Visit Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Banish the Lingering Winter Blahs

St. Petersburg, Florida, comes alive with the blues at Vinoy Waterfront Park during the highly acclaimed Tampa Bay Blues Festival. Hailed as one of the world’s finest blues music events, the festival, scheduled this year for April 6-8, packs out the house with three days of legendary sounds from some of the biggest names in blues entertainment.

Music lovers from around the globe make the yearly journey to experience this star-studded showcase of American blues, set along the palm-dotted shores of Tampa Bay. There’s no doubt the Tampa Bay Blues Festival is a prime spot for enjoying all things blues, having earned the Blues Foundation’s 2011 “Keepin’ the Blues Alive” award for Best U.S. Blues Festival.

Giving You the Best of the Blues

Once you’re there, you’ll be glad you planned ahead for this amazing weekend! Kicking off the festival at a Thursday night party in St. Petersburg’s Palladium Theater is Bay Music Awards-winning soul blues singer and harp master John Nemeth. He will be accompanied by his band, which includes a monster horn section. Other festival performers include Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, Quinn Sullivan, Sugaray Rayford, Mississippi Heat, Delbert McClinton, Davy Knowles, and Ronnie Earl. A full schedule can be found here.

Taking You From Tunes to Tastes

Keep your appetite for music going strong by sampling the abundant lineup of seafood, barbecue, and Cuban specialties sprinkled at various locations throughout the venue. Between sets, check out the festival vendors with pop-up shops offering original art and crafts for purchase. And keep your cool with a wide selection of premium beers, wines, and mixed drinks.

Get Those Tickets Now!

With general-admission tickets for all three days running at just $115 a person, you’ll want to start planning your visit today! And at $475 per person for all three days, VIP tickets are totally worth it, offering an unforgettable weekend of fun, food, drinks, and hospitality. Just a few of the VIP perks include padded concert seating directly in front of the main stage, use of two tents by the water that offer both shade and seating, and catered meals.

Know the Flow Before You Go

The Tampa Bay Blues Festival is staged at Vinoy Waterfront Park in downtown St. Petersburg. Gates open on Friday and Saturday at noon, and on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. If you are driving to the event, parking is available in downtown St. Petersburg.

Where To Stay for the Tampa Bay Blues Festival

Get ready for three days full of festival fun by reserving your vacation rental today! Our listings of condos, beach houses, and hotels are available for viewing at St. Pete Beach Vacation Rentals  and Clearwater Beach Vacation Rentals. We offer accommodations in a wide range of sizes and prices, so it’s easy to find exactly what you need. Plus, many of our listings can be booked online directly from our Website, and we never charge a fee for our services!