Together With

Did a neighbor share this with you? Subscribe for free!
If you want to get your business in front of 21k locals, please reach out to [email protected] or reply to this email.

Good Morning From Lutz,

Mornings have been about as nice as it gets lately. Low 60s, a little crisp, and just easy to step outside for a bit before the day gets going. Afternoons are warming into the mid 80s, with a couple days flirting with 90.

Things are picking up around here in a good way. More to do, more places opening, and plenty of reasons to get out for a bit this weekend.

Have a great weekend and enjoy some time out of the house.

-Mike

Access local events three different ways:

Community Calendar
Full List of Events w/Links
Join our Facebook Events Group

Feel free to follow us on Instagram for more local updates.

Fresh Market at Wiregrass
The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel
Saturday, April 18 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

The Fresh Market at Wiregrass is one of those easy Saturday stops where you can knock out a few things at once. Expect fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and a mix of local vendors set up throughout the center.

It’s a solid way to spend a couple hours walking around, grabbing a bite, and browsing, especially with everything else happening at Wiregrass right around it.

Blues & BBQ
Carrollwood Cultural Center, Carrollwood
Saturday, April 18 | 11:00 AM–6:00 PM

Blues & BBQ is back at Carrollwood Cultural Center with a full day of live music, food trucks, and local vendors. It’s a laid-back, outdoor setup where you can grab something to eat, listen to live blues throughout the day, and just hang out. Family-friendly and easy to drop into for a few hours or stay awhile.

Kids Market at Wiregrass Market
The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel
Saturday, April 18 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

The Kids Market at Wiregrass brings young entrepreneurs into the larger market with kid-run booths selling handmade goods, treats, and creative products. You’ll still get the full market experience with live music, food vendors, and local shopping, just with a fun focus on supporting kids building their own businesses.

Land O’ Lakes Seafood Festival
Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, Land O’ Lakes
Saturday, April 18 | 12:00 PM–3:00 PM

The Land O’ Lakes Seafood Festival is bringing fresh seafood, live music, and a full festival setup to Heritage Park. You’ll find a mix of food vendors serving everything from shrimp and lobster to classic festival eats, along with local booths and a laid-back, community feel. Easy one to swing by, grab some food, and hang out for a bit.

Whataburger Now Open in Lutz

You’ve probably been hearing about this one already, but it’s officially go time. Whataburger opened today in Lutz and yes, it’s open 24/7.

Expect the full menu from burgers and patty melts to breakfast favorites like the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. If you want the full rundown (and what’s actually worth ordering).

Wiregrass Keeps Adding Big Names

While a lot of malls are scaling back, The Shops at Wiregrass is going the other direction and adding more to the mix.

They just announced a fresh round of new retailers and restaurants, plus a few upgrades from existing spots. This comes after last year’s refresh around Center Court, so if you’ve been recently, you’ve probably noticed things looking a little sharper.

Here’s what’s coming or expanding:

• Lululemon (opening this summer)
• Kendra Scott (coming soon)
• Face Foundrié (opening April 22)
• Sweet Paris Creperie & Café (first Tampa-area location)
• Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine (opening this summer)
• Monster Games (new permanent space May 1)
• Nikki’s Glitz & Glam Boutique (expanded location)

It’s another sign of how much activity is still happening in Wesley Chapel, especially along the SR 56 corridor.

A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!

German Circus Bringing Family-Friendly Fun

This one’s a little different from your typical circus. Germany’s Great Bavarian Circus is in town, and they’re leaning into a more family-focused, interactive style of show.

Expect a mix of juggling, unique costumes, and a blend of German and traditional circus elements. The performers mentioned the goal is simple: keep kids engaged and make it just as fun for parents watching along.

If you’re looking for something a little different to check out with the family, this could be worth a look. Tickets are available online.

Rays Stadium Tensions Spill Into Public

This isn’t really the kind of positivity we like to highlight around here, but it’s another wrinkle in the never-ending Rays stadium saga.

Things escalated this week when a Hillsborough County commissioner publicly accused the Rays of misleading both officials and the public, and said he’s now withdrawing his support. That comes just days after a draft plan was released for a new $2.3 billion stadium near Raymond James, with about $750 million from the county and $250 million from the city potentially on the table.

Some of the proposed funding sources, including tax-related funds and county reserves, are already drawing scrutiny. More discussions are coming soon, with workshops scheduled and possible votes as early as mid-May.

Temple Terrace Planning the Next 20 Years

Over in Temple Terrace, city leaders are starting to map out what the next couple decades could look like and they’re asking residents to weigh in.

So far, the big themes are pretty familiar: traffic concerns, safer roads, better walkability (especially near USF), and protecting green space as the area grows. There’s an open survey if you want to share your input and help shape where things go from here.

New Park Fueling Zephyrhills Growth

Zephyrhills is seeing some real momentum, and a lot of it is being tied back to Hercules Park.

The park, which opened last year as the city’s first new park in 40 years, is already making an impact. City leaders say nearby businesses saw major boosts right away, including one reporting a 400% jump on opening weekend. It’s also part of a bigger push, with $2.5 million invested into parks across the city to keep that momentum going.

A couple other things worth noting:
• $150,000 grant available for restaurants opening in the CRA district
• $10,000 grant available for homebuyers in the same area
• More park upgrades planned citywide

It’s all part of a broader effort to make Zephyrhills more attractive not just to visit, but to live and invest in.

Counties Clash Over Regional Transportation Plan

There’s no secret that Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas all play a role in our area development collectively, and they should especially work together to attack traveling throughout the Tampa Bay area.

That’s exactly why this new regional transportation plan is getting attention. Leaders are discussing combining all three counties into one planning group to better coordinate major projects, but Pinellas officials are pushing back on how the voting would be split.

Right now, the proposal would give Hillsborough 52% of the vote, even though it represents about 48% of the population. Pinellas leaders say that imbalance could give one county too much control over big decisions like road funding and long-term transportation planning, so expect more back-and-forth before anything is finalized.

We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to slide into our DM’s.

Thanks for reading the North Tampa Buzzletter!

If you loved it, send it to a friend.