This Week in Tampa Bay: EDM, Empanadas, and the Last of the Wine (April 14–20)

This Week in Tampa Bay: EDM, Empanadas, and the Last of the Wine (April 14–20)

Mid-April in Tampa Bay is not slowing down. Between a two-day music festival at Raymond James, a food event that's pure Florida chaos in the best way, and the tail end of one of Tampa's most respected culinary traditions — there's no shortage of reasons to get out this week.

Here's what's worth your time.

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Breakaway Tampa Music Festival — April 17–18

If you're into EDM, this is the headline event of the week. Breakaway returns to the North Grounds at Raymond James Stadium for a two-day festival showcasing some of the biggest names in electronic music right now.

The lineup includes Dom Dolla, NGHTMRE, Eptic, Chris Lorenzo, and Champagne Drip — a mix of house, bass, and everything in between. The North Grounds setup gives it a real festival feel without being the full stadium-in-your-face production, which works.

Gates open at 4 PM on both Friday and Saturday. If you went to a Breakaway event a few years back and it felt like it was hitting its stride, this year's lineup suggests they've delivered on that promise.

Tickets are still available through Universe.com, though floor and GA prices tend to creep up as the weekend gets closer.

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Tampa Bay Empanada Festival — April 18–19

The format is straightforward: walk around, eat things, drink craft cocktails, listen to live music, repeat. It's family-friendly during the day and a little livelier by evening. There's usually a mix of traditional Latin-style fillings alongside some more creative local spins — previous years have had vendors doing things like Cuban sandwich empanadas and guava-cream cheese variations that make absolute sense for this part of Florida.

This is a solid Saturday or Sunday option if the festival crowd at Raymond James isn't your scene.

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Bern's Winefest Final Days — Through April 19

If you haven't caught any of the Bern's Winefest week yet, you have until Sunday, April 19. Bern's Steak House runs this annual event across an entire week, and it's exactly what it sounds like: serious wine, serious food, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel like the weekend started on Monday.

Events vary by night — some are full dinners, some are more casual tasting events — and they sell out quickly. At this point in the week, remaining spots will be limited, but it's worth checking berns1956.com directly if a special dinner on Friday or Saturday appeals.

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Saigon Kick at Coachman Park, Clearwater — April 18

For something a little different: the Florida-born rock band Saigon Kick is playing Coachman Park in Clearwater on Saturday, April 18. If you came up on early 90s rock, Saigon Kick has the kind of back catalog that holds up better than you'd expect — "Love Is on the Way" will be in your head for three days after.

Coachman Park is a solid outdoor venue on the water, and an April evening in Clearwater is about as good as it gets for an outdoor show. Tickets are available through Hellotickets and the usual resale channels.

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Weekend Markets — St. Pete & Beyond

The Saturday Morning Market in St. Petersburg runs through the end of May at Williams Park. It's one of the largest outdoor markets in the Southeast, and if you haven't been this season, April is arguably the sweet spot before the summer heat makes it less appealing. Produce, local food vendors, artisans, and a crowd that's more neighborhood than tourist.

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The Short Version

• Friday–Saturday: Breakaway Music Festival, Raymond James North Grounds
• Saturday–Sunday: Empanada Festival, Perry Harvey Sr. Park
• Through Sunday: Bern's Winefest final nights
• Saturday: Saigon Kick, Coachman Park, Clearwater
• Saturday: St. Pete Saturday Morning Market, Williams Park

Mid-April is one of those windows where the weather cooperates, the crowds are manageable, and there's actually stuff happening. Get outside.

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