Sharon Kennedy WynneEvents, Family and Travel reporter
I’m an editor who writes, or maybe a writer who edits. I spend time poring over hundreds of events and fun diversions in the Tampa Bay area. I used to cover City Hall and now I ride rollercoasters on a workday. But I view this as a consumer beat. I’m looking for deals and I intend to call out what’s lame or magical. I’m a lifelong St. Petersburg resident and University of Florida grad. I cut my teeth covering politics for the Fort Myers News-Press, where a county commissioner I investigated went to jail. I joined my hometown Times in 1994 where my love of pop culture led me to tbt* and now our features team. Send me a tip when you see something fun.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/9426aeae-0273-416c-ae78-288bf6bfd9db.png "Sharon Kennedy Wynne - Events, Family and Travel reporter")
![Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry will offer free admission Saturday when it hosts the second annual Tampa Bay Water Days.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 562 316"/%3E "Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry will offer free admission Saturday when it hosts the second annual Tampa Bay Water Days.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HSQ7QRBD7NBAPKQFDTNSSMIXIM.JPG "For its seventh year, the Tampa Riverfest will celebrate the Riverwalk on May 5-6 along the entire length of the linear park. The celebration will expand this year to include a taco fest and a market of independent vendors, along with the return of the lighted lantern parade.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PAOVHCL7AWFFSYGTZBSFJIIFKU.jpg "Taylor Swift, shown performing during the opener of her Eras tour on March 17 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, will be in Tampa for three sold-out shows April 13, 14 and 15. Fans are advised to plan ahead for parking and traffic.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FH5BBJC33TZUHSC3WQ5QJCO57M.jpg "Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. In her first extended interview since news of their divorce, supermodel Gisele Bundchen slammed rumors that she and retired NFL star Tom Brady split over his decision to continue playing as quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MEYPZKPIRZHFVDAUYO6DK5ZOYQ.JPG "You'll find more than books at the Clearwater Main Library. At the library's \"Thingamabrary,\" people can check out board games, tools, telescopes, technical kits, art kits, jumper cables, video games and enjoy Wi-Fi hot spots.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TPSV3DXGDVEFFJYWBXLT5ZR6QU.jpg "Chicago, shown here at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Barclays Center in New York in 2016, will perform in Clearwater's Coachman Park on Oct. 7 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hooters.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UVO6HSWMCNATHNV6W6DTRGESYM.jpg "Tron Lightcycle Run, the long-awaited ride at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, will open to the public April 4.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/R5RGZUG4GVELDCDMIBYCFH5IQI.png "The Suite Sun Deck on Wonder of the Seas is exclusively for passengers staying in the Suite Neighborhood. The private neighborhood includes a plunge pool, bar and the Coastal Kitchen, an exclusive restaurant.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XHU63ZQUC5DHFBVPDUKD6AD6RU.JPG "A recent aerial drone photo shows construction in progress on the site of Coachman Park in Clearwater. The amphitheater has been given a name, The Sound, and Kenny Loggins and Billy Currington are among the artists lined up to perform after it opens in June.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UULNOWJ64NDVNANZDSP3YJIQXU.jpg "Rex the dolphin came to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2020 with health challenges. He was determined to have significant hearing loss, making him nonreleasable.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/T3RQE7QUFBAFFMX4OLNSN4Z5PI.jpg "Lynyrd Skynyrd, shown here with Gary Rossington in the center front, will perform at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City on March 12. Rossington died on Sunday, but the show will go on.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UAEIVXWMCBDYNKCRWUSUAFNWAI.jpg "Contestants participate in the Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick Relay at the Florida Strawberry Festival on Thursday, in Plant City.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/674OOIT7TJFPJDVPFLFFMATJXM.jpg "Thousands of patrons attended the Florida Strawberry Festival in 2022. The most-attended festival in Florida returns March 2-12 in Plant City")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GRB2Q5NFJVC35GD3ISDJHD2Y3Q.jpg "The Serengeti Flyer, Busch Gardens' newest thrill ride, has twin dueling arms that progressively sway back and forth, reaching speeds of 68 miles per hour and a 135-foot height at its peak. It officially opens Feb. 27.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WNTVJBMDEFCLRJ7LGIYJ4XKOZM.jpg "The Topgolf Live tour is coming to Raymond James Stadium, allowing golfers to shank a golf ball from the upper levels of the Tampa stadium to targets on the field below. The event will run from May 4-7.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/24KF35E46JCN3DZKFKXXYIKTFE.jpg "In New Orleans, Phil Rosenthal enjoys a hot dog at Dat Dogs on his hit Netflix show \"Somebody Feed Phil.\"")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4GI3WGYTRNEDNGIDB5Z5GLKHEY.jpg "At last year's River O'Green Fest, a boat dropped dye in the river during the next to Curtis Hixon Waterfront in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KQC7TFGJNAI6TMRBPAY4DVT77I.jpg "Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry will offer free admission Saturday when it hosts the second annual Tampa Bay Water Days.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HIM5OSWQARF43NT2DSDFG74SBY.JPG "Jahvier Prince, 5, and Rich Ham, both of Tampa, cheer during the Tampa Pride Parade last year.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/R2AVWP3ADRFBRKXDEPS55VT4IQ.jpg "Offerings at the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival include Five Spice Duck Lettuce Wraps.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/O4POEETUUZFWLEANVDEKVKHFVM.jpg "People take in the festivities at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City on Thursday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YSGYEWB36VFWDISAVQ63YSQTAU.JPG "College student Nico Brown plays a round of catch with friends during his last day of spring break at Ben T. Davis Beach in Tampa in 2022. Six of the area’s public school systems, as well as the University of Florida and the University of South Florida, have the same week off this year, so expect big crowds.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MXH3WYEPEVBLNO4LHKFD3L2EXQ.jpg "The Guinness-certified \"world’s largest bounce house,\" shown here when it was set up as Sarasota Experience last year, is set to inflate March 10-12 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/M452ZREGZBFSXCE7TOUKNHFP7U.jpg "The iconic sign at the historic Sunken Gardens is lit up after a new version which more closely resembles the original, was installed last week Thursday in St. Petersburg.")