MacDill Happenings

The musical hit, RENT, is at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center from 7-12 July. The tradition of RENT venues offering cheap tickets continues. There are 38 seats in the front two rows that are available for $20! The normal price of front row ticket is $68.50. The catch is that they are available only 2 hours before the start of the performance, cash only, with a limit of 2 tickets per person. Make sure that you get there well before the 2 hours mark. RENT is the classic musical about love, friendship and community, and the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history. This new touring production starring original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. It tells the unforgettable story of a group of young artists learning to survive, falling in love, finding their voices and living for today. TBPAC is located on the eastern bank of the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa and easily accessible from I-275, I-4 or the Crosstown Expressway. Parking is available at several nearby lots or at the William F. Poe parking structure next to the German Library for about $4. If you can find a spot on the road on the north side of TBPAC, you can park at a metered spot. Metered spots are free during the weekends in Tampa.

This 4th of July Coachman Park in Clearwater will host Clearwater Celebrates America. The Mostly Pops Orchestra will perform at 7:30pm followed by a fireworks display at 9:30pm. There will be food and beverages available for sale with other exhibitor and sponsor booths available for browsing. Of course, there will be plenty of children’s activities available. However, coolers, food, drinks, pets, fireworks, umbrellas, tents and canopies are not admitted. Make sure you bring some sunscreen if you come out early and a hat for protection against the sun. In the evening, be prepared and bring some insect repellant, because those peskly insects love to come out in the evening. Admission is free. Gates open at 4pm. Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County just north of St. Pete and west of Tampa across Hillsborough Bay. It is about a 40 minute drive from MacDill AFB. with a population of around 110,000 people, Clearwater is a gateway to the beaches along the Gulf.

The Brandon Blast/Rock Rib & Ride Festival is a two day event at the Westfield Mall in Brandon. The family weekend includes a fireworks display at the Mall at 9pm on the 4th. There will be live music on both days. There will be plenty of activities for kids including a Kids Fitness Zone. They also participate in the Punt, Pass and Kick Competiton. Jump on in the bounce houses! There will be a Professional and Amateur Rib Competition. Hours on Saturday are 11am to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm. Brandon is an affordable housing alternative from many people who work at MacDill AFB. Brandon is about a 30 minute drive from MacDill AFB. The LeRoy