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Good morning Tampa!
The Rays are in the World Series for the first time since 2020! Games 3 through 5 are at the Trop next week.
Fall mornings are finally here. It's 60 degrees to start today, and it's sunny all weekend. In this edition, we have...
A free fall festival and carnival in Wesley Chapel
The Florida Orchestra, free at Vinoy Park
A free Halloween night on Water Street
And more!
Presented by Bright Lights Tampa
Christmas Lights Without the Ladder
It's finally starting to feel like fall in Tampa, which means the holidays aren't too far behind. Christmas lights will be going up around the neighborhood before we know it.
And while there are plenty of holiday projects worth doing yourself, hanging lights along the roofline is one that's worth handing off.
Drew and the Bright Lights Tampa crew handle the whole process. They'll come out for a free quote and design consultation, install the lights, and then return after the holidays to take everything down and store it until next year.
Drew grew up right here in Lutz, and his company has earned a 5.0 rating on Google and was named a Thumbtack Top Pro in 2025.
If you'd prefer to skip the yearly installation altogether, they also offer permanent LED lights. These stay on your house all year, and you can control the colors from your phone for different holidays. They also come with a 10-year warranty.
Install dates fill up quickly this time of year, so it's worth getting on the calendar soon.
Tampa Loop readers get 15% off when they book by Halloween, October 31. Book now to reserve your installation.
A Free Fall Festival and Carnival in Wesley Chapel
Photo: Artur Aldyrkhanov, Unsplash
The Wesley Chapel Fall Festival and Carnival takes over The Grove this weekend. It's free to get in Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 6pm.
Dreamland Amusements runs the rides and games Thursday through Sunday. There are food trucks and live music all weekend. More than 60 local businesses hand out candy and giveaways.
You'll want to bring the grandkids. The kids' zone has pony rides, face painting and bounce houses. Sunday adds costume contests for kids and pets, plus a trick-or-treat stroll.
When: Saturday 10/24 and Sunday 10/25, 11am to 6pm. Carnival rides run Thursday 10/22 through Sunday, and their hours vary by day.
Where: The Grove at Wesley Chapel, Wesley Grove Blvd, Wesley Chapel
Cost: Free to get in. Rides and games are extra.
Tip: More than 10,000 people are expected, so get there early.
Pops in the Park: The Florida Orchestra Plays Free in St. Pete
Photo: Nathan Trenchuk, Unsplash
The Florida Orchestra plays free at Vinoy Park on Saturday at 7pm. Bring a blanket and a picnic, or grab dinner at the food trucks.
The program runs from Pirates of the Caribbean to "Friends in Low Places." It ends with the whole crowd singing Ode to Joy.
It's a haul from the north side, so make a night of it. You can catch the booths at 5pm and the community band at 5:30.
When: Saturday 10/24. Booths open at 5pm, and the orchestra starts at 7pm.
Where: Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Dr NE, St. Petersburg
Cost: Free. Donation bins take school supplies and canned food.
Tip: Ride the Looper trolley to the park and skip the parking hunt. And leave early if you're crossing the Howard Frankland.
Whispers After Dark Brings Halloween to Water Street Wednesday
Photo: Jonathan Taylor, Unsplash
Water Street throws a free Halloween night on Wednesday, 6 to 9:30pm. Fortune tellers and creatures of the night pop up in six spots.
You can wander at your own pace. Restaurants along Water Street and Sparkman Wharf are open for dinner.
Want something fancier? The Tasting Quarters is a ticketed 21+ walk with drinks and bites. Tickets are limited.
When: Wednesday 10/28, 6pm to 9:30pm
Where: Water Street Tampa, around 971 Water St, Downtown
Cost: Free. The 21+ Tasting Quarters takes a ticket.
Tip: Book your parking online ahead of time.
Weather
Thursday 10/22: High 80° / Low 60° - Sunny
Friday 10/23: High 81° / Low 65° - Sunny
Saturday 10/24: High 82° / Low 67° - Sunny
Sunday 10/25: High 81° / Low 66° - Sunny
Monday 10/26: High 82° / Low 64° - Sunny
Tuesday 10/27: High 82° / Low 70° - Slight chance of rain (15% chance)
Wednesday 10/28: High 86° / Low 69° - Slight chance of rain (13% chance)
Sunset Saturday: 6:53pm
There's no rain in the forecast until Tuesday. Perfect weekend to be outside.
More This Week
Thursday 10/22
Art on the House - 4-8pm at the Tampa Museum of Art (pay what you wish)
Ghosts of Tampa Theatre Tour - 3pm at Tampa Theatre ($15, almost sold out)
Friday 10/23
Bat Boy: The Musical - 8pm at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, final weekend through Sunday ($35)
Saturday 10/24
Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat - 4-9pm at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park (free, costume contest and a movie in the park)
Temple Terrace Fall Festival - 6-9pm at the Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex (free, hayride and petting zoo)
Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival - 10am-5pm at the Florida State Fairgrounds ($13 to $30, kids 12 and under free, $10 parking)
Ybor City Saturday Market - 9am-3pm in Centennial Park, Ybor City (free)
Sunday 10/25
Taste of Latino Festival - noon-6pm at Centennial Park, Ybor City (free, rained out Oct 11 and moved to today)
Boo and Moo Fall Market - 9am-1pm at Old McMicky's Farm, Odessa ($18, farm tour included)
Young Frankenstein - 4:30pm at Tampa Theatre ($13)
Monday 10/26 to Wednesday 10/28
Mon: Rays vs. Brewers, World Series Game 3 - 8pm at Tropicana Field (sold out through the team, resale from about $700)
Tue: Campfire Stories - 7pm at Tampa Theatre ($10, spooky stories for all ages)
Wed: Nell Ward Lecture: Making Sense of the Wild Frontier - 6:30pm at the Tampa Bay History Center (free, with free valet)
Looking Ahead
Sat 10/31: Hocus Pocus - 3pm at Tampa Theatre ($13, kids 12 and under free)
Ongoing: Guppyween - at The Florida Aquarium through 10/31 (kids in costume free with a paid adult)
Ongoing: Festival de Cempasúchil - marigold fields at Sánchez Farms Santa Maria, Plant City, daily through 11/2 (free, $10 parking)
That's it for this week's edition of Tampa Loop!
Get out there and enjoy the sunshine, and go Rays!
If you'd rather stay off the ladder this year, book a free quote with Bright Lights Tampa before Halloween.
See you next week! 🌞
Kevin C
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