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”The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round “. . . as the song goes. Well, the wheels on the bus will be spinning for the Harvesters again on Wednesday, May 1 as we journey to Tampa for a day exploring the arts in the heart of Tampa.

The All Aboard bus will leave the Harvest parking lot at 8:45 AM for the trek into Tampa where the first stop will be at the restored Tampa Theatre. Built in 1926, the Tampa Theatre is one of America’s most elaborate movie palaces and a beloved community landmark.

Like other movie palaces around the country, Tampa Theatre was enormously popular when it opened. For the first time in history, the common person had access to opulence – for 25 cents! By the 1960s times had changed. The rise of television and movement to the suburbs had a profound influence on the downfall of these beautiful theaters. Audiences dwindled, cost of up-keep rose and many of them fell into disrepair or were demolished.

Thanks to the foresight of the community, the Tampa Theatre was rescued from the same fate. Today, the not-for-profit Tampa Theatre Foundation manages the theatre, hosting more than 600 events a year. The Harvesters will have a one-hour docent led tour of the Theatre including an opportunity to view the restored Wurlitzer theater organ.

Following the tour, you will have the opportunity to have lunch at one of the many small restaurants located within walking distance of the Theatre. A list of local restaurants will be available. Cost of lunch will be on your own.
In the afternoon, the Harvesters visit the Tampa Museum of Art located on the Riverwalk. The museum is located a short walk (0.3 mi) from the Tampa Theatre.

The Museum opened its award-winning new building in 2010 with a commitment to provide innovative public programs with a focus on ancient, modern, and contemporary art. The Museum includes one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States along with a dynamic schedule of special exhibitions. The region’s largest institution devoted to the art of our time, the Museum has fostered a reputation for presenting contemporary photography and new media; most notably, Leo Villareal’s Sky (Tampa), a 14,000-square-foot LED installation on its south façade. 

The Harvesters are scheduled for small-group docent-led tours of the museum beginning at 1:30 PM. At the conclusion of the tour, there will be time to browse in the gift shop before re-boarding the bus for the 3:00 PM return to Harvest.

Cost for the day will be $44/person which includes transportation, entrance fees to the theater and museum and gratuities.

If you would like to sign up for this artsy adventure please go to the Harvest website: welcometoharvest.org/harvesters to register. Registrations are limited to bus capacity which is 55 people. If you have questions, please contact Bob and Mary Stark at 231-564-0677.