THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step away from the vendor rows and into a circle of pottery wheels: at the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival, Stroke of Art teaches beginners how to throw, glaze, and have their pieces kiln-fired and returned or shipped. Make a usable souvenir while soaking up festival energy.
Step away from the vendor rows and into a circle of pottery wheels: at the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival, Stroke of Art teaches beginners how to throw, glaze, and have their pieces kiln-fired and returned or shipped. Make a usable souvenir while soaking up festival energy.
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Operated by Stroke of Art · Tampa, Florida
At the Florida State Fairgrounds (4800 U.S. 301, Tampa, FL 33610), the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival folds the region’s coffee culture into a practical craft experience. Stroke of Art (SOA Ceramics Co.) brings wheel-throwing to the festival floor, offering small-group instruction that takes participants from a lump of premium clay to a glazed form destined for the kiln. It’s a tactile break from browsing vendor booths — and a chance to make a durable, usable souvenir rather than another postcard.
The class setup reads like a pop-up studio: pottery wheels arranged in a circle, aprons, tubs of water and tools, and an instructor guiding each person through centering, opening, pulling walls, and basic trimming. Workshops include premium clay and materials; finished pieces are kiln-fired at SOA Ceramics’ Orlando studio and returned for pickup or shipped for an additional fee. There’s also a shorter Quick Spin option during the festival for visitors who want to try the wheel without the commitment to a fired piece.
Why this experience stands out in Tampa: it plugs a hands-on craft into a large public festival, pairing the sensory pleasures of coffee aroma and music with the slow, physical focus of ceramics. In an urban region known more for beaches and Bay waters than studio craft, these sessions make making accessible — and fast-track learners to a skill that traditionally requires weeks in a studio. SOA Ceramics Co. serves as the bridge: they supply the clay, the kiln, and the follow-through so your piece survives the firing process and makes it home.
Practical details matter: the event location is the Florida State Fairgrounds, a long-established local venue that hosts community events through the year. Finished workshop pieces are fired off-site and must be picked up or shipped (shipping incurs an extra fee). Quick Spin pieces used during the festival are not fired.
Who should book this: travelers who want a creative, weatherproof activity during a Tampa visit; coffee fans who want a memorable festival takeaway; couples or small groups seeking an interactive workshop without needing prior experience. The pace is friendly, the instruction hands-on, and the result is something you can use, display, or send to someone who couldn’t make the trip.
Booking a full class at the festival is a practical way to learn a new skill, support a local maker collective, and walk away with a fired object that holds the memory of a bright Florida afternoon at the fairgrounds. Whether you’re a curious beginner or someone who’s tried clay before, the combination of festival energy and studio craft makes this a uniquely tactile stop on a Tampa itinerary.
easy.
45–120 minutes.
No special fitness level required; participants should be able to sit at a wheel and use their hands and arms for 45–120 minutes.
No. Small-group classes are designed for first-timers and cover basic wheel-throwing and glazing.
No. Finished pieces are kiln-fired at SOA Ceramics’ Orlando studio and then held for pickup or shipped for an extra fee.
Quick Spin is a short try-it session during the festival; pieces made in Quick Spin are not fired or kept.
Yes. SOA Ceramics offers shipping for an additional fee; arrange this when you confirm pickup or at checkout.
Event location and check-in are at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa, FL 33610.
Age restrictions were not provided; check the festival or SOA Ceramics booking page for any age policies.
The Florida State Fairgrounds is a long-standing Tampa event venue that hosts seasonal fairs and community gatherings.
SOA Ceramics uses reusable studio tools and kiln-firing centralized at an off-site studio to reduce on-site waste; visitors are encouraged to dispose of clay and trash at provided receptacles.
Stroke of Art is a creative studio that brings hands-on pottery, ceramic painting, and fluid painting experiences to guests at the Castle Hotel Autograph Collection and in its local studio. Professionals teach wheel-throwing, hand-building, drip painting, and guided glaze techniques across public classes, private events, school field trips, and afterschool enrichment programs. Stroke of Art provides structured lessons, small group instruction, and full-service setup — including all clay, glazes, canvases, and tools — so participants can focus on making art. Classes range from short sessions like Pottery Wheel and Fluid Drip & Sip to multi-week programs such as a six-week sculpture workshop and six-week advanced wheel throwing. Signature offerings include a Pottery Wheel Experience at the Castle Hotel, date-night and friends' night options, a ceramics painting class for all ages, and curated school field trips that travel to schools or host students in-studio. The studio also partners with Castle Hotel Orlando for themed poolside painting and evening drip events that combine creativity with a relaxed social atmosphere. Stroke of Art emphasizes safety, accessibility, and clear instruction. Teachers adapt projects for beginners, families, and experienced students to ensure successful finished pieces ready for glazing and pickup. Booking is available for single classes, private groups, and seasonal sessions. With consistent class structure, experienced instructors, and multiple formats for participation, Stroke of Art offers reliable, memorable creative experiences for learners of all ages. Sessions welcome individuals, couples, families, and students of all skill levels; finished works are glazed, fired, and available for pickup.
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