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Sharon Kennedy Wynne - Events, Family and Travel reporter

Events, 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.

  1. Scare actors roam the grounds of Busch Gardens in Tampa during the 2017 Howl-O-Scream event. There are five haunted houses this year, including a new one called D.H. Baggum’s Circus of Fear with creepy clowns and a menacing midway.
  2. People stream into Clearwater's revamped Coachman Park in June.
  3. Salt Shack on the Bay opened in 2019 at 5415 W Tyson Ave., just south of the Westshore Marina District.
  4. Scream-A-Geddon is back for a ninth season. Spread across 60 acres in remote Pasco County, the terror park has haunted houses, a zombie paintball fight and monsters who can kidnap you, with permission.
  5. Kandy, a friendly witch in training, is the star of Busch Gardens' kid-friendly Halloween event Spooktacular. It is included with admission.
  6. Outkast, featuring Andre 300, left, and Big Boi, right, perform at the 2014 Big Guava Music Festival in Tampa. Big Boi will have a free show on Oct. 10 as part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s pregame party.
  7. After a day of playing a loop of Mary J. Blige, shown here at the 2022 Super Bowl, Tampa radio station 101.5-FM switched from a Top 40 format to R&B.
  8. Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will officially open at Epcot on Oct. 16. Guests can explore a walking trail that entertains with water in magical ways, like Moana did with the ocean. The new attraction is in the World Nature neighborhood of Epcot.
  9. The Cinderella Castle is seen at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. This weekend brings Destination D23, the official Disney fan club gathering, for three days of presentations on the company's projects and exclusive shopping opportunities.
  10. Nikki Gaskin-Capehart, former director of urban affairs for the city of St. Petersburg, on Thursday was named the new CEO and president of the Pinellas County Urban League, the first woman to ever hold the position.
  11. This photo of a seemingly defaced Morgan & Morgan billboard was spotted on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. The firm has admitted in the past to defacing its own billboards as an attention-getter.
  12. Tampa Old City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023.
  13. Miami-Dade residents Jackie and James Silva load their car after shopping to prepare for potential landfall by Hurricane Ian at Costco in Miami in 2022. Hurricane supplies will be tax-free starting Saturday for a two-week sales tax holiday.
  14. Thousands of people browse local vendors during the Shopapalooza Festival at Vinoy Park in 2021 in St. Petersburg. The organizer, LocalShops1, is celebrating its 15th anniversary of boosting local independent businesses.
  15. The Club at Treasure Island opened in September 2010 as an entertainment complex that offered exclusive events, celebrity chefs and Las Vegas-style shows. It announced Monday it has closed permanently.
  16. Dunedin Wines the Blues has been going on for 30 years and was almost canceled this year because it had grown too large. It will be held Nov. 11 in Pioneer Park.
  17. Parkgoers are seen riding Cobra's Curse at Busch Gardens in Tampa in 2021.
  18. The splash pad at Curtis Hixon Park is one of the many ways to get some relief from this week's heat wave.
  19. It’s back-to-school time and those who provide help for those in need say higher prices and family economics have created a greater need this year.
  20. A ball pit at the Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Petersburg.
  21. The Hillsborough County Children's Board Family Resource Center hosted their annual Back to School fair on Saturday in Temple Terrace, giving away school supplies.
  22. Visitors check out the offerings of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Disney is offering a Florida resident ticket deal for Epcot and Animal Kingdom for $159 through Sept. 29.
  23. Hulk Hogan announced his engagement this week. And it took place at the St. Petersburg wedding of his fiance’s best friend.