Top Tampa Bay area events for the week of Sept. 4-10

Kelly A. Stefani, Tampa Bay Times
·5 min read

Howl-O-Scream: Busch Gardens’ Halloween attraction returns, taking over the entire park with haunted houses, scare zones, sinister shows and more. Horror lives in every dark corner, including on thrill rides. Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. Content includes violence, gore and blood. Select nights through Oct. 31. $37.99 and up. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday (Sept. 8-9). Busch Gardens, 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa. 813-884-4386.

Music for Maui: This fundraiser for those impacted by the Maui fires features a Hawaiian menu and cocktails, a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle. Local artists will be playing music on two stages throughout the event. Benefits the Maui Food Bank and the Maui Humane Society. No cover (donations appreciated). Noon-10 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9). The Honu Restaurant and Tiki Bar, 516 Grant St., Dunedin. 727-333-7777.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Tampa Bay Rays face the Seattle Mariners. Here are this week’s special events and promotional giveaways.

  • Stick around after the game for an I Love the ‘90s concert featuring Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Tone Loc and Rob Base. 6:40 p.m. Friday (Sept. 8).

  • All fans get a free Rays trucker hat while supplies last. 4:05 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9).

Games take place at Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. Ticket prices vary by game. 888-326-7297.

Spooktacular: This not-so-spooky Halloween party takes children into Kandy’s World, where they can enjoy trick-or-treating, a costume parade and the story “Room on a Broom.” Runs weekends through Halloween. Included with admission. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (Sept. 9-10). Busch Gardens, 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa. 813-884-4386.

Plays With Purpose: A free series of staged readings about aging with humor by Tarpon Arts and SAGES Theater brings “Denying Gravity,” a funny story of an active retiree who finds her good life interrupted by a minor misstep. There will be a Q&A and prize drawing after the performance. Free. 2 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9). Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, 101 S Pinellas Ave. 727-942-5605.

Godsmack: The multiplatinum-selling, Grammy-nominated hard rock band whose latest album is “Lighting Up the Sky” performs. $29 and up. 7 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9). MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, 4801 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. 813-740-2446.

Billy Currington: The singer who has scored 11 No. 1 singles, including “Don’t Hurt Like It Used To,” performs. $35-$99.50. 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9). The Sound at Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater. 727-791-7400.

Labor Day Circle of Heroes/Veterans Reef Dive: Take a dive trip to the underwater military memorial 10 miles west of Clearwater at Veterans Reef, where there are 13 life-sized statues 40 feet beneath the surface. The dive includes refreshments and snacks. $129.95. 6 a.m. and noon Monday (Sept. 4). Narcosis Scuba Center, 528 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-934-3483.

Sam Hunt: Summer On the Outskirts Tour: Sam Hunt, whose hits include “Body Like a Back Road,” performs. $34-$129 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 7). MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, 4801 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. 813-740-2446.

Drift: In this drama, two very different farm families are intertwined after a deadly pesticide drift. Two wives are caught between holding on to what was lost and moving forward. $31-$35. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday (Sept. 7-9), 3 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 10). LAB Theater Project, 812 E Henderson Ave., Tampa. 813-586-4272.

Murder on the Orient Express: In this play, an American tycoon is killed in his compartment on the Orient Express with his door locked from the inside. Other passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer, in case he or she strikes again. $21-$27. 8-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday (Sept. 8-9), 2-4 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 10). Carrollwood Players, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. 813-265-4000.

Scream-A-Geddon: The six haunts here include Breach, Rage 3D, Bloodwater Bayou, Ravenhill Asylum, Demon’s Revenge and Zombie Paintball Assault. You’ll also find the Monster Midway and a haunted beer garden. $24.95 and up. 7 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday (Sept. 8-9). Scream-A-Geddon, 27839 Saint Joe Road, Dade City. 813-452-5412.

Chloe: The singer who rose to fame as a member of the Grammy-nominated sister duo Chloe x Halle performs. $32-$96. 7 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9). The Ritz Ybor, 1503 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. 813-248-4050.

To Laugh, To Laugh, L’Chaim: Celebrate the Jewish new year with a night of comedy. Comedian David Glickman presents “To Laugh, To Laugh, L’Chaim.” The musical comedy show celebrates “What’s So Funny About Being Jewish.” It includes more than 40 song parodies, observational humor, funny visuals and stories. $30-$50. 7:30 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 10). Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-822-3590.

September Sing-Along Sundays: Join hundreds of other moviegoers and raise your voice to sing along with some classic movie musicals. This portion of the series features 1989′s “The Little Mermaid” (G, 83 minutes). $14.50, $11.50 members. 3 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 10). Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. 813-274-8286.

Toy Train Show: There will be more than 60 tables with dealers showing and selling all models of hobby train equipment, with working layouts running. $6, 11 and younger free. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 9). Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St., Brooksville. 727-244-1341.