Tampa Bay Blues Festival
- Dates
- Apr 9 to 11, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Vinoy Waterfront Park
- Price
- $75 to $180
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 10, 2026
Tampa Bay Blues Festival returns to Vinoy Waterfront Park, St. Petersburg, FL, Apr 9 to 11, 2027. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Tampa Bay Blues Festival is a three-day waterfront blues and roots festival at Vinoy Waterfront Park in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, running April 9 to 11, 2027. It has been held since 1995 and is produced by the nonprofit Tampa Bay Blues Foundation, with proceeds going to the Parc Center for Disabilities. The 2027 bill lists Trombone Shorty, JJ Grey and Mofro, Tab Benoit, Los Lonely Boys, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Shemekia Copeland and Eric Gales. It won the Blues Foundation's 2011 Keeping the Blues Alive award for best US blues festival.
How it works
Gates open about 11am on Friday and Saturday and about noon on Sunday, with music running until 10pm. Single-day general admission is $75 and a three-day pass is $180, plus service charge, and children under 12 are free with an adult. VIP passes cost $350 a day or $825 for three days. Gate sales are cash only. Coolers, outside drinks, pets and bicycles are not allowed, and the event runs rain or shine. A Thursday kick-off party precedes the festival.
Who it suits
The festival suits blues and roots fans who want a long outdoor weekend with national headliners, food vendors serving seafood, barbecue and Cuban dishes, and bars on the grounds. Children under 12 are admitted free with an adult. The VIP package adds front-stage seating, shade tents, food, drinks and air conditioned restrooms for those who want more comfort. Downtown St. Petersburg's restaurants and museums are close by.
When it runs
For 2027 gates open at approximately 11 AM on Friday and Saturday and approximately noon on Sunday, with music from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday and 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Sunday.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Tampa Bay Blues Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
How do I get to Tampa Bay Blues Festival?
Most drivers leave the car in one of the downtown St. Petersburg parking garages and ride the free festival shuttle to Vinoy Waterfront Park, which runs through the festival hours. Street parking in the northeast neighborhoods is also open, subject to posted city restrictions. The park sits on the downtown waterfront, so anyone staying in the city can simply walk. Check out each of the options below for the airport, rideshare and parking.
Nearest airport PIE.
By car
The nearest major airport is PIE, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
Cost City garage rates, not festival-specific: Sundial, first hour free weekdays 5am-5pm then $1/hr, $8 daily max (weekends: 4 hrs for $1, up to $8 max). SouthCore. $1/hr or part thereof, $9 daily max, open 24/7. No prepay platform required; pay-on-exit city garages. Free festival shuttle (managed by Looper Trolley, wheelchair-lift equipped, running roughly every 15 min) connects the downtown garage area to the venue: pickup on Second Street South between Central Ave & 1st Ave South (under the pedestrian bridge connecting the Office Tower and the parking garage, near Hyatt Place), drop-off at Vinoy Park, 7th Ave NE & North Shore Drive NE. Schedule (per official page): Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12:30pm-11pm.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at PIE
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of St. Petersburg. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where do most people stay?
Most visitors stay in downtown St. Petersburg, where hotels, restaurants and museums sit close to the waterfront park and the festival is an easy walk. Others choose the Gulf beaches, about 25 minutes from the park, trading a drive for a beach stay. Check out each of the options below.
Where can I stay near Tampa Bay Blues Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 1
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 1
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 2
3939 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, FL 33762
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates3535 Ulmerton Road, FL 33762
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 1
Airbnb & private camping
Downtown St. Petersburg has active Airbnb inventory, with listings marketed specifically around Vinoy Park proximity ('three minute walk to the Vinoy').
Search AirbnbVinoy Park is a dense urban downtown-waterfront setting with no private-land camping listings in-neighborhood, as expected. The nearest realistic Hipcamp inventory is broader Pinellas County/Tampa Bay-area listings (a car-hire-adjacent option.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Vinoy Waterfront Park
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
Three days of blues on open waterfront grass in St. Petersburg in April, with food and drink booths around the edge of the park.
Full rule
Public restrooms are in the rear of the park along the seawall, and food and merchandise booths are set along the perimeter.
Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2027?
Apr 9 to 11, 2027
How much are Tampa Bay Blues Festival tickets?
$75 to $180 per person, from the official ticket page. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Where is Tampa Bay Blues Festival held?
Vinoy Waterfront Park, St. Petersburg, FL.