Located on Florida’s west coast on Tampa Bay, you’ll find that Tampa has a broad variety of attractions, a fascinating history, a unique culture, and picturesque beaches for your special event venue. You and your guests will enjoy sunshine and a comfortably warm temperature year-round. Outdoor event venues in Tampa are plentiful!
In 2023, WalletHub named Tampa, FL, the 12th “Most Fun City in America'' and 4th “Best City for Staycations.” When you’re looking for a fun outdoor venue, Busch Gardens theme park offers thrilling roller coasters, wild animal encounters, water slides, great shows, and other unique experiences.
Your guests who are passionate about history can take a step back in time at Ybor City, a district with historic buildings from its days as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” When in Tampa, FL, remember to try the historical, mouth-watering Cuban Sandwich.
If you’re an event planner wanting to host an outdoor event, whether it be a wedding day, corporate events, baby shower, an intimate gathering, or other events, Tampa is the ideal location to find event venues. When you’re looking for a perfect outdoor venue, the potential for finding event space in Tampa is endless!
No matter what your upcoming affair, whether a chic venue or a wedding retreat, finding the best outdoor event spaces or a private space is a significant challenge. However, Tampa is the perfect place for special occasions because it has numerous outdoor event venues with spectacular waterfront views and warm tropical weather. You won't have any difficulty in finding a multifunctional, beautiful venue or other venues for your occasion.
Transportation is Plentiful
Traveling to, from, and within Tampa is easy and convenient. The award-winning Tampa International Airport offers flights worldwide. Once you arrive in Tampa, many excellent transportation options exist, such as buses, shuttles, limousines, taxis, vintage streetcars, and rental cars.
You can even get around town by water on the Pirate Water Taxi. Tampa also has its Downtown Area Shared Hubs (DASH). This popular transit service offers driver-controlled electric vehicles that stop at about 20 popular hubs.
There are other ways to travel in the area including electric scooters, bike rentals, waterbikes, e-boats, and mini-power boats. The city flourishes with beautiful public walking trails, including the self-guided Tampa Downtown Walking Tour with connections to the primary downtown areas and attractions.
High-Quality Accommodations
Everyone will enjoy the comfort, quality, services, and first-class amenities of Tampa’s stylish hotels; they are some of the best, with many to choose from. You may want to consider two new world-class hotels: JW Marriott (rooftop bar) and Hotel Haya (impressive cuisine).
Your guest might want to rent a house, bungalow, or apartment for their visit. Everyone will find an accommodation to suit their tastes for your special day.
Dining and Recreation
Visitors won’t want to miss the new, contemporary Tampa Midtown. A perfect spot, it has 1.8 million square feet of space for cuisine, entertainment, retail, parties, and community residential. You and your guests will find delicious cuisine at the many high-quality restaurants in the city, including Market at Edition (Greek/Italian cuisine) and Eddie V's Prime Seafood. Many restaurants feature a refreshing outdoor patio.
The Tampa Bay area is unsurpassed and a fantastic way for an event host to create memorable experiences for recreation, entertainment, and parties. Whether you go to the beach, a theme park, or golf, there is something for everyone.
Event planners may need supplies or assistance from full service event planning vendors in the Tampa area. Whether for birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, social gatherings, celebrations, or intimate, private events such as weddings, the following are several vendors to consider for your event space.
Will Simpson Photography/Videography
Will's photography has been spotlighted in multiple publications, including Tampa Bay Magazine. His spectacular work has won the Contemporary Art Gallery award and the 2022 International Photography Awards Honorable Mention. He aims to "capture that unforgettable memory you will cherish for a lifetime." In addition to photography and videography for outdoor events, he has a portrait studio and a passion for scenic landscape photography.
Florida Event Decor
Florida Event Decor has created artistic, magnificent outdoor events throughout Florida. The company has a team of skilled designers, artists, and scene builders who make a memorable atmosphere for any occasion. Unique theme decor, custom fabrication, event furniture and linen, and conceptual design are just a few available services. For example, one of their clients wanted a themed reception to inspire the sales team. The "Game On" sports theme was used to help motivate and excite team members. No matter the outdoor event, Florida Event Decor can help create unforgettable memories.
CBK Catering & Events
With over 30 years of experience, CBK has a vast selection of menus to suit your special occasion. They offer catered breakfast and brunch, a sandwich and salad buffet, a variety of delicious buffet selections, break and snack foods, individually boxed meals, chef-attended stations, and hot and cold d’oeuvres. CBK provides full bar services for beer, wine, liquor, and specialty drinks served by trained, experienced bartenders. If you're not seeking full catering services, you can opt to have party trays delivered to your event venue.
