It’s boiling hot in Central Florida, which can make people hesitate to go outside. But the Tampa Downtown Partnership has a shady plan. Literally. Enter The Summer Series at Curtis Hixon Park.
From July 7 through July 30, visitors to Curtis Hixon Park on the Hillsborough River waterfront can enjoy fun activities for all ages under a massive shade canopy.
With the help of several corporate sponsors, there will also be free activities daily. Including water fun, family games, food, and a marketplace.
The Summer Series at Curtis Hixon Park
“This is our fifth or sixth year doing it,” said Rachel Radawec. She’s Director of Public Space Operations and Programming for the partnership. “It’s usually been a passive event for us. I mean, the response is always overwhelmingly positive because there is not a lot of shade on the Riverwalk. People are always appreciative. It’s a little reprieve” from the summer sun.
“Throughout the years we’ve had different iterations of programming, like a ground mural during COVID, passive seating and shade or community partners who helped us program the space,” she said. “We are always looking to bring people into downtown. That is our goal. People have a reason to come, but also we do it to provide amenities for those who are already here. We provide free events in the seven different neighborhoods. This one is in the River Arts neighborhood.”
Related: Hillsborough County Trails That Have the Most Shade
The Summer Series is modeled after the very successful Winter Village the Tampa Downtown Partnership puts on each year. “We are trying to model this after the Winter Village. This is why we’ve added food trucks and a beverage component,” Radawec said. “We’ve had this super successful model and we want to replicate it without it being the same thing.”
Some 40,000 people came through the Summer Series last year. “Just about everyone who walks by ends up under that shade canopy,” Radawec said.
The 6,000 square-foot shade canopy will feature outdoor games and activities every day through July 30. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation is sponsoring the canopy this year.
What to expect
More options and events will be available on weekends. During the weekday there will be shade and passive games. The Summer Series includes Entertainment Fridays, Wellness Saturdays, and Funday Sundays.
Pop-up bar and food trucks
The pop-up bar will feature beverages from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, from 12 noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Food trucks will be onsite from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, from 12 noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Entertainment
Local musicians will entertain summer crowds Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
During Entertainment Friday, visitors can screen a classic film from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The local vendor marketplace is designed to offer a unique shopping experience and is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wellness Saturdays, sponsored by Tampa General Hospital, will allow guests to gain wellness knowledge and burn calories.
And Funday Sundays, sponsored by the IKEA and the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA, features a taste of Sweden and a lively Splash Pad Party.
Basket giveaway
In addition to all those activities, the Tampa Downtown Partnership is also holding a weekly Summer Fun gift basket giveaway. The only way to enter is to be present and get tickets. Winners will be drawn each week and do not have to be present to win.
Curtis Hixon Park is located at 600 N. Ashley Drive. For more information about the Summer Series, visit tampasdowntown.com.
