Tampa Riverfest returns to light up Tampa with Live Music from Sister Hazel, Lantern Parade and Hot Air Balloons

Returning for its ninth year, Tampa Riverfest is promising to be bigger and bigger than ever, you’ll discover so much happening along the entire span of the Riverwalk!

Tampa Riverfest and Lantern Parade is a public, two-day, FREE event that is held the first weekend in May each year.

The festival spans the entire length of the Riverwalk including several parks and features family-friendly activities and events showcasing Tampa's cultural institutions, local musicians and restaurants.  

This year's Riverfest taking place on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 2025, and includes Taste of Riverwalk on Friday night and Taco Fest on Saturday. There is also a full concert series including headliner Sister Hazel, plus regional and local bands on the main stage in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and a balloon glow at sunset on both nights.

Other activities include a wiener dog derby, a lantern parade, yoga, a water ski show and a paddle invasion!!

Tampa Riverfest takes place along the entire span of the Riverwalk, which stretches from Water Street Tampa, north to Armature works as it winds along the edge of the Riverwalk on Hillsborough River.

The majority of the celebration is focused at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, in the middle of the Riverwalk.

The 2025 Lantern Parade at Tampa Riverfest takes place on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Riverfest Lantern Parade is an annual event where participants decorate their own paper lanterns and join a 1-mile parade that illuminates the Riverwalk! 

The parade will start at Water Works Park at 8:30 pm and end in Curtis Hixon Park. 

PARKING INFORMATION

Parking is available at multiple locations near the event and within a few blocks. The address of Curtis Hixon Park is 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL 33602.

Nearby garages include William F. Poe Garage and Fort Brooke Garage.

Or you can skip the traffic and join the fun by bike! We're excited to announce we will offer FREE bike valet! It will be located on Ashley Drive at Curtis Hixon Park. Riverfest's bike valet is brought to you by Tampa's Downtown Partnership.

The address of Water Works Park is 1701 N. Highland Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602. Nearby lots and garages include the 220 Parking Lot and the Heights Parking Garage as well as the Armature Works Lots.  

Various on-street metered spaces are also available. Parking rates and hours of operation vary depending on the location of the space.   

We encourage you to come early and walk the beautiful Tampa Riverwalk to other downtown destinations. You can also travel to the event using Uber, Lyft, Pirate Water Taxi, and TECO Line Streetcar.  The TECO Line Streetcar is FREE and comes every 15 minutes.

For more details: https://thetampariverwalk.com/events/riverfest.html.

Keep up to date with all the latest news, and never miss anything happening in Orlando!

Gotta Go Orlando is your local source for the latest entertainment news, events and things to do in the Orlando area. We feature the latest concerts, theater news, arts & culture, nightlife, food & drink. theme parks, attractions, festivals, events, and so much more.

To be sure you don't miss the latest happenings in Orlando, sign up for our newsletter and stay in the loop with all the latest exciting news from our local community. You can also join the local conversation on X, Facebook, and Instagram, and catch the latest on our YouTube Channel too.

Contact Us

Got a story to tell Orlando? Contact us now. To advertise with us, click here, and to list your upcoming event with us, submit it here.