FREE COMMUNITY EVENT – TICKET NOT REQUIRED

The historic auditorium may be closed for restoration, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit Tampa Theatre! On Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Tampa’s majestic movie palace is hosting a Franklin Street Block party – presented by Urban E Recycling – in celebration of Earth Day.

The event is FREE and open to the public, and will feature music, giveaways, family-friendly activities, community partners and vendors filling the 700-block of Franklin Street from 5pm to 7pm:

• Urban E Recycling’s hard drive shredder
• Short films in the Taylor Screening Room
• Meet the costumed characters from The Florida Aquarium 
• Art inspired by the odd animal world by Megan Bites
• Caricature art with KellyBerryArt
• Live music by Nick Ewing of ArtisTREE Gardens from 5pm-6pm
• An interactive drum circle from Giving Tree Music from 6pm-7pm
• Made from scratch middle eastern street food from Kebablicious food truck (Miso Lucky food truck is no longer able to attend the event)
• Learn about bees with the Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association
• Fun and games with Keel Farms
• Herbal teas, honey, and natural skin & hair care from Healthy Happy Hippie
• Meet local feathered friends from The Ybor Misfits Microsanctuary
• Get up close and personal with the goats from Goat Yoga Tampa
• Gary the Pug and crew make a returning appearance with Pugs & Petals
• Chat and browse with Grace’s Garden Center, KIZA Produce, Renuable Composting, and Ryan James
• Discover everything from books & movies to GoPros & ukuleles available at the Hillsborough County Public Library
• Meet The Sportschix from 102.5 The Bone
• Learn about Downtown Tampa’s best kept secret to getting around town, the Downtown Partnership DASH service
• Become a friend to our pollinator pals at Butterfly Tampa
• STEM activities with Bonnet Springs Park
• Get involved with your community garden with West Tampa Grows Healthy
• Fun and games with Tampa Bay Inferno Women’s Football Team

More vendors are being added every day! Guests are also invited to bring books in good condition and rooted or potted plant cuttings for a Book and Plant Exchange near the Theatre’s Box Office. Please no textbooks, dictionaries, or encyclopedias.

Along with the free community screenings being held at the University of Tampa, this Block Party kicks off a series of community events sponsored by Urban E Recycling, which is celebrating Tampa Theatre’s 100^th birthday with a gift of $100,000 intended to fund events to introduce people to Tampa Theatre.

“The Tampa Theatre has always held a special place in our hearts. From our very first dates to the many unforgettable events we’ve shared over the years, it has been part of our story,” says Greg Rabinowitz, who co-founded Urban E Recycling with his wife, Dell. “We believe everyone should have the chance to experience this extraordinary place at least once. That’s the spirit behind this gift—and our way of saying a heartfelt and resounding thank you to our community.”

The Franklin Street Block Party is sponsored by Urban E Recycling. For a list of electronics that Urban E Recycling can take and to schedule your pickup, CLICK HERE