Big Reptile Show In Tampa Bay This Weekend

One of the best parts about living in Tampa Bay is that there is always something going on. Whether it's a concert, sporting event, theme park events or just hanging out at the beach, the options are endless. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, check out the reptile show in Tampa Bay.

This Saturday, April 20th, and Sunday, April 21st, the ‘Show Me Reptiles’ reptile show is going on in Largo. That’s not the only reptile show in Tampa Bay this weekend. But ‘ReptiCon’ is also going on this Saturday, April 20th, down in Bradenton.

“Show Me Reptiles” specializes in and brings educational reptile events to cities across the country. In their early days, Show Mr Reptiles began as nothing more than an idea created in a living room. 

From their idea, they created the “Show Me Reptile & Exotics Show”, or better known as the “Show Me Show”. Now, they bring local meet and greets, Reptile Appreciation Day, community service events, private events, reptile training events, and more.

This weekend April 20th-21st, the "Show Me Reptile" show is back and located at the Largo Events Center at 6340 126th Ave N. VIP entry begins at 9 AM for early access while general admission runs from 10 am - 3:30 pm. 

VIP access is only permitted on Saturday while General Admission is both Saturday and Sunday. VIP tickets are $15, general admission is $10, kids ages 7-12 are $5, and military, first responders, and kids under 6 are FREE.

Not only will you get the chance to see many different species of reptiles, but there will be a show, “Reptiles After Dark” (RAD). Tickets are available at the door and to purchase beforehand.

“Show Me Reptiles” isn't the only reptile show in Tampa Bay this weekend. This Saturday and Sunday, the ReptiCon reptile show is returning to the area, but this time in Bradenton. The show runs from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Bradenton Convention Center, located at 1 Haben Boulevard in Palmetto.

Tickets are $11 for adults and $6 for kids. Ages 4 and under are FREE. Catch a glimpse of various different species of animals from across the globe. If you can’t make it, they’ll be back at the Fairgrounds in Tampa this June.

Tampa must be doing something right to have so many people move here every year. A recent Reddit thread asked the question, "what is Tampa doing right compared to other major cities?" A lot of people chimed in with their opinions. We thought we would highlight the best ones.

We know that Tampa is not perfect, and really any U.S. city could always use some improvements. But that doesn't mean Tampa isn't a great place to live or vacation. Compared to other cities, we seem to be doing a few things right. Now I have not been to every major U.S. city, but a fair share. So I think I can agree with everything the Reddit users have listed.

Recently Creative Loafing put out a survey to their readers. They had nearly 200 responses for the "What Tampa Bay Needs" survey. A Tampa Bay Times journalist even submitted his twelve suggestions that would make Tampa a better place. It included the obvious building of a train/light rail on 275, increasing public parks, building more sidewalks, and more. You can read all the suggestions here.

Although it needs some work, one surprising thing you will find on this list is public transportation. Everyone in the Tampa Bay area seems to agree that we need a better solution for our traffic. Maybe expanding lanes can help short term, but with the overwhelming number of people moving to Tampa, it can only help for so long. Many residents think that the new Howard Frankland Bridge won't make a bit of a difference when it comes to relieving traffic. The good news is that they are building the bridge to be able to equip a light rail when the time comes.

There's a reason TPA has a cult-like following. It's because it's been named one of America's best airports over and over again. Tampa International Airport is so organized and efficient compared to other airports like MCO (and from my personal experiences) Denver Airport, Phoenix, LAX, etc.

We know how bad the traffic can be in Tampa, but thankfully the road conditions aren't as bad as other major cities. It helps that we have multiple resources to report potholes, asphalt delamination, and more. Reddit users say they've filed complaints with the City of Tampa's fix it fast program and saw changes within 24-48 hours.

After realizing how much you pay for property taxes, you should really take advantage of your public library. Once you get a library card, you can download any ebook, magazine, and more from Hillsborough libraries through the Libby app. Plus many libraries offer kids clubs, ASL classes, and computers with Adobe programs.

This one may be controversial for some of you. But keep in mind we're comparing Tampa to other major U.S. cities. Compared to places like LA, NYC, Chicago, and New Orleans, Tampa is way cleaner than many other major markets. Think back a few weeks to Gasparilla, the day after the parade, it looked like it didn't even happen! Plus we have so many pet cleanup stations and trash cans that are regularly emptied.

While Tampa is lacking some major public transport like a light rail, the systems we do have are reliable and fairly affordable. We are forever grateful the TECO streetcar in Downtown Tampa is free to use. Our preferred way of getting around on Lightning game days. Plus, there's the Pirate Taxi, Cross Bay Ferry, and downtown has the cheap option of the Dash Tesla cabs. Riders are $2 each.

Speaking of Lightning game days. The Tampa Bay Lightning organization is one of the reasons that makes Tampa so great. Owner Jeff Vinik has put a lot of money and change into the city over the past few years. Plus, the way the players and organization interact with and help the community is outstanding. Someone also mentioned the traffic control around Lightning (and Bucs) games are way better compared to other cities.

Tampa is known for it's diverse population with a lack of segregated areas (besides Hyde Park and Davis Island). From restaurants, to art galleries and museums, Tampa is flooded with all kinds of culture. We are also home to the only trilingual paper in the country.