Facilities Overview for Events

Total flexibility and versatile accommodations allow the Florida State Fairgrounds to meet the needs of any event, large or small. Whether you are planning a small banquet or a grand affair, you have come to the right place.

Situated in the heart of the bustling Tampa Bay area, accessibility is one of the many benefits the Fairgrounds has to offer. The over 355-acre complex is conveniently located off interstate highways, close to some of Florida's most popular attractions, beaches, state parks, historic locations, downtown business, shopping malls, and numerous hotels and restaurants.

The Florida State Fairgrounds has all the facilities to make your event a memorable one. Our management, staff and contracted service providers offer custom-tailored programs to facilitate the success of your special occasion. On-site ticket offices, catering, parking attendants and 24-hour security are readily available.

Each building on the grounds features its own unique specifications, and is adaptable for a variety of uses.  The new entrance gates on the grounds provide a fresh, contemporary feel to welcome your guests.

The Florida State Fairgrounds has more than 16,000 lighted parking spaces and 150+ camping spaces with full hook-ups that are available for exhibitors and vendors.

Come see us.  You'll be pleasantly surprised.

View a virtual tour of the buildings! Click Here.

Facilities Description:

Expo Hall 

If space is what you need, Expo Hall is the place. Its 88,000 square feet of exhibit space makes move-in and move-out easy for even the most challenging displays. Six drive-through doors make this building ideal for heavy equipment, cars and boat shows. For even more space, you can easily expand into the adjacent Entertainment Hall, giving you a total of 140,000 square feet in which to stage your event.

Some events that have made Expo Hall their host include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Volvo International World Cup Horse Jumping, the Florida R.V. Supershow, Florida's Largest Home Show, and the Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo & Boat Show.

For more information, call 813-627-4218.

Entertainment Hall 

From exhibits to a concert, the Entertainment Hall has proven itself to be the perfect location for many events. Entertainment Hall is a 52,000 square foot multi-purpose facility with a 45-foot high ceiling, and a 5,000 person seating capacity. The Entertainment Hall is climate controlled, and has great acoustical and lighting capabilities. Large doors make the Hall very accessible for unloading and loading. You can drive everything from a motorcycle, up to a semi-truck into the building.

Some events that have taken place in this building include Mixed Martial Arts, ESPN Friday Night Fights, Buckler's Craft Fairs and Latin festival celebrations like Univision's Fiesta Gigante. Need a larger area? We have the solution. Since the Entertainment Hall is adjacent to the 88,000 square foot Expo Hall, you can increase your floor space up to 140,000 square feet by opening the large connecting doors.

For more information, call 813-627-4218.

Charles M. Davis Special Events Center 

Its versatility and bright interior make the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center an ideal show hall for almost any occasion.This modern building provides 40,000 sq. ft. of usable space. Add a folding acoustical wall to divide the space into 18,000 and 22,000 square feet sections under a 25-foot high ceiling. For trade and consumer shows, the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center can accommodate over 200 booth spaces. For concerts, a spectator configuration gives you over 3,000 unobstructed seats. And for banquets, there are catering facilities to accommodate parties from 500 to 3,000.

Take a look and see why it's been the site for such events as National Street Rod Association Car Show, the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet, Governor's Day Luncheon, cheerleading events and ballroom dancing competitions.

For more information, call 813-627-4218.

Florida Center & Botanical Gardens 

The newly renovated Florida Center and Botanical Gardens provides guests with an attractive and fresh setting that is perfect for both private and public functions. The Florida Center has been transformed into a tropical oasis displaying a colorful Florida-themed mural on 12,000 square feet of interior walls. The building can accommodate up to 1,350 people. The venue is perfect for special events including weddings, receptions, reunions, parties, fashion shows, fundraisers, upscale trade shows, meetings and seminars. The nearby Botanical Gardens offers a beautiful and quaint backdrop for a ceremony or cocktail reception, and the adjoining outdoor Terrace provides a lovely atmosphere for your guests to socialize.

Combine these unique spaces with our exclusive catering service and you will provide your guests with a diverse array of delicious foods and beverages to complement your event theme and exceed their expectations. Whether your event is of a personal or professional nature, the Florida Center and Botanical Gardens is sure to be the ideal venue to make your special occasion one that is very memorable.

For more information, call 813-627-4218.

Charlie Lykes Arena

Located adjacent to the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center is the Charlie Lykes Arena Complex.  With indoor seating for over 2,500 spectators, it's ideal venue for rodeos, concerts, steer shows, jousting events, display and demonstration space, and more. For added convenience, the connected show barns provide an additional 72,000 square feet of housing and show area, all under one roof. This complex is the perfect host to the South's premier agricultural and livestock competitions as well as 5-Star Rodeos.

For information on building availability call 813-627-4217 or 813-627-4218.

Equestrian Pavilion 

The Equestrian Pavilion exudes a sense of openness with its glass windows that extend the full length of the building on both sides. It offers a unique setting for weddings, banquets, parties, and meetings of all sizes, seating up to 500 people.The Equestrian Pavilion is a climate-controlled facility of 9,000 square feet, 50 feet wide and 250 feet long, and has an adjoining kitchen area.The Florida State Fairgrounds has over 16,000 lighted parking spaces, and over 150 camping spaces with full hook-ups for exhibitors and vendors.

For more information, call 813-627-4218    To see the layout of the Pavilion - CLICK HERE > Pavilion Floor Plan

Outdoor Events 

With more than 300 landscaped acres, we have a number of open areas to choose from. We also have barns, and other non-air-conditioned buildings available. Perhaps you need the flexibility of an event with both indoor and outdoor areas. We can assist you in customizing our facility to meet your needs by utilizing any combination.

Successful events held here include boat shows, R.V. shows, car shows and auctions, equestrian events, and even company/corporate picnics.The Florida State Fairgrounds has over 16,000 lighted parking spaces and over 150 camping space with full hook-ups for exhibitors and vendors.

For more information, call 813-627-4218.