It’s not in Pasco, and we’re not going to pretend it is — but Benchmark International Arena in downtown Tampa (most people still call it AMALIE Arena) is a straight shot down US-41 or I-275, and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s ninth annual Bolts Brew Fest this Saturday is worth the drive.
Get tickets to Bolts Brew Fest at Benchmark International Arena →
This isn’t a folding-table-in-a-parking-lot beer fest. It’s the whole arena floor, more than 100 craft beers, ciders, and spirits from 50-plus breweries — Tampa Bay names like Coppertail, Green Bench, Motorworks, Three Daughters, and Tampa Bay Brewing alongside national and international pours — plus a golf simulator, an AI photo booth, a one-liter Stiegl shotski, and a stein-holding contest if you want to make your Saturday night interesting. Local weatherman Dennis Phillips is stopping by to pour his own Rule #7 Hurricane Pale Ale, and ThunderBug will be working the crowd all night.
What: Bolts Brew Fest, presented by Publix
When: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 5–9:30 PM (entry staggered by ticket tier)
Where: Benchmark International Arena, 400 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL
Tickets: Designated Driver $50, General Admission $55 (7 PM entry), GA Plus $95 (6 PM entry), VIP $155 (5 PM entry, VIP lounge + Lightning preseason ticket offer) — early-bird rates, confirm current pricing at the link above
Tickets are already moving and it’s a one-night event, so if downtown Tampa on a Saturday with unlimited beer sampling sounds like a better plan than another night at home, this is the one to book.