Presently, people who are planning an outdoor event tend to look for a contemporary yet stylish space that can accommodate small or large numbers of guests. Trends indicate that event planning hosts want unique outdoor venues where guests can relax in a beautiful setting with natural light and participate in special activities. Following are several outdoor event trends in Tampa. When planning to host your next event, it's smart to evaluate venue current trends.
Waterfront Views
Whether an ocean, lake, or river, most guests enjoy the serenity and beauty of being near natural water sources. This beautiful venue is the perfect backdrop. It promotes a sense of peace and wellness and provides opportunities for water sports for those who wish to participate.
Outdoor Wedding
Couples tend to lean toward intimate outdoor venues featuring natural beauty, such as mountains, waterfronts, or flower gardens. An outdoor wedding can provide gorgeous scenery and great lighting and eliminate the need for extensive decorating. The comfortable climate of the Tampa area makes this possible any time of the year—perfect for a wedding celebration!
Business Meetings
Business meetings located outdoors are great for employee morale. They foster better communication, may have fewer distractions, and increase productivity. An outdoor setting has a more relaxed atmosphere as opposed to being boxed into a small indoor room. A change in scenery from the confines of an office boosts inspiration and can help improve employee retention.
Overall, outdoor event venues provide guests with fresh air and visually appealing views, boosting interaction and well-being. These outdoor trends will make the event a lifetime memory.
No matter the time of year, Tampa has a broad range of annual events for guests of all ages. The following are just a few amazing outdoor event venues you may enjoy.
Gasparilla Season
Held yearly starting in mid-February, Gasparilla’s thrilling events run for eight weeks. Based on the legendary pirate José Gaspar, the event has the third largest parade in the United States. Among the excitement are themed parades, fun festivals with music and arts, road races, and more! The Gasparilla Bowl is an annual salute to Gasparilla for student athletes and fans of NCAA-sanctioned college football.
Fourth of July
July 4th is a huge event in Tampa! In addition to honoring the great founders of the United States, there are parades, fireworks, BBQs, fairs, shopping deals, and baseball games. There are also many leisure activities, such as golfing, camping, and fishing. For those who enjoy the nightlife, be sure to get a copy of the Tampa Nightlife Guide. Tampa is the ideal venue, filled with parties and events to celebrate July 4th and make a memorable experience for guests.
Busch Gardens Summer Nights
From late May into August, guests can celebrate and have fun at Busch Gardens Summer Nights. The summer hours are extended, allowing guests more time to enjoy the thrilling rides and entertainment, such as the ice show, Rhythm of Nature, and Cirque Electric, an extraordinary acrobatic stunt show. If you like rock and roll, Stanleyville DJ spins some tunes at the Gwazi Rocks show in Gwazi Plaza. Of course, throughout summer nights, there are various tasty summer foods to savor. Don’t forget to capture your special event memories at the Summer photo ops.
Tampa has many fine neighborhoods popular for dining, shopping, sports events, and entertainment. While in Tampa, FL, you may want to visit other nearby areas such as Plant City, Land o Lakes, Dade City, Delaney Creek, Tampa Heights, and Pete Beach. The following are several Tampa neighborhoods you should plan to visit.
Downtown Tampa
An enjoyable community for everyone, Downtown Tampa has historic and contemporary points of interest, like the Tampa Museum of Art. Nearby is the Glazer Children's Museum; it's fun, and the kids have interactive experiences. For those who enjoy outdoor festivals, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is the place to go. Don’t miss the Tampa Riverwalk for beautiful views of the river, great restaurants, and bars.
East Hillsborough
East Hillsborough is a natural gem located within Tampa city limits. The 4,000-acre Hillsborough River State Park has hiking and biking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, and freshwater fishing. You might spot alligators and other local wildlife, such as owls and bobcats, at this great location. Consider a wild animal safari at the 250-acre Giraffe Ranch. For shopping, don’t miss the Parkesdale Farm Market and Fancy Flea Vintage Home & Garden Market.
The Channel District
The Channel District is the perfect setting for good food, history, and nightlife. This mood lifting atmosphere features Sparkman Wharf, which has a scenic waterfront, live music, craft beer, and extraordinary dining. Adventure awaits at The Florida Aquarium, rated among the best in the U.S. Learn about local history at the Tampa Bay History Center. At the Amalie Arena, you might catch an NFL hockey game, a live comedy show, live bands, and other events.