Tampa’s annual 813 Day celebration is turning downtown’s waterfront into a bargain-filled block party, with live music, team mascots, giveaways and a photo fundraiser for The Florida Aquarium. The event lands Thursday at Sparkman Wharf, where even the aquarium admission price is getting an area-code makeover.
The festivities will run from 5 p.m. to 8:13 p.m. on the Sparkman Wharf lawn and at Spark Square, with a live DJ, hourly giveaways and appearances by Tampa sports mascots, according to Osprey Observer. Restaurants and retailers at Sparkman Wharf and nearby Water Street will also offer select $8.13 specials, giving visitors another reason to linger after the music starts.
Florida Aquarium Admission Gets An 813-Day Discount
The Florida Aquarium will offer $8.13 off general admission on Thursday, but the deal is available only at the ticket window. The discount adds a low-cost entry point to an attraction whose nonprofit mission includes marine wildlife rescue, coral reef restoration, research and education, as outlined by The Florida Aquarium.
The fundraiser is built around Sparkman Wharf’s oversized TAMPA sign, which will be decorated for 813 Day through Sunday. Organizers will donate $5 to The Florida Aquarium for every qualifying photo posted through Sunday, up to $1,000; participants must take the photo at the sign, post it on Instagram and follow and tag the Sparkman Wharf and aquarium accounts, according to Osprey Observer. Mayor Jane Castor kicked off the campaign Monday, giving the aquarium’s conservation work a little extra civic visibility before the main event.
A Wider Tampa Celebration Is Planned Downtown
Sparkman Wharf’s evening program is part of a broader citywide 813 Day lineup. Visit Tampa Bay lists a separate midday celebration at its downtown visitors center, with local bites, shopping, giveaways and Tampa Bay sports mascots before the waterfront festivities take over.
