New Harry Potter Ride & Father's Day Festivities Highlight Weekend Events

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN TAMPA BAY

The events and descriptions below were compiled by Tampa Bay Times entertainment and events reporter Sharon Wynne. To check out all of the weekend events courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times, click here.

Father’s Day: You’ve been warned, call your dad. Also, dads get in free with at least one paid admission on Sunday to the Florida Aquarium, the Chihuly Collection, Vertical Ventures, Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, Plant Museum and the Glazer Children’s Museum. We have a long list of Father’s Day options right here.

The Tampa Bay Rays: Come see the Rays take on the Angels for a series Thursday (7:10 p.m.), Friday (7:10 p.m.), Saturday (1:10 p.m.) and Sunday (1:10 p.m.).Friday is Pride Night, and the deadline to buy the specially priced ticket package, which includes a lower-level seat and Rays Pride cap, is at 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Use the code PRIDE1. Saturday is Dog Day at the Rays and players will be wearing throwback Devil Rays uniforms. All fans will receive a short-sleeve Devil Rays hoodie, while supplies last, but you must buy tickets by 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Use the code DOG1. On Sunday, kids 14 and younger get a Rays Fanny Pack. See mlb.com/rays for tickets.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: Universal's Islands of Adventure welcomes this mile-long coaster set in the Forbidden Forest of more than 1,200 newly planted trees. Universal is estimated to have spent more than $300 million on this.   Admission starts at $115. 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando. Toll-free 1-800-837-2273. universalorlando.com.

Wet bar crawl: Swimsuits and super soakers are required for Sun, Swimsuits and Suds, a wet bar hop with half a dozen stops in Ybor City to cool off. This party was such a hit last year that the Ybor Chamber of Commerce is throwing three sudsy parties this summer. The first is this Saturday (check in at 5 Star Dive Bar at 1 p.m.). You can get soaked again on July 20 and Aug. 17. The party includes drink specials, a towel, T-shirt and unlimited tries at the dunk tank. $10, $15 VIP. 1-6 p.m. 1811 N 15th St., Tampa. (813) 248-3712. eventbrite.com.

Rock of Ages: The hair-metal Broadway musical brings a bevy of rock songs to the Straz Center. Among the show tunes for this: Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again, We Built This City, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Waiting For a Girl Like You, Cant Fight This Feeling, Every Rose Has its Thorns and many, many more. Tickets are $25 and up. It opened Tuesday, and runs through Sunday at the Straz Center, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. Strazcenter.org.

D.L. Hughley: This man has peddled his brand of insightful sociocultural commentary everywhere from The Original Kings of Comedy and Dancing With the Stars to shows like CNN’s D.L. Hughley Breaks the News. Hughley won a Peabody Award for his satirical special D.L. Hughley: The Endangered List. $37.50 and up. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday. Improv, 1600 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. (813) 864-4000. improvtampa.com.

Greg Fitzsimmons: Another smart comic, four-time Daytime Emmy winner Greg Fitzsimmons returns to Side Splitters. The former writer for the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher is also an author, podcaster and actor, appearing on shows like Crashing and Santa Clarita Diet. $20 and up. 8:30 tonight, 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, 6, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. 12938 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. (813) 960-1197. sidesplitterscomedy.com.

Emo Philips: Many say this comedian was way ahead of his time, compellingly eccentric before that sort of comedy was en vogue. His unique style — absurdist, self-deprecating, brilliantly constructed one-liners delivered in a dreamy, meandering falsetto — was influential on countless comics like Patton Oswalt, Ricky Gervais and even Eric Idle. More than once, GQ has rated several of his jokes among the greatest of all time, including this one: “Once I beat up the school bully with a baseball bat. Both his arms were completely broken. Which is what gave me the courage to do it.” Tickets are $14.50 and up and the show is 8 p.m. Saturday at the Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. (727) 587-6793. largoarts.com.

Wave riding: Personal watercraft and powerboats will make waves in the Race the Gulf event. The racing will feature high-speed P1 AquaX watercraft and P1 SuperStock powerboats. More than 80 AquaX riders from as many as 10 countries are expected to compete. The action takes place near the beach opposite the Don CeSar. Free. Daily VIP tickets are $100. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. p1aquax.com.

New Dali exhibits: St. Petersburg’s Dali Museum has two new exhibits opening this week. “Visual Magic: Dali’s Masterworks in Augmented Reality” - Using augmented reality, you can hold up your phone to a painting and using the Dali app can tap on parts of the painting to enhance parts and hear discussion on elements of it. Also opening Saturday is an exhibit of paintings and prints from the influential Spanish painter, Goya. Plus, on display is “Bronzes From the Vault,” featuring 20 of Dalí’s bronze sculptures from the 1970s in the James Family Gallery, and four large-format sculptures are on display in the Avant-garden. Museum admissions range from $10-$24; free for children 5 and younger. 1 Dalí Blvd., St. Petersburg. (727) 823-3767. thedali.org

Summer Circus Spectacular: The circus arts still thrive in Sarasota, and their annual showcase of clowns, aerial acts and stunts returns. Previews are $12 for all Tuesday-Thursday, then its $16 for adults, $12 for children 12 and younger through Aug. 3 at the Historic Asolo Theatre at the Ringling Museum.

Sunshine State Cluster Dog Show: This dog show at the Florida State Fairgrounds features more than 2,000 dogs competing in conformation, doggie dock diving, barn hunt and scent work. This event also includes vendors and health clinics. Cost is $5, 12 and younger free. The show starts at 8 a.m. today and runs through Sunday.

Uptown Music Festival: This is a funk and jazz fest benefiting neighborhood programs through Tampa’s University Area Community Development Corporation. At the top of the bill are Tampa’s own B.K. Jackson and Adrian Crutchfield, who have both played with Prince. They’ll be joined by Jackiem Joyner, Bryan Thompson and bassist Tim George. $15 and up. 4 p.m. Saturday. University Area Park, 14013 N 22nd St., Tampa. uacdc.org/uptownmusicfest.

Jell-O slide: Watch as more than 600 people plummet down a slide into a pool filled with 2,000 gallons of orange gelatin. This fun event benefits the Children’s Cancer Center. Donations are appreciated. 7 p.m. Saturday. Children’s Cancer Center, 4901 W Cypress St., Tampa. (813) 367-5437.

Ade Your Lemon Pool Party: Four words: Grey Goose lemonade stand. This adult version of that sidewalk operation in front of your childhood home serves as the main draw of the Ade Your Lemon Pool Party, hosted by the Epicurean Hotel. However, the vodka brand’s lemon-flavored expression Le Citron also promises blonde beer pong, DJ tunes and dancing in the sunshine. The party has no cover, and starts Saturday at 11 a.m. 1207 S Howard Ave., Tampa. (855) 829-2536. Epicureanhotel.com.

THIS WEEK IN DRESS-UP

Family Star Wars Party: Dress as your favorite Star Wars character and enjoy crafts, games, prizes and themed food. This event is free, and will be held at the Safety Harbor Library.101 Second St. N. Safety Harbor, FL on Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm.


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