The Identity Tampa Bay recommends three things to do this weekend:
ReliaQuest Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade
Saturday 5:30 – 7: 30 p.m. | Ybor City, Tampa
Floats and marching bands will descend upon Seventh Ave Saturday night, where you can catch one of bowl season’s best parades as Mississippi State and Illinois fans try to process Ybor City.
The pep rally features a battle of the bands and cheerleaders from both squads before their matchup January 2. It’s also free, which is nice, though you’d be mistaken not to pop into one of Ybor’s iconic dive and music bars while you’re at it. Festivities run up until about 7:30 p.m., a prime New Year’s Eve pregame if you ask us.
Medianoche NYE in Flor Fina
Saturday 5 – 1 a.m. | Ybor City, Tampa
Well would you look at that. A free and extravagant New Year’s Eve celebration directly adjacent to the aforementioned New Year’s Eve parade. We swear we didn’t plan this.
Hotel Haya’s Medianoche NYE in Flor Fina is not a ticketed event, unlike, well, everywhere else it seems. But you can still expect the same top-notch entertainment and decadence at the bar, lounge and restaurant.
You can make a last-ditch effort at a reservation for a four-course prix fixe dinner or simply stop into the bar area with DJs Camo and Jake Dela Cruz. At 10:45 p.m., live band Speak Easy kicks off a bash that also features samba dancers, special holiday cocktails, party favors and a midnight champagne toast.
New Year’s Eve at The Floridian Social
Saturday 8 p.m. | Floridan Social Club, St. Pete
If you’d like to go the traditional all-inclusive ticketed route, however, one of the best places to do so might be The Floridian Social in St. Pete. Where an open bar of classic cocktails ought to open things up for the 8-piece jazz band and full cabaret to follow. Circus performers? They’ve got those too.
The presale is still currently live. Celebrations and performances get going at 8 p.m. and roll until close.