound streetcar service will terminate at the TECO Line Streetcar Barn until 2 a.m. Oh, and it's ADULTS ONLY this year, don't bring the little guavas with you.
Enjoy your weekend! There is plenty to make it Spooktacular!
Internationally-renowned maestro and violin
superstar Andrѐ Rieu brings his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra to the Tampa Bay Times Forum as part of his international "And The Waltz Goes On" tour. In addition to his trademark waltzes, Rieu's concert features famous Viennese operettas, film scores, spirituals, musicals, folk songs, and marches; Rieu's concerts are a perfect mix of
thrilling, romantic, festive and emotional melodies combined with
surprises, balloons, beautiful soloists and Rieu's great sense
of humor.
