Riverfest is a public, two-day, free event that is held the first weekend in May each year. The festival spans the entire length of the Riverwalk including several parks and features family-friendly activities and events showcasing Tampa's cultural institutions, local musicians and restaurants. The festival includes Taste of Riverwalk on Friday night and TacoFest on Saturday. There is also a full concert series of local bands on the main stage in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and a balloon glow at sunset both nights. Other activities include a wiener dog derby, sidewalk chalk artists and a stand-up paddleboard invasion.
Mark your calendars now for Riverfest 2022!
Friday, May 6, 2022, from 4 PM - 10 PM
Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 10 AM - 10 PM
SPONSORSHIPS FOR TAMPA RIVERFEST 2022 ARE AVAILABLE
To keep RiverFest a FREE community event, we rely on event sponsorships to help make the event possible. Certain level sponsors are able to be onsite and have a 10’x10′ area in Curtis Hixon Park to increase awareness of their company or organization.
BENEFITS OF SPONSORSHIP ARE:
- TICKETS TO THE VIP HOSPITALITY TENT WITH OPEN BAR AND COMPLIMENTARY FOOD
- FRONT ROW ACCESS TO THE MAIN STAGE
- PROMOTIONAL SPACE AT THE EVENT
- MEDIA RECOGNITION THROUGH ALL MEDIUMS
- RECOGNITION AT THE EVENT
Taste of the Riverwalk
Year three of the Tampa Riverwalk’s signature event will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, in Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa. There will be a free concert series that begins at 4 pm with beer trucks and activities available that evening. The Taste of the Riverwalk event will take place within Curtis Hixon Park from 6-9 pm. A wristband purchase is required for access to the food tent area.
Participating Restaurants for 2022 to be announced at a later date!
Wrist Band Pricing
Wristbands are available in the quantities below. Wristbands will go on sale the month prior to the event.
- 3 SAMPLES FROM PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS AT $10
- 5 SAMPLES FROM PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS AT $15
PLEASE NOTE ONLINE SALES WILL END 24 HOURS BEFORE THE EVENT. IF NOT SOLD OUT, WRISTBANDS WILL BE SOLD AT THE EVENT.
TacoFest at Tampa Riverfest
On Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 10 am – 8 pm in Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa Riverfest will be hosting the 3rd Annual TacoFest in Curtis Hixon Park. TacoFest will provide a delicious opportunity to try a variety of tacos and toppings while enjoying all of the other aspects of Riverfest like the Wiener Dog Derby, Concert Series, Beer Tents, Margarita Bar and more.
Wrist Band Pricing
Wristbands are available in the quantities below. Wristbands will go on sale the month prior to the event.
- 3 TACOS FOR $10
- 5 TACOS FOR $15
PLEASE NOTE ONLINE SALES WILL END 24 HOURS BEFORE THE EVENT. IF NOT SOLD OUT, WRISTBANDS WILL BE SOLD AT THE EVENT
VIP HOSPITALITY TENT AT TAMPA RIVERFEST
The VIP Hospitality tent is available to sponsors and to those who purchase VIP tickets. The tent will be open from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. both on Friday and Saturday of the festival. Tickets are day-specific and must be purchased for the day you plan to attend. You may purchase a ticket for both days.
VIP TENT BENEFITS:
- ACCESS TO COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS THAT INCLUDES SELECT BEER, SODA, WATER AND TITO’S COCKTAILS
- LIGHT FOOD
- FRONT ROW ACCESS TO THE MAIN STAGE
- THEMED SEATING OPTIONS
- ACCESS TO PORTABLE RESTROOMS IN TENT
- WRISTBAND FOR 5 SAMPLES FROM THE TASTE OF THE RIVERWALK EVENT (FRIDAY NIGHT VIP TICKET PURCHASE ONLY)
- PRICES TO TBD
VIP TICKETS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE:
PLEASE NOTE ONLINE SALES WILL END 24 HOURS BEFORE THE EVENT. IF NOT SOLD OUT, WRISTBANDS WILL BE SOLD AT THE EVENT
FREE CONCERT SERIES AT RIVERFEST
The concert series is made up of several local top bands and a DJ playing both days of Tampa RiverFest. All bands will play on the main stage in Curtis Hixon Park. Check back at a later date for the updated line-up for our 2022 concert series. Our 2022 line-up will feature a national band to headline on Saturday, May 7, 2022. Stay tuned! Take a peek below to see who played at RiverFest in 2019.
FLORIDA WIENER DOG DERBY
Back by popular demand, Tampa Riverfest is partnering with The Florida Wiener Dog Derby as part of the FREE events and activities for Riverfest.
The derby will be on Saturday, May 7, 2022, with races and contests throughout the day and a start time of 10:00 am.
The location is Curtis Hixon Waterfront in Downtown Tampa and will be next to the beer trucks and TacoFest tents.
This is likely the largest Dachshund gathering in the State of Florida! Please come join us for a day of family fun! Events planned for the day are the Best Nose, the Speed Trap, the Costume Contest, the Kissing Contest, the Best Tail contest and, of course, Dachshund Racing. Wiener dogs from the age of 4 months to 18 years old will race in many age categories.
All Dachshunds of all ages can register for one of seven divisions. Divisional Champions will qualify for the Championship Final & the Florida Circuit Championship of the National Dachshund Race Circuit
Followed by the “Wiener Wanna-Be” small all dog breed & mixed race.
- GAMES
- RAFFLES
- SILENT ART AUCTION
- FOSTER DOGS
FOR RACE REGISTRATION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GO TO FLORIDA WIENER DOG DERBY’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
Blessing of the Fleet
Help us to create a new Tampa tradition as we get ready for the summer boating season. At the start of summer boating and commercial fishing season in port cities all across America, fleets receive blessings to wish them safe boating and journeys – ceremonies that date back to their earliest dates of 1492! We hope to do this every summer to kick off Tampa’s summer boating season for both commercial and recreational boaters.
LARGE AND SMALL BOATS:
Both large and small boats are invited to participate. Large boats will be blessed in the Convention Center Basin at the Pirate Water Taxi dock, while small boats (under 12 feet tall) will continue the parade up the river to a blessing station at Curtis Hixon Park and a judging station at Sparkman Wharf. As a small boat, to be even considered for the prizes, you MUST pass by all of the stations – Convention Center, Curtis Hixon Park, Armature Works and Sparkman Wharf.
Once you register, you will receive a number a few days prior to the parade to be placed visibly on your boat, starboard side, so that we are able to judge the boat efficiently.
DECORATING COMPETITION:
All registered boaters will be entered to win prizes for the best-decorated boat. All things will be considered so decorate to the best of your ability. Some ideas are flags, pennants, showing your Tampa Bay pride, your support for local sports teams, music playing, crew uniforms, and much more! We do discourage boaters from throwing items to the crowds.
TAMPA RIVERFEST MAP
Check back at a later date for the updated map and schedule of events for 2022.
Riverfest Parking and Transportation
There are several options available including free bike valet at Curtis Hixon Park, courtesy of Tampa Downtown Partnership and provided by Two Wheel Valet.
Parking is available at multiple locations near the event and within a few blocks. See map below. The address of Curtis Hixon Park is 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL 33602. On-street parking in Downtown Tampa is free of charge north of Kennedy Boulevard after 6:00 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. Standard parking fares apply at all other times.
We encourage you to come early and walk the beautiful Tampa Riverwalk to other downtown destinations. You can also travel to the event using Uber, Lyft, Pirate Water Taxi, Coast Bike Share, and TECO Line Streetcar. TECO Line Streetcar is now FREE and comes every 15 minutes.
