Experience and celebrate the performing arts at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center’s Annual Arts Festival!

Join us Friday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 14, as we kick off the upcoming 2025-26 season with a weekend full of free activities and performances by Tampa Bay artists across music, theater, dance, comedy, and more.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, bring the whole family for a day packed with kid-friendly activities, including a free screening of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, arts and crafts, food trucks, and The Florida Orchestra’s instrument petting zoo, where kids can explore and play musical instruments. Plus, join us for backstage tours throughout the festival to discover how our state-of-the-art facility brings productions to life!

Festival Schedule

All events and performances are free to attend. In addition to main stage acts, the festival will showcase lobby performances by both professional and student artists throughout the weekend.

Friday, Sept. 12 – Doors open at 5 PM 

Studio 1
5:45 PM: Outcast Theatre
7:45 PM: Cultural Arts Theater

Studio 2A
Backstage Tours at: 5 PM and 6 PM

Theater
7 PM: Wattaka Choir
8:15 PM: Jansen Dance Project   

Saturday, Sept. 13 – Doors open at 9:30 AM 

Studio 1
5 PM: Winold Music Festival
6:45 PM: USF Musical Theatre Program

Studio 2A
11 AM-3 PM: Florida Orchestra Instrument Petting Zoo
Backstage Tours at: 12:15 PM, 1:45 PM, and 4:30 PM

Theater
10 AM: Beauty and The Beast (1991)
1 PM: Entertainment Revue
2:15 PM: Hillsborough College Music Department
3:30 PM: Wharton High School Music
4:45 PM: Hat Trick Theatre: Tales of Mild Interest
6 PM: Anna Dance Academy  
7:30 PM: Tampa City Ballet’s Cinderella  

Food Trucks
Rollin’ Bites and Forge Pizza

Sunday, Sept. 14 – Doors open at 12:30 PM  

Studio 1
1:15 PM: Countdown Improv
3 PM: Devine Madness Sketch Comedy

Studio 2A
Backstage Tour at 3:15 PM

Theater
1 PM: Cypress Creek Jazz Band
2:15 PM: Rudram Dance Company  
3:45 PM: New Tampa Players
5 PM: St. Pete Opera