Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest: What To Know Before You Go

TAMPA, FL – After more than a week of recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irma, two area organizations are inviting area residents to relax and enjoy football and the great tastes of the region.

For the fourth year in a row, Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest will provide a tailgating atmosphere in Curtis Hixon Waterfont Park – including two college football games on the big screen – along with a food festival.

Here’s what area residents need to know before you go to Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest:

Date and Time

Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Location

The event takes place at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa.

Parking

Public parking is available at the William F. Poe Parking Garage, just north of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on North Ashley Drive.

Admission and Tickets

Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest is a free event to attend. However, attendees must purchase a wristband in order to sample the tailgate fare. The 5-Sample Food Wristband is $20, the 10-Sample Food Wristband is $30 and the VIP Wristband for unlimited samples is $80.

College Football Games

College football games will be shown on the big LED screens at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. As of Tuesday, Sept. 19, Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest has not announced which games will be shown. The games will be announced closer to the event.

Restaurants

The following restaurants will feature tastes of their fare during Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest:

• Champions Sports Bar
• Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
• Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
• Poke’s Rock & Roll
• Sonny’s BBQ
• Cuatro Restaurant & Bar
• The Pub
• 4Rivers Smokehouse
• Beach Bar & Restaurant
• Roux
• Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Skipper’s Smokehouse
• Little Donut House
• American Social
• Grillsmith
• BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

Stubb’s Fan Zone

New to Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest for 2017 is Stubb’s Fan Zone, sponsored by Stubb’s BBQ. Aside from activities from many of the Tampa Bay area’s sports teams, the 16-team cornhole tournament will return for a second year.

Teams of two who want to participate in the Tailgate Taste Fest cornhole tournament must register at the Tampa Bay Sports Club Tent by 4 p.m. The single-elimination tournament will begin at 4:30 p.m. The winning team will be recognized on stage and will be presented with a prize pack courtesy of Sprout’s Farmer’s Market.

Casual cornehole play will resume after the tournament.

The other activities inside Stubb’s Fan Zone will be hosted by:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Tampa Bay Storm
• USF Athletics
• Valspar Championship
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Sampling Station
• Polar Pod
• Tampa Bay Sports Club
• Camp Gladiator Fitness Competitions
• Jam Jar Wines Samplings
• Sprouts Farmers Market

Live entertainment

The following bands will appear on stage during Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest:

• 3 p.m. – Randy McNeeley Band
• 5 p.m. – Southern Rumble
• 7 p.m. – Bearded Brothers Band
• 9 p.m. – Soul Circus Cowboys

For updates and more information about the event, visit http://tailgatetastefest.com.

Image via City of Tampa Facebook page