This Week in Tampa Bay: BBQ Battles, Triumph, and a Week With Something for Everyone (May 19–25)

This Week in Tampa Bay: BBQ Battles, Triumph, and a Week With Something for Everyone (May 19–25)

Whether you want to eat your weight in smoked brisket, catch a classic rock reunion, or stumble through a mystical street market in Gulfport — this week in Tampa Bay has you covered. Here's what's worth your time.

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Tampa Bay BBQ Festival and Competition — May 23–24 | Vinoy Park, St. Pete

This is the headliner of the week. The Tampa Bay BBQ Festival and Competition takes over Vinoy Park on Saturday and Sunday, running 1–9pm both days.

Over 100 dishes from competitive BBQ teams across the state, craft beer on tap, live music, and live mural artists working throughout the festival. It's one of those events that genuinely delivers — real pitmasters competing for real stakes, not a parking lot with food trucks.

Tickets at tampabaybarbecue.com. St. Pete waterfront, so parking is easiest via the garages on 2nd Ave NE.

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Triumph: The Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded Tour — Sunday, May 24 | Amalie Arena, Tampa

Canadian rock legends Triumph are back on the road, and they're stopping at Amalie Arena Sunday night. If you know, you know — "Magic Power," "Lay It on the Line," "Allied Forces." The band took a decades-long hiatus before reuniting in recent years, so if you've been waiting to see them live, this is likely your shot.

Tickets via Ticketmaster. Classic rock crowd, so expect a relaxed vibe and people who actually remember buying the records.

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Arts and Mind Convening — Tuesday, May 20 | Straz Center, Tampa

The Fourth Annual Arts and Mind Convening runs 8:30am–5pm at TECO Theater inside the Straz Center. Presented by the Straz and Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab, it brings together scientists, researchers, artists, and community members to explore the intersection of art and healing.

Sessions cover topics like "The Merging of Art & Science" and "Health & The Community." It's a full day — tickets are $20 general ($15 for veterans and students). Register at strazcenter.org.

Not your typical Tuesday.

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Andrés Cepeda — Tuesday, May 19 | Ferguson Hall, Straz Center, Tampa

Colombian balladeer Andrés Cepeda kicks off the week at Ferguson Hall on Tuesday night. If you're into Latin romantic pop done with real craft — vocals, arrangements, the whole thing — this is a good night out. Tickets via strazcenter.org.

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Being Piaf — Saturday, May 23 | Catherine Hickman Theater, Gulfport

On Saturday evening, Eleanora Owen channels Édith Piaf in an intimate tribute performance at Catherine Hickman Theater in Gulfport. Show starts at 6pm. Tickets are $30 general, $45 VIP, and all proceeds benefit the Gulfport Senior Foundation.

Gulfport's Catherine Hickman is a beautiful little venue if you haven't been — 270 seats, close to the stage, the kind of room where every seat is a good one.

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Mystic Night Bazaar — Saturday, May 23 | Gulfport | Free

Free admission, 5–10pm. The Mystic Night Bazaar at Handmade Mystic Healing Crystals and Jewelry (5226 Gulfport Blvd. S) features tarot readings, aura photography, and handmade goods from local vendors. It's a casual, walkable neighborhood event — worth pairing with dinner in Gulfport's Arts District if you're making a night of it.

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Alt Tampa at TAMP — Through June 14 | Tampa Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City

Still running through June 14, the Alt Tampa exhibition at TAMP (1630 E Seventh Ave.) features Photo Laureate Jesi Cason's portraits of Tampa's goth, punk, raver, and alt communities. Vivid, honest, and genuinely Tampa — not what you'd expect from a formal museum show.

Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12–5pm. Tickets $10–$12.

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The Breakdown

| Event | Date | Where | Cost |

|---|---|---|---|

| Tampa Bay BBQ Festival | May 23–24 | Vinoy Park, St. Pete | Ticketed |

| Triumph | May 24 | Amalie Arena, Tampa | Ticketed |

| Arts and Mind Convening | May 20 | Straz Center, Tampa | $20 |

| Andrés Cepeda | May 19 | Straz Center, Tampa | Ticketed |

| Being Piaf | May 23 | Catherine Hickman, Gulfport | $30/$45 |

| Mystic Night Bazaar | May 23 | Gulfport | Free |

| Alt Tampa Exhibition | Through June 14 | TAMP, Ybor City | $10–$12 |

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Solid week. If you're a local business thinking about how to stay visible in the community — events like these are one of the best organic opportunities to show up, sponsor, and get seen by exactly the kind of people you want as customers.

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