Welcome to What’s Hot March, where we feature events happening all over Central Florida. The major event this month is Tampa Pride, but for info on that check out the huge feature in this month’s edition including an interview with headliner Martha Wash. Continue reading to learn what else is hot this month:
Saturday, March 7
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents George Lopez: Live in Concert at 8pm. Film and television comedy star George Lopez rose to fame with his hit series George Lopez. Known for his quick, deadpan observations and uncanny comic timing, Lopez keeps live audiences laughing from start to finish in his sell-out stand-up tours. He returns to The Straz for a sure-fire evening of hilarity. Tickets start at $41 at Strazcenter.org.
St Pete Pride Presents: Taste of Pride from 7-10pm at the St Petersburg Historical Coliseum (535 4th Ave N, St. Petersburg). Taste of Pride gathers the best Tampa Bay restaurants, bars, and breweries under one roof to give you a chance to feast like a Queen. Guests will be able to enjoy sizable tastings from over 10 establishments that are taking the Tampa Bay gastronomy to a whole another level while supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Also, guests will have the chance to vote for their favorite tasting and the winner will receive a $1,000 donation to an organization of their choice as part of the St Pete Pride Community Grants Program. Tickets are $40 at StPetePride.com.
Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) presented by Cigar City Brewing has announced its full lineup including performance dates for the 9th annual festival taking place today and tomorrow, Sunday, March 8. Today, Brandi Carlile will be headlining the Water Street Tampa Stage in Curtis Hixon Park, and De La Soul will be closing out the Ashley Homestore Stage at Kiley Gardens. Tomorrow, Sunday March 8, Portugal. The Man will be headlining the Water Street Tampa Stage. Full lineup and times are available on the Gasparilla Music Festival website at Gmftampa.com. Tickets to the festival are available at Gmftickets.com.
The Amalie Arena presents Jeff Dunham in Seriously!? International Tour at 5pm. For the past 12 years, Jeff Dunham and his somewhat inappropriate proteges, Peanut, Walter, José Jalapeño, Bubba J. and Achmed the Dead Terrorist, have filled arenas across the U.S. and the world with their multiple blockbuster tours. For tickets, which start at $50, go to Amaliearena.com.
Sunday, March 8
The Amway Center presents Marc Anthony in his Opus Tour 2020 at 7pm. Tickets start at $61 at mwaycenter.com.
The Parliament House presents Mardi Gras and their annual Parade Spectacular with floats, beads, marching bands, the footlight Players, DJ Brianna, and your Mardi Gras Queen and King: Yeisa Jovovich (Miss Parliament House 2019) and Kirk Davinci (Florida National Showman at Large 2019).
Tuesday, March 10
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Victory Productions present an Intimate Evening with David Foster: Hitman Tour, featuring special guest Katharine McPhee at 8pm. Tickets, which start at $40, are available at Drphillips.org.
The Amway Center presents multiple Grammy winner Billie Eilish in her Where Do We Go? World Tour at 7:30pm. The bad news is this concert sold out, but maybe you can find some tickets from a friend.
The Van Wezel performing Arts Hall presents The Color Purple, which is the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival at 7:30pm! Hailed as “a direct hit to the heart” (The Hollywood Reporter), this joyous American classic about a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South has conquered Broadway in an all-new “ravishingly reconceived production that is a glory to behold” (The New York Times). Tickets start at $72 at Vanwezel.org.
Thursday, March 12
Southern NIghts Orlando presents the birthday for one of their own and former Hotspots cover model Dominick. NO COVER before 11pm 21+ or w/ College ID till 12am (18+ Welcome). They will feature the Freshmen Line Up at 10:30pm Hosted by: Cara Cavalli, and show time at 12:30am hosted by Axel Andrews with Roxxxy Andrews and Kaija Adonis. DJ Jeff DLux Cowart & DJ Sledge Melvin spinning.
Friday, March 13
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents Jersey Boys from today until March 15. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard … and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story – a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning true-life musical phenomenon, Jersey Boys. Featuring the legendary top ten hits: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)” Tickets start at $39 at Strazcenter.org.
Southern Nights Orlando’s #FlexFriday presents, RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Manila Luzon (18yr+ Welcome). Drag Shows at 11pm & 12:30am featuring Roxxxy Andrews, Maya Andrews, Sassy Devine, & Tashae Sherrington! If you can’t catch Manila tonight, you can drive to Southern Nights Tampa on Saturday where she will be performing alongside hostess Jade Embers.
Saturday, March 14
Come Out with Pride Orlando invites the community to come out tonight at 7pm to the Aloft Downtown for a night of glamour and entertainment as they celebrate Pride and raise money to bring WorldPride to Orlando in 2026! Join them for heavy hors d’oeuvres, beats by DJ Joanie and riveting performances by Blue Star and VarieTEASE. They will be announcing this year’s Pride Gives Back grant and scholarship winners, showcase amazing products and services at their silent auction and share some of the upcoming surprises for this year’s Pride Parade and Festival on October 10. Money raised at this event will directly support bid efforts to bring WorldPride to Orlando in 2026, 10 years after the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub.
