OLDE SCHOOL: RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Say huzzah to the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, back for the first of seven weekends of time travel. Join kings queens, jugglers, mimes and madrigals for archery contests, jousts and a human chess match in the acreage next to the Museum of Science and Industry. Ren Fest fans are known to dress up in costume, grab a turkey leg and wander the grounds. The festival has themes, starting with this weekends Wine, Romance and Song featuring a chocolate festival with free samples, Cupcake Crusades and a banner and mural competition. Other themed weekends are Highland Fling (Feb. 22-23), Pirates and Pups (Feb. 29-March 1), Barbarian Brew Fest (March 7-8), Shamrocks and Shenanigans (March 14-15), High Seas Adventure (March 21-22) and Wonders of the World (March 28-29). $22.95, $18.95 seniors, $14.95 ages 5-12, 4 and younger free. 11315 N 46th St., Tampa. (813) 983-0111. bayarearenfest.com.

The indoor dirt bike racing championship series known as Monster Energy AMA Supercross roars in. Dirt will be hauled in to create a series of obstacles and jumps for the motocross riders to master. The series is composed of 17 races inside stadiums all over North America, and the Tampa stop is about halfway through the season. Every week, the athletes seek to outperform each other on custom-designed tracks that feature a combination of obstacles such as whoop sections (where riders skim along the tops of multiple bumps), rhythm sections (irregular series of jumps with a variety of combination options) and triple jumps (three jumps in a row cleared in a single leap of 70 feet or more). $15-$95. 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. supercrosslive.com.

Valentines Day weekend might be a good time to take a date to comedian Mark Cordes show, The Spouse Whisperer. The critically acclaimed one-man show is described as a comedic journey of the funny stuff that happens between love at first sight and till death do us part. $34.50. 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. (813) 229-7827. strazcenter.org.

Before indulging in tempting eats like the Cheesy Tater Corn Dog at the Florida State Fair, grab some exercise. The inaugural Deep-Fried Dash 5K & Fun Run takes you on a tour through the 116th annual events main attractions through the midway, the assembly of outdoor vendors preparing dreamy fair foods, the agriculture starting and ending at one of the entertainment stages. Fair admission is included with participation. Benefits the Florida State Fair Foundation. $30 and up at bit.ly/deepfrieddash. The fair continues through Monday with the countrys largest midway, animal exhibits and live music. $11-$14, $9 seniors, $6-$8 children; $20-$30 armbands. 9 a.m. daily. Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa.

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Top things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend: Feb. 14-16 - Tampa Bay Times