The Henry B. Plant Museum offers a wide variety of programs and events throughout the year.  Check our event calendar to see what is coming up next!

Your Opportunity to Participate

First Friday - Cancelled until further notice.

January - November, first Friday of each month 5-7 pm
Free
Meet us at the Minarets for First Friday on the first Friday of each month (January - November).  The Museum will be open with free admission from 5 – 7 pm.  Visitors can explore the nation’s only Victorian railroad resort hotel museum, enjoy live music on the veranda, and share a treat at our tastings table.  Graciously underwritten by SunTrust Foundation.

Music in the Museum

January - November, third Thursday of each month 11-11:30 am
Included with Museum admission
Each month stop by to hear a live classical music performance.  Live concerts were the most popular daily entertainment at the Tampa Bay hotel, and Music in the Museum restores this authentic tradition.  Enjoy the sounds of the harp, guitar, or violin as you explore the Museum. Graciously underwritten by SunTrust Foundation.

Fourth Friday - Cancelled until further notice.

January - November, fourth Friday of each month 4-5 pm
Free
Enjoy an evening of special offerings and discounts by cultural venues, restaurants, and more throughout downtown Tampa.

Blue Star Museums - Cancelled for 2020.

Memorial Day - Labor Day
From Memorial Day through Labor Day the Museum is proud to offer free admission to active duty United States military and up to five family members as part of the Blue Star Museums program.  This program is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums nationwide.

 

Sunday Tour - Cancelled until further notice.

September - May (excludes December), one Sunday per month 1 pm
Included with Museum Admission
Enjoy a guided tour by one of our docents, then stay for the Upstairs/Downstairs theater performance.  2019-2020 date: September 8, October 13, November 10, January 12, February 9, March 15, April 19, May 17.

Upstairs/Downstairs at the Tampa Bay Hotel - Available via livestream on Facebook or Zoom.

Sundays at 2 pm, September - May
Included with Museum admission
Step back in time and enjoy the single-character performances that bring turn-of–the-century Tampa Bay Hotel staff members and guests to life.  Based on original research conducted by the Henry Plant Museum, these characters recreate the attitudes and mores of a bygone time.
        

Out and About with Upstairs Downstairs
February 2, March 29, May 13, September 9
Enjoy a brief talk about the Tampa Bay Hotel by Curator of Education Heather Trubee Brown followed by a performance of Upstairs Downstairs live theater.  
   
 

Special Events

Victorian Christmas Stroll

November 21 - December 31, 10 am - 5 pm
Experience the extravagance and grandeur of a Victorian Christmas at the former 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel during the Henry B. Plant Museum’s Victorian Christmas Stroll.  Allowing visitors a glimpse of Christmas past, the event runs every day from November 21 - December 31, 10 am – 5 pm daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
        
 

Picnic in the Park

Bring your blanket, pack a picnic basket and invite family and friends to experience the pleasures of a simpler time. Relax in the shade, or enjoy Victorian field and table games. We'll have strolling models in vintage clothing, live theater, and continuous entertainment on Center Stage.
    
 

The Great Gatsby Party

Get ready for the glitziest party of the year!  Fletcher Lounge at The University of Tampa will be transformed into a 1920s speakeasy for The Great Gatsby Party.  This fabulous evening includes live music, games of chance, fabulous food, an open bar and a photo opportunity with a vintage 1929 Bentley.
 

An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel

Celebrate Halloween at the Museum with An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel.  See the Museum in moonlight and hear creepy tales of days long past.
 

Victorian Valentine Making

Elaborate, ornate, heartfelt. These words capture the beauty of Victorian Valentines. Discover this history of these gorgeous keepsakes and create your own treasures at our Victorian Valentine event.

 

Gasparilla: A Tampa Tradition

An annual exhibit on the rich history of Tampa’s oldest and most fun-loving community festival. Gasparilla: A Tampa Tradition explores Tampa’s premier party, attended by a motley crew of the famous and infamous, the beautiful people and bad dudes.
 

Teacher Appreciation Day

We invite Tampa Bay area teachers to visit the Henry B. Plant Museum as we honor their dedication to teaching our youth.  During Teacher Appreciation Day from 10 am – 5 pm admission is FREE for teachers and their families with their school ID.
 

Archives Awareness Week

We are proud to participate in the City of Tampa's Archives Awareness Week.  Local archives come together to present their collections through exhibits and programs that convey the value of archives in the identification, preservation and conservation of historic records.
 

Holiday Shopping Day

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Museum Store.  Take advantage of in store discounts, local vendors on the veranda, and complimentary refreshments all day long.  
 

Volunteer Trainings
Learn more about the Museum and our Volunteer Council at our quarterly volunteer trainings. For more information on volunteering, click here.