As the weekend approaches, Tampa residents and visitors should brace themselves for a series of events that are expected to draw large crowds and significantly impact traffic downtown. According to a traffic advisory released by the City of Tampa, disruptions will primarily occur on Saturday and Sunday, and will be because of lane closures on Ashley Drive and a complete closure on Gasparilla Plaza. Full information about the traffic advisory can be found on the city's official website at tampa.gov.
Noteworthy events on Saturday include the FMEA Professional Learning Conference & All-State Concerts at the Tampa Convention Center starting at 8 AM and the March for Life Youth Rally at Perry Harvey Park beginning at 9 AM. Later in the day, attendees can to truly enjoy the Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Festival at Curtis Hixon Park from 2 PM, and theater enthusiasts have performance options at the Straz Center at both 2 PM and 7:30 PM. The Tampa Theatre is also hosting a show at 7:30 PM. With activities spread out through the day, it's anticipated that the events will attract a diverse audience to the city's downtown area.
On Sunday, the Water Street Market will kick things off at 10 AM, followed by another round of the Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Festival at Curtis Hixon Park beginning at 11 AM. The Straz Center will offer multiple performance times throughout the day at 1 PM, 2 PM, 6 PM, and 6:30 PM to accommodate theatergoers' schedules. The city has detailed the expected lane and road closures around these central venues. On Saturday, Ashley Drive will see closures at 7 AM to Noon and again from 11 PM to 1 AM, while on Sunday, disruptions are predicted from 7 AM to 10 AM and 8 PM to 1 AM. Gasparilla Plaza will shut down on Saturday from 1 PM to Midnight and will remain closed on Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Although the Poe Garage will stay accessible, the city strongly encourages those planning to attend any of the downtown events to consider using alternative forms of transportation. Options include the free TECO Line Streetcar, the DASH service, HART buses, along with scooters and bikes for rent, and rideshare options, all in an effort to relieve congestion and make the travel experience more pleasant for everyone involved. With the number of events happening, diversifying travel options is not only convenient but also imperative to ensure smooth operation of the downtown area.
