- This event has passed.
Tampa Riverfest 2026
Tampa Riverfest returns to the Tampa Riverwalk on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, bringing its annual two-day celebration of food, music, family-friendly activities and waterfront fun to downtown Tampa.
Held the first weekend in May each year, Riverfest spans the Tampa Riverwalk and highlights the city’s cultural institutions, local musicians, restaurants and public parks. This year’s festivities include Taste of Riverwalk, Taco Fest, live music at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, a balloon glow at sunset, a lantern parade, yoga, a water ski show, a paddle invasion, a wiener dog derby and more.
The Tampa Bay History Center will be open until 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, making it a premier stop during your Riverfest celebration. Located at the southern end of the Riverwalk near Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, the History Center offers three floors of Tampa Bay history, waterfront views and dining at Columbia Cafe.
Make the History Center part of your Tampa Riverfest weekend.
Related Events
Plan ahead.
Museum hours
The history center is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
**Galleries are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and open until 3 p.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
We can host your event.
Weddings
The History Center provides a dramatic and historic backdrop for your wedding, wedding reception or rehearsal dinner. Give your wedding a unique Tampa flair your guests will remember for a lifetime.
Corporate events
Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind Tampa experience for your next corporate event or convention party? Are you a meeting planner looking for a unique setting to host a board retreat or employee function? Located within walking distance of downtown hotels, the History Center is perfect for your next corporate event.
