New affordable units open at Mercy Oaks II in East Tampa

The City of Tampa is marking its 139th birthday with Archives Awareness Week, running July 12 through 18, 2026. Free exhibits and programs are open to the public throughout the week, and all are invited to take part in any or all of them. The lineup celebrates the city's history as Tampa turns 139. (City of Tampa)

Behind Tampa's Archives Awareness Week is the City Clerk's office, where three women keep the city's public records running. City Clerk Shirley Foxx-Knowles, in the role since 2003, and Deputy City Clerk Suling Lucas-Harris lead an operation that keeps City Hall's records in order. Their work anchors the week's look at the city's history and how its records are preserved. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Ybor City arts nonprofit Tempus Projects is opening a new multimedia exhibit, "Oh, Cuore Mia" ("my heart"), during Third Thursday at Kress Contemporary. The show runs through September 17 and gathers artists reflecting on and reinterpreting Ybor narratives shaped by migration, labor, and resistance. It's billed as a love letter to the neighborhood that shaped its artists. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

The Tampa Convention Center and Greater Tampa Bay have officially been nominated for the Prevue Meetings & Incentives 2026 Visionary Awards. Industry experts selected the initial ballot, and public voting is now open. The nomination places the downtown center and the wider region on the awards ballot for meetings and events. (City of Tampa)

Young Thug has announced a fall tour, and the only Florida date on the run lands in Tampa. That makes the city the state's single stop on the outing, so fans elsewhere in Florida will be routing to Tampa for it. The rapper's warbling, signature delivery has left its fingerprints across hip-hop. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Rhythm & Hues: An Alleyway Art Show takes over a downtown alleyway on Friday, July 17. Local artists fill the space with an explosion of color, rhythm, and artistic expression, turning the passage into an open-air gallery of their work. It's a showcase of Tampa's creative scene in an unexpected setting. (Tampa Downtown Partnership events)

West River Live sets up a free evening of live soul music at the Barrymore Hotel along the Tampa Riverwalk on Tuesday, July 21. The night pairs the music with local vendors and family fun, and admission is free. It's an easy weeknight outing on the water. (Tampa Downtown Partnership events)

Tampa Theatre puts "Wicked" on the big screen August 23, bringing the movie musical to the historic downtown palace. A night at the landmark theater makes for a marquee summer outing. (Tampa Theatre calendar)

Central Park Jazz Jam is set for Tuesday, September 15, a free community event celebrating the musical history of downtown Tampa's Central Park neighborhood. The evening puts the neighborhood's jazz history at the center of the celebration. (Tampa Downtown Partnership events)

Pride & Passion: 20th Anniversary comes to the Tampa Museum of Art on Saturday, September 19. The milestone edition marks 20 years of the event at the downtown museum, one to hold on the fall culture calendar. (Tampa Downtown Partnership events)