Bradley’s on 7th invites everyone to come out and view the Rough Riders St Patrick’s Parade. Bar opens at 2pm for pre-partying, and the parade watch starts at 7pm. That night they feature DJ Steve Vaugh in the dance bar and DJ Charles Machado in the Video bar, plus two amazing shows at 11:30 pm and 1:30am with MC Kori Stevens and special guests Kiala Santi and Felicity Lane, and as always don’t forget the Bradley’s boys all night!
The Honey Pot invites everyone to watch the parade at their front door as it travels directly in front of the club! Inside Honey Pot, get ready to enter a true party atmosphere as the club goes into Shamrock overload with great decor, a world-class show hosted by Amy DeMilo along with some seriously-sexy Go-Go girls to provide the proper visuals! The perfect dancing soundtrack will be provided by DJ T-Quest! Doors open at 7pm, with no cover before 9pm and only $5 cover after 9pm for those 21 and up! (18 – 20 year olds get in for only $10 all night long).
Amor Upscale Latin Night at Clandestino/Irish Shannon’s presents Ramon’s Birthday bash. The night will star Yeisa Jovovoch, Kandy Ho, Angelica Sanchez, and Axel Andrews at 12am. Doors open at 9pm and there is no cover before 10pm, and only $10 thereafter.
Monday, March 16
Dr. Phillips Center Presents Harry Connick, Jr. in his True Love: An Intimate Performance at 8pm. After 30 million albums sold worldwide and a music, film, television and Broadway career spanning three decades, Harry Connick, Jr. returns with a sensational new record, True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter. Every pair of tickets for this show includes a CD copy of Harry Connick Jr’s new album, True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter. Tickets start at $60 at Drphillipscenter.org. He will also be performing at The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on March 20, where tickets start at $127 at Vanwezel.org.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents An American in Paris, with 2 performances: 3 and 7pm. In post war Paris, romance is in the air and youthful optimism reigns. Gershwin’s soaring melodies are matched by gravity-defying dance as the world rediscovers the power of love in this breathtaking production. Hoping to start a new life, World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses newly-liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. But Jerry’s life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret – and realizes he is not her only suitor. Winner of four Tony Awards and inspired by the Academy Award-winning film, this exquisite production features your favorite Gershwin songs including “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” and “Stairway to Paradise.” Tickets at Vanwezel.org.
Wednesday, March 18
FL Falun Dafa Association Presents Shen Yun 2020 from today until Sunday, March 22 at the Dr. Phillips Center. The culture of ancient China was divinely inspired. Shen Yun’s works reflect this rich spiritual heritage, as they invite you to travel back to the magical world of ancient China. Experience a lost culture through the incredible art of classical Chinese dance, and see legends come to life. Shen Yun makes this possible by pushing the boundaries of the performing arts, with a unique blend of stunning costuming, high-tech backdrops, and an orchestra like no other. Be prepared for a theatrical experience that will take your breath away! Tickets start at $80 at Drphillipscenter.org.
Friday, March 20
Balance Tampa Bay presents their March social at the Tiki Bar at The Getaway (13090 Gandy Blvd N, St Petersburg) from 6-9pm. As always there will be appetizers and a cash bar, so invite your friends and meet some new ones and go out for a great evening on the waterfront
Tuesday, March 24
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents Miss Saigon from today until Sunday, March 29. This is the epic story of a young Vietnamese woman named Kim who is orphaned by war and forced to work in a bar run by a notorious character known as the Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American G.I., an encounter that will change their lives forever. Featuring stunning spectacle and a sensational cast of 42 performing the soaring score, including Broadway hits like “The Heat is On in Saigon,” “The Movie in My Mind,” “Last Night of the World” and “American Dream,” this is a theatrical event you will never forget. Miss Saigon contains some scenes and language which may not be suitable for younger audience members, including scenes of a sexual nature. Tickets start at $56 at StrazCenter.org. Miss Saigon will also be playing at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando from March 31- April 5. For tickets, which start at $65, go to Drphillipscenter.org.
Thursday, March 26
The Amalie Arena presents CHER in her Here We Go Again Tour featuring with Nile Rogers & CHIC at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $40 at Amaliearena.com.
Saturday, March 28
The Parliament House presents direct from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9, Kimora Blac.
Monday, March 30
Neema presents the annual Miss Glamorous Pageant, and this year he has taken it up a notch with a $10,000 prize, where the winner takes all! Doors open at the Orlando Repertory Theater (1101 E. Princeton St) at 5:30pm with pageant starting at 7pm sharp. Registration is closed and the contestants are: A’Mya Jackson Ross, Domanique Shappelle, Dominique Taylor, Fontasia L’Amour, Janet Fierce Andrews, Jasmine Masters, Joan Julian, Kalypso, Layla Larue, Necole Luv Dupree, Nina DiAngelo, Niomi Onasis Knight, Noel Leon, Summer Breeze, Venus Knight, and Yeisa Jovovich. For tickets, go to: amorevent-llccom.ticketleap.com
Tuesday, March 31
Punky’s Bar and Grill invites everyone to come on by to raise money for Balance Tampa Bay. They welcome you to support them and enjoy ten games of Bingo with 10 prizes, good eats and drinks. Please be sure to call Punky’s today at 727.201.4712 to reserve one of their best tables for this event as they anticipate having a full house. There is a $10 suggested donation for ten games of Bingo!
