Arts & Entertainment Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

A medium-shot, outdoor action photograph of a woman playing pickleball at a public court in St. Petersburg, Florida. The woman, in the foreground, is running toward the right side of the frame with a wide, joyful smile, holding a blue-and-yellow pickleball paddle in her right hand as she prepares to hit the ball. She is wearing a green, long-sleeved jacket over a light-colored top, black leggings, and athletic sneakers with her hair pulled up in a bun. The court is surrounded by a high chain-link fence, and the background shows other people playing on adjacent courts during a late-afternoon, golden-hour light setting. A bright yellow pickleball is captured in the air above the fence near the top right of the frame.

Arts & Entertainment

Here are the best places to play pickleball in Tampa Bay

With an emphasis of places offering free or low cost play.

by Seán Kinane June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

Pickleball is the talk of the town this weekend thanks to the Major League Pickleball tournament happening in St. Pete from June 17-21, and the action might inspire some to start dinking around Tampa Bay. If you’re pickle curious, your best bet is to just get out there and play. Before you go, read up […]

Arts & Entertainment

Pickleball’s greatest players are competing in St. Pete this week—here’s how the tournament works

The hometown Florida Smash is hosting 11 of the 20 MLP franchises.

by Seán Kinane June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

A wide, eye-level, live-action photograph of professional pickleball players Anna Bright (left) and Rachel Rohrabacher (right) celebrating a win on a pickleball court. They are embracing in a tight, joyful hug, both wearing white visors and dark-colored athletic tank tops and skirts. Bright, on the left, holds a black pickleball paddle in their left hand, while Rohrabacher, on the right, holds a black paddle in their right hand. Both players have their heads tilted back in laughter, expressing pure exhilaration. The background is a dense, sunlit grandstand packed with hundreds of spectators, creating a vibrant, high-stakes atmosphere for the tournament.

Arts & Entertainment

Major League Pickleball takes over St. Pete this weekend, and one of its stars lives in our backyard

Rachel Rohrabacher is ranked the No. 7 women’s doubles player in the world and is ranked No. 7 in mixed doubles.

by Seán Kinane June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

Marcello Hernandez poses with a microphone stand onstage for his Netflix special "American Boy."

Arts & Entertainment

Marcello Hernandez’s two Tampa shows are nearly sold out this week

He doesn’t have ADD. He just like to jump.

by Selene San Felice and Liam Oliver June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of journalist Daniel Rivero. They are looking directly at the camera with a calm, composed expression. Rivero has a short, cropped haircut and a neatly trimmed beard. They are wearing a dark-navy button-down shirt. The background is a soft-focus construction site or industrial area, characterized by white, grid-like concrete blocks and steel scaffolding, creating a grounded, gritty aesthetic.

In Tampa, ‘Just Freedom’ author will discuss Florida’s long history of denying voting rights

Daniel Rivero is the next guest on WMNF’s ‘Wavemakers Live’ series happening June 25.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A smiling person at a table displaying copies of the Sapphic Sun at New Moon Makers' Market

Arts & Entertainment

How ‘The Sapphic Sun’ is made

You know the dykes got that environmentally-friendly soy-based ink.

by Valerie Smith and The Sapphic Sun June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

Someone holds the Juneteenth flag, featuring a blue upper half, a red lower half, and a downward-curved arc with a centered, white five-pointed star surrounded by a starburst. the bottom of the flag includes the text "June 19, 1865."

Arts & Entertainment

How to celebrate Juneteenth in Tampa Bay

The creator of the national Juneteenth flag comes to Tampa tomorrow for the first of 20+ emancipation events

by Leif Helland and Liam Oliver June 11, 2026June 17, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Paul Wilborn shares excerpt from his new novel about Tampa mobster Charlie Wall

“The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall” was published in April by St. Petersburg Press.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

The ‘world’s largest’ Christmas light maze returns to Tropicana Field this winter

Enchant Christmas brings their holiday experience back to St. Pete after a two year absence.

by Liam Oliver June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Urban farmer and florist stars in ‘Flower Lady,’ topping Tampa Fringe 2026 shows

Tampa Fringe Festival takes over Kress Contemporary and The Commodore in Ybor City all month.

by CL Staff June 9, 2026June 9, 2026

Two smiling women pose together holding green and blue Creative Loafing "Best of the Bay 2025" award signs in front of a blue backdrop at the Hard Rock Event Center

Arts & Entertainment

Last chance to nominate your local favorites for Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of The Bay awards

To make sure we covered it all, CL has extended the nomination window for this year’s readers’ poll.

