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Axios Tampa Bay Deep Dive

Deep Dive

A guide to fun things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend.

Axios Tampa Bay Weekender

Weekender

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3 races to watch in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties

Local, state and federal offices are on the ballot.

News

Florida&#x27;s primary election day has arrived, with local, state and federal offices on the ballot. Why it matters: Voters in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will go to the polls today to choose which candidates advance to the general election on Nov. 3 and, in some races, who wins outright.

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How well did you follow this week's news?

Try your hand at our news quiz!Why it matters: Email us a screenshot of your perfect score to tampa@axios.com, and you could get a shout-out in a future newsletter.

Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose in Florida: CDC

Thousands of children entered kindergarten in Florida without protection from preventable diseases.

Nearly 6% of kindergartners in Florida were <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exempt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/kindergarten-vaccine-rates-fall" data-vars-content-id="5e63f873-151a-48dd-bc04-b9da3acddb56" data-vars-headline="Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose in Florida: CDC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/kindergarten-vaccine-rates-fall" target="_self">exempt</a> from one or more vaccines during the 2025–2026 school year, well above the national average, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters: Thousands of children entered elementary school across the Sunshine State without protection from preventable and potentially deadly diseases, including measles and polio.

Tampa among few major cities with rising homicides in 2026

Deadly crime in Tampa is bucking a national trend among the largest cities in the country.

Politics

Tampa saw an uptick in homicides during the first half of the year that was among the highest in the country for major cities, according to preliminary data reviewed by Axios.Why it matters: Deadly crime in Tampa is bucking a national trend among the largest cities in the country, which are mostly recording dips in homicides.

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Things to Do

Try your hand at our news quiz!Why it matters: Email us a screenshot of your perfect score to tampa@axios.com, and you could get a shout-out in a future newsletter.<div><iframe name="opinionstage-widget" alt="Opinion Stage Embed" src="https://www.opinionstage.com/api/v2/widgets/269e7580-6676-4117-8f20-c9b78fd37425/iframe" data-opinionstage-iframe="269e7580-6676-4117-8f20-c9b78fd37425" data-vars-category="embed" data-vars-sub-category="embed-poll" data-vars-asset-id="269e7580-6676-4117-8f20-c9b78fd37425" data-vars-content-id="b45e1264-e649-421b-8577-b8f682b0bf45" width="100%" height="800" allow="fullscreen" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" class="gtmView" referrerPolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe><div style="display:none"></div></div>

St. Pete weekend events: Girls Rock, comedy show and romance book fair

Say it with me: Week-end. Week-END! WEEK-END!!!

Say it with me: Week-end. Week-END! WEEK-END!!!<ul><li>Here are some ways to spend it in and around St. Pete.</li></ul>

727 Day is back with tons of St. Pete, Pinellas specials

Get 727-themed discounts from July 25-27.

Pinellas County&#x27;s unofficial holiday is coming up.Why it matters: Visit St. Pete-Clearwater&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="727 Day celebration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/celebrate-home-its-727-day" data-vars-content-id="c4eb7ad0-83c4-4ec6-ad30-500a925bcfde" data-vars-headline="727 Day is back with tons of St. Pete, Pinellas specials" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/celebrate-home-its-727-day" target="_blank">727 Day celebration</a> will feature three days of local deals and giveaways, the tourism bureau announced this week.<ul><li>Don&#x27;t worry, Tampeños. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Your day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/08/13/how-where-celebrate-tampa-813-day-2025" data-vars-content-id="c4eb7ad0-83c4-4ec6-ad30-500a925bcfde" data-vars-headline="727 Day is back with tons of St. Pete, Pinellas specials" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/08/13/how-where-celebrate-tampa-813-day-2025" target="_self">Your day</a> is coming.</li></ul>

Tampa weekend events: Open mics, festivals and flowers

We've rounded up a few events worth checking out in and around Tampa.

Looking for weekend plans? <ul><li>We&#x27;ve rounded up a few events worth checking out in and around Tampa.</li></ul>

St. Pete's newest coffee shop is a mid-century dream

At Atomic Cat, coffee, pastries and vintage furniture are on the menu.

Food and Drink

It would be easy to miss St. Pete&#x27;s newest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coffee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/04/15/vote-best-coffee-shop-bracket" data-vars-content-id="24fca61f-f022-40af-911e-0ff57cd3078b" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s newest coffee shop is a mid-century dream" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/04/15/vote-best-coffee-shop-bracket" target="_self">coffee</a> shop, nestled in a nondescript plaza off Gandy Boulevard. <ul><li>But step inside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atomic Cat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/atomiccatstpete/" data-vars-content-id="24fca61f-f022-40af-911e-0ff57cd3078b" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s newest coffee shop is a mid-century dream" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/atomiccatstpete/" target="_blank">Atomic Cat</a>, and you&#x27;ll feel like you&#x27;ve stumbled onto the set of &quot;Mad Men.&quot;</li></ul>

How to celebrate Pride weekend in St. Pete

The festivities draw more than 300,000 people annually.

St. Petersburg&#x27;s gayest weekend in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gayest month" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/05/27/st-pete-pride-kickoff-weekend-events" data-vars-content-id="574d6d2a-3389-4642-a5ba-30557ab03b56" data-vars-headline="How to celebrate Pride weekend in St. Pete" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/05/27/st-pete-pride-kickoff-weekend-events" target="_self">gayest month</a> of the year kicks off tomorrow.Why it matters: From the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Pete Pride Parade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.stpetepride.org/2026-events" data-vars-content-id="574d6d2a-3389-4642-a5ba-30557ab03b56" data-vars-headline="How to celebrate Pride weekend in St. Pete" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.stpetepride.org/2026-events" target="_blank">St. Pete Pride Parade</a> to pop-up events around town, there are tons of ways to celebrate and be in community with LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. <ul><li>The festivities draw more than 300,000 people annually. </li></ul>

How to celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Tampa and St. Pete

From a cookout to a 5K, here's how our region is celebrating.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Juneteenth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/02/juneteenth-celebration-civil-rights-backlash" data-vars-content-id="73d06e32-96a5-4240-a394-22dcb50e5afd" data-vars-headline="How to celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Tampa and St. Pete" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/02/juneteenth-celebration-civil-rights-backlash" target="_self">Juneteenth</a> is coming up, and Tampa Bay has several ways to celebrate.The big picture: The annual holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation.

Tampa weekend events: Car shows, boat rides and Father's Day deals

Here are a few ways to spend  the weekend.

The weekend is fast approaching.<ul><li>Here are a few ways to spend it.</li></ul>

Where to watch World Cup games

Several venues and bars are planning watch parties.

The World Cup kicks off this Thursday, and what better way to get in the spirit than watching with your neighbors at a local haunt? <ul><li>Here are some spots to catch the games:</li></ul>

5 Tampa, St. Pete bars hosting Love Island watch parties

Watching with a bar full of reality TV heads feels like cheering on a sports team that always wins.

Love Island USA is back, and watching with a bar full of fellow reality TV heads feels like cheering on a sports team that always wins. <ul><li>Here are five bars in Tampa and St. Pete throwing watch parties:</li></ul>

Things to Do 🗓

Take the Axios Tampa Bay news quiz!

Tampa weekend events: Brew fest, Christmas in July and sing-alongs

St. Pete weekend events: Girls Rock, comedy show and romance book fair

727 Day is back with tons of St. Pete, Pinellas specials

St. Pete weekend guide: Indie Flea, America bash and more