Top Tampa Bay events this week: Madonna, Sugar Sand Festival, Tampa Pro
Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival: This 17-day sand-sculpting festival at Clearwater Beach features free activities for all ages, including a children’s play area, street performers, artisans, live entertainment, fireworks, sand-sculpting classes, demonstrations and the master sand-sculpting competition. Stroll through a 21,000-square-foot tent filled with art crafted by world-class sand sculptors. $14, 3 and younger free. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday (April 1-4), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday (April 5-6), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday (April 7). Continues through April 14. Pier 60, 1 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater. 727-871-8060.
Madonna: The original pop superstar is bringing her Celebration Tour to Amalie Arena. This is only Madonna’s second time playing Tampa in her 40-year-plus career. The Material Girl will be joined by special guest Bob the Drag Queen, aka Caldwell Tidicue. $70-$560. 8:30 p.m. Thursday (April 4). Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-301-6500.
Tampa Pro: The 30th annual world-class skateboarding competition with categories for Pro Street, Pro Vert and Concrete Jam comes to town. Thursday features women’s (2 p.m.) and men’s (4 p.m.) Vert qualifiers with the top nine advancing. Thursday night features skate trivia (8 p.m.) and a skate-themed comedy show (10 p.m.). Friday features a team manager-industry VIP contest (10 a.m.), women’s (5 p.m.) and men’s (7 p.m.) Vert finals. Friday night features an art show (8 p.m.) and live music (10 p.m.). Saturday, a live webcast begins at noon with Street qualifiers (noon) and Best Trick contest (5 p.m.). Saturday night features Concrete jams (5:30 and 6:30 p.m.), live music (8 p.m.) and an after-party (11 p.m.). Sunday, a live webcast begins at noon with Street semifinals (noon), Street finals (3 p.m.) and an after-party (8 p.m.). Spectators are welcome, but the competition is only open to professional skateboarders who have (or had) a pro model signature board with an internationally recognized brand. $10 and up. 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday (April 4), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday (April 5), noon-11 p.m. Saturday (April 6), noon-8 p.m. Sunday (April 7). SkatePark of Tampa, 4215 E. Columbus Drive. 813-621-6793.
Dunedin Highland Games and Festival: See Highland dancers and athletes from around the world, and enjoy music, dance, food and drink imported from Bonnie Scotland directly to Dunedin. Friday (April 5) features live music by the Byrne Brothers (5 p.m.) in Pioneer Park and a tartan march of clans (6:30 p.m.) down Main Street to Pioneer Park. Saturday (April 6) features Scottish piping, drumming and pipe band competitions, Highland dance contest, Scottish heavyweight athletics and vendors with Scottish and Celtic crafts, clothes and more. $20-$25, 12 and younger free. 4:30-8 p.m. Friday (April 5), 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Dunedin Community Center, 1920 Pinehurst Road. 727-812-4530.
Spookala: Celebrities, horror movie props, dark and mysterious vendors, live entertainment, VIP exclusives and more await horror fans. $35-$50, 10 and younger free. 2-9 p.m. Friday (April 5), 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday (April 6), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday (April 7). Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Center, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa. 813-621-7821.
Kevin James: Owls Don’t Walk: The comedian who began his career in stand-up on the Long Island comedy scene and eventually created his own TV sitcom, “The King of Queens,” performs. $105-$175. 8 p.m. Sunday (April 7). Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. 813-627-7625.
Alabama: The Grammy-winning country music band performs. Diamond Rio opens. $49.50-$149.50. 7 p.m. Friday (April 5). The BayCare Sound (formerly the Sound at Coachman Park), 301 Drew St., Clearwater. 727-791-7400.
Red Bull Dance Your Style: Competitors will enter one-on-one dance battles, improvising to unpredictable tunes, from mainstream hits to classics. The qualifier will feature 16 top regional dancers vying for a chance to compete in the National Final in Atlanta. The event will be co-hosted by Venezuelan showman and winner of MTV’s “Becoming a Pop Star” Samy Hawk and Litefeet dancer K-SOLE. Free (register for tickets on Eventbrite). 7-11 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa. 813-250-3725.
Incredible Duck Race: The Kiwanis Club of Tampa will be racing 10,000 rubber ducks down the Hillsborough River in front of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The first three ducks to cross the finish line will win cash prizes. Family-friendly games, food and entertainment will lead up to the big race. Benefits the Tampa Kiwanis Foundation children’s programs and charities. Free (spectators), $5 per duck to race. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa.
Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical: Take a trip back to Hawkins, Indiana, in 1983, when times were simpler, hair was bigger and unsupervised children were getting snatched by interdimensional creatures, in this live musical riff on the hit Netflix series. There will be an ‘80s arcade in the lobby and VIP beanbag seats. $37 and up. Runs through April 21. 7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday (April 3-5), 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday (April 6), 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday (April 7). David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827.
Spring Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show: The Tampa Bay Mineral and Science Club hosts the fourth annual event featuring vendors with minerals, crystals, specimens, cabochons, fossils, beads, findings, jewelry and more. There will also be a kids section with activities including a sluice, scavenger hunt, games and a microscope for viewing rocks up close. $10, $8 seniors/military, 10 and younger free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday (April 6), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (April 7). Florida State Fairgrounds Special Events Center, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa. 813-684-2039.
Family Favorites Series: Tampa Theatre’s Family Favorites series presents “The Iron Giant” (PG, 86 minutes). The 1999 film tells the story of a boy who befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy. $10, $8 ages 3-12, $7 members, 2 and younger free. 3 p.m. Sunday (April 7). Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St. 813-274-8286.
Free Family Day: The Morean Arts Center transforms the Chihuly Collection Garden into a festival space for art activities, free food, music and crafts. Free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Chihuly Collection Garden, 720 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-822-7872.
Blueberry Festival: This pet- and family-friendly event features u-pick blueberries, more than 100 food and craft vendors, bounce houses, live music, a kids zone, camel rides, a petting zoo and a wide selection of wines, beers and ciders. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (April 6-7). Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City. 813-752-9100.
Tampa Bay Empanada Festival: The second annual celebration of National Empanada Day features food from Stuft Gourmet Foods, Nonna’s Artisan Kitchen, Top Nada, Empanada King, Pabellion Food Trailer and more. No cover. Noon-7 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1201 N. Orange St., Tampa.
Gregorian: In 1999, these eight classically trained English vocalists released their initial album “Masters Of Chant,” which earned multiple gold and platinum awards across Europe and Asia. $40-$80. 8 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 727-791-7400.
Troupe du Jour: Enjoy a family-friendly and original show in which games, improv skits and actor choices are inspired by the audience on the spot. $10-$15. 7:30 p.m. Friday (April 5). Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. 352-442-3369.
Michael Rappaport: The actor and comedian who can currently be seen in Hulu’s “Life & Beth” performs his stand-up routine. $37-$47. 7:30 p.m. Friday (April 5), 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday (April 6). Funny Bone (formerly the Improv Tampa), 1600 E. Eighth Ave. Tampa.
Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival: The festival of food events will be held at various local venues Tuesday (April 9) through April 13, including Water Street Tampa, Hyde Park Village and downtown Tampa. It features live music, interactive sponsor experiences, culinary demonstrations, a “Grand Tasting” event with samples from dozens of local restaurants and a Chef Showdown competition featuring celebrity chef Robert Irvine. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive. $75 and up. tampabaywff.com.