by Colin Wolf June 9, 2026June 9, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Red Bull cliff diving makes Florida debut in St. Pete contest

American athletes took first place as a bunch of crazies jumped into the North Yacht Basin.

by Ray Roa June 8, 2026June 9, 2026

A rowdies fan waves a rainbow Rowdies scarf on Pride night

Arts & Entertainment

Undefeated Rowdies celebrate Pride night in St. Pete next week

Tickets for the June 13 match against Hartford Athletic include a rainbow accordion fan.

by Leif Helland June 5, 2026June 5, 2026

A wide-shot, stage-performance photograph of the touring production of 'Beetlejuice.' From left to right, David Wilson as Adam and Kaitlin Feely as Barbara are seated on the left, looking toward the center. In the center, Leianna Weaver as Lydia stands wearing a black dress, and to their right, Ryan Stajmiger as Beetlejuice stands atop a dining table wearing their iconic striped suit, gesturing with both arms outstretched. The scene is illuminated in high-contrast blue and lime-green theatrical lighting, with atmospheric smoke filling the space of the stylized, dark-toned interior set.

Arts & Entertainment

Broadway’s ‘Beetlejuice’ musical returns to Tampa this month

The Eight-time Tony Award nominated musical makes its comeback featuring a unique take of the 1980’s cult classic film.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

American diver Kaylea Arnett performing a tuck-position dive from a 21-meter platform cantilevered off the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Below, a massive crowd watches from the pier and spectator boats in the harbor during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series finale.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week include Red Bull cliff diving, ‘Love Island’ watch parties and more

Plus, Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” screening and “Salud and Happy Days” improv featuring Dave Decker.

by CL Staff June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, behind-the-scenes photograph of Devin Dominguez performing a site inspection at the Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida, on May 27, 2026. Dominguez is seen from behind, wearing a green hard hat and a beige button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves. They are reaching up with both hands, pointing toward an ornate, gilded architectural cornice featuring oval-shaped cutouts. The auditorium is filled with metal construction scaffolding, and the scene is illuminated by warm, localized work lighting against the dimly lit, expansive interior of the theater.

Arts & Entertainment

As Tampa Theatre restoration continues, the book about its 100-year history gets release date

Andy Huse’s posthumous ‘Tampa Theatre: A Century of Stories of the history of Tampa Theatre’ hits shelves Sept. 26.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, eye-level photograph of New Zealand soccer defender Tim Payne captured during a training session. They have short dark hair and are wearing a black, sleeveless athletic training top. They are shown mid-air in a dynamic, athletic pose, striking a soccer ball with the instep of their right foot. The ball is positioned centrally in the frame, directly in front of their chest. The background is a soft, out-of-focus view of green trees and a pale, overcast sky, suggesting an outdoor sports complex.

Arts & Entertainment

Tim Payne, the World Cup’s fastest rising social media star, hits the field in Tampa this weekend

Despite England v. New Zealand’s star power, tickets are not selling for the match on Saturday.

by Liam Oliver June 4, 2026June 5, 2026

Comedian OmgItsWicks holds a flip phone with a perplexed expression against a bright blue sky

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best stand up comedy gigs for June 2026

Including Omgitswicks, Godfrey and more.

by Michael Murillo June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

An architectural, low-angle shot of the iconic, bright blue sign of the Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The vertical portion of the sign prominently displays the word 'THEATRE' in bold, white, capital letters. Beneath it, a horizontal marquee reads 'BEACH' in similar white, block lettering. The sign is set against a soft, pale, overcast sky, with the top of a palm tree visible in the upper-left corner and a dark, traditional-style street lamp visible on the left side of the frame.

Arts & Entertainment

Pulitzer-nominated play about the US Constitution comes to St. Pete Beach this summer

‘What The Constitution Means To Me’ opens just in time for America’s 250th birthday.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, action-oriented photograph of St. Petersburg Opera conductor Mark Sforzini leading an orchestra. They are wearing a formal white button-down shirt with a crisp navy blue vest and a matching bowtie. Their arms are raised, with their left hand holding a baton poised in the air and their right hand gesturing precisely to the ensemble. Their expression is one of intense focus and passion, looking slightly upward and to the right. The background is softly out of focus, revealing the rich, dark wood architecture of a performance venue and theatrical blue stage lighting.

Arts & Entertainment

To close 20th anniversary season, St. Pete Opera stages summer production of ‘La Boheme’

It runs at Palladium Theater from June 5-12.

by Marty Clear June 4, 2026June 5, 2026