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Top things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend: Oct. 18-20

The star of ‘Rocky Horror’ will screen the movie in Tampa and other Halloween-themed fun, plus the Tattoo Arts Convention and “Brick History.”
 
From left: A scene from 1975's "Rocky Horror Picture Show," starring Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon.
From left: A scene from 1975's "Rocky Horror Picture Show," starring Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon. [ 20th Century Fox ]
Published Oct. 16, 2019

HALLOWEEN: CELEBS AND KID PARTIES

Tampa Theatre is shaking up its annual Halloween film festival Nightmare on Franklin Street with two live shows. Catch the popular horror-comedy podcast The Last Podcast on the Left at 8 p.m. Friday. $34.50-$44.50. And Barry Bostwick, the star of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, will give a talk before a screening of the cult classic at 7 p.m. and midnight Saturday. $26-$101. Plus, there are loads of scary films and ghost tours of the historic movie house. Find the lineup at tampatheatre.org. 711 N Franklin St.

A Night at the Museum returns to the Tampa Bay History Center with pirates, soldiers, ghosts and historical Florida figures that come alive in the exhibits to pass out candy to costumed children. $12, $10. Trick-or-treat sessions are at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. 801 Old Water St., Tampa.

Kids can find candy and characters during the Tampa Bay History Center's A Night at the Museum in Tampa. [ Tampa Bay History Center ]

Why should humans have all the fun? Bring your costumed pets and kids to Pet Supermarket for Muttster Mash, a Halloween party with a costume contest, vendors, pet experts, ask-a-vet and adoptable pets on site. Free. 2 p.m. Saturday. Pet Supermarket, 2766 E Fowler Ave., Tampa.

INK: TAMPA TATTOO ARTS CONVENTION

The Tampa Tattoo Arts Convention returns with more than 400 tattoo artists from around the globe, with tattoo competitions, circus-style acts and vendors. Paul Teutul Sr. from Orange County Choppers and stars from Ink Master, Tattoo Nightmares and How Far Is Tattoo Far will appear. $20, $40 three days, 11 and younger free. 2-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m-11 p.m.. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St. (215) 423-4780. villainarts.com.

The Tampa Tattoo Arts Convention will return to the Tampa Convention Center this weekend. [ Times (2016) ]

MUSEUMS: LEGO AND MINIATURE HISTORY

A new exhibit and a whole new museum are opening this week. At the Tampa Bay History Center, “Brick History” features key figures in history from Mozart to Martin Luther King, told with Lego brick constructions. The exhibit features ­­­28 meticulously crafted models, each depicting a person, moment or discovery that altered world history from scientific discoveries like Big Bang and DNA to recent history like mobile phones and the moon landings. Lego artist Warren Elsmore and his team have drawn crowds around the world with their celebration of history made from everyone’s favorite Danish toy. There will be tables set up inside the exhibit area where both kids and adults can build their own Lego creations. The exhibit also features a map of Florida by Tampa artist John Fontana from Bricks 4 Kidz. The exhibit is on view through Feb. 16. $14.95, $12.95 seniors, $10.95 students, 6 and younger free. 801 Old Water St., Tampa. (813) 228-0097. tampabayhistorycenter.org.

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And the new Suncoast Center for Fine Scale Modeling will have an open house with four operating train layouts, military dioramas and doll house miniatures. $9, 11 and younger free. 10 a.m. Saturday. 2645 Success Drive, Odessa. (727) 460-5872. finescalemodeling.org.

The Boston Tea Party, as told in Legos, is part of the new "Brick History" exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa. [ Tampa Bay History Center ]

MIDWAY: HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR

Thursday brings opening day of the Hillsborough County Fair with the typical mix of carnival food and rides. But it gets souped up with a rodeo, tractor pulls, demolition derby, pig racing and a gospel jam. $7, $5 students, $4 seniors, 5 and younger free. Runs through Oct. 27. Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover. (813) 737-3247.