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Good morning Tampa!
The clocks fell back Sunday, and now the sun's down before 6.
It's still in the 80s during the day, but the nights are dipping into the low 60s this weekend. In this edition, we have...
A free Ghana Day festival at Rowlett Park
The Tampa Greek Festival on Swann
Sangria Night on a Plant City farm
And more!
Presented by Bright Lights Tampa
One Set of Lights for Every Holiday
Halloween's behind us, and Thanksgiving is just three weeks away.
Drew and the Bright Lights Tampa crew can install permanent LED lights along your roofline once, and they'll be ready for every holiday after that.
You change the colors from an app on your phone, so they can be orange for Thanksgiving, red and green for Christmas, and red, white and blue for the Fourth.
Tampa Loop readers get 10% off when they book by Thanksgiving, November 26. Grab a free quote before the calendar fills up.
Ghana Day Brings Music and Food to Rowlett Park Saturday
Photo: Delight Dzansi, Unsplash
Ghana Day takes over Rowlett Park on Saturday, starting at 10am. It's free, and the Ghanaian Association of Tampa Bay puts it on.
Expect highlife, Afrobeat and traditional drumming, plus plates like waakye and kenkey with fish. There's a jollof cook-off the same day too.
You'll find kente cloth and handmade beads in the marketplace. The park sits right on the Hillsborough River, so bring a chair and stay a while.
When: Saturday 11/7, 10am to 6pm
Where: Rowlett Park, 2401 E Yukon St, Tampa
Cost: Free
Tip: Parking details aren't posted yet, so check the festival site Friday before you head out.
The Tampa Greek Festival Is Back on Swann Avenue This Weekend
Photo: Mahmut Yıldız, Unsplash
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church throws its festival Friday and Saturday. It's open 4pm to 10pm Friday and 11am to 10pm Saturday, and it's free to walk in.
Come hungry. The food's homemade, and the hot honey donuts come drizzled with nuts. You can eat there or take a box home.
John Demas and the Omega Project play all weekend, and dance groups perform in traditional costume. You can tour the church too, and the choir sings during the tours.
When: Friday 11/6, 4pm to 10pm, and Saturday 11/7, 11am to 10pm
Where: St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 W Swann Ave, Hyde Park
Cost: Free to get in. Food and drinks are extra.
Parking: On the church campus and in satellite lots (map on the festival site)
Tip: Ed Sheeran plays Raymond James Saturday night, so Dale Mabry's going to crawl. Friday's the easier night to go.
Sangria Night at Keel Farms in Plant City Friday
Photo: Aurora Song, Unsplash
Keel Farms throws Sangria Night on the first Friday of every month. This one runs Friday from 5pm to 10pm, with no cover and no tickets.
Expect Latin music from live DJs and bands, plus a dance floor. Order a sangria flight and grab dinner from the farm's kitchen.
You're an easy drive out I-4 from Brandon, and parking's free. Sunset's around 5:40, so get there early to catch it over the farm.
When: Friday 11/6, 5pm to 10pm
Where: Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd, Plant City
Cost: Free to get in. Sangria and food are extra.
Tip: Seating's first come, first served, so grab a table before the band starts.
Weather
Thursday 11/5: High 85° / Low 70° - Sunny
Friday 11/6: High 84° / Low 69° - Mostly sunny
Saturday 11/7: High 83° / Low 64° - Sunny
Sunday 11/8: High 80° / Low 62° - Mostly sunny
Monday 11/9: High 77° / Low 59° - Slight chance of rain (17% chance)
Tuesday 11/10: High 80° / Low 66° - Slight chance of rain (10% chance)
Wednesday 11/11: High 75° / Low 64° - Cloudy
Sunset Saturday: 5:41pm
It's sunny and dry all weekend, and cool enough at night for a light jacket.
More This Week
Thursday 11/5
Rock the Park - 6:30-9pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, with Road to Nowhere and Greymarket (free, food trucks on site)
Art on the House - 4-8pm at the Tampa Museum of Art (pay what you wish)
Tampa Animation Festival - opens with Wildwood at 7pm at UT's Charlene A. Gordon Theater, through Sunday (free, reserve a seat)
Friday 11/6
Jazz with Jim - 7:30pm at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, with vocalist Paul Vincent ($18)
Saturday 11/7
Ybor City Saturday Market - 9am-3pm in Centennial Park, Ybor City (free)
Borrell Park Fall Fest - 10am-2pm on E 26th Ave, Ybor Heights (free, native plant giveaway while they last)
Fall Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show - 9am-6pm at the Florida State Fairgrounds, also Sunday 10am-5pm ($8, kids 12 and under free)
Sunday 11/8
Wildwood encore - 6:15pm at UT's Charlene A. Gordon Theater, closing out the Tampa Animation Festival (free, reserve a seat)
Yoga in the Park - 6pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (free, bring a mat)
Monday 11/9 to Wednesday 11/11
Mon: Blind Date with a Book - 4:30-7:30pm at Snow Park, West Riverfront (free, pick a wrapped mystery book)
Mon: HIIT in the Park - 6pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (free)
Tue: Zumba in the Park - 6pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (free)
Wed: Hillsborough County Veterans Day Tribute - 10am at Veterans Memorial Park on US 301 (free, refreshments after)
Wed: Veterans Day at FMoPA - 10am-5pm at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City (free for veterans and active duty with ID)
Looking Ahead
Thu 11/12: Season Spectacular - 5-9pm on Water Street, when about 500,000 holiday lights switch on (free). Our Christmas lights guide has the rest of the season.
Thu 11/12: Downtown's Backyard Market - 11am-2pm at Poe Plaza (free)
Thu 11/12: Channel District Date Nights - 7-9pm at Washington Street Park (free, register ahead)
That's it for this week's edition of Tampa Loop!
Get out there and enjoy those cooler nights!
And if you'd like one set of lights for every holiday, book a free quote with Bright Lights Tampa by Thanksgiving to get 10% off.
See you next week! 🌞
Kevin C
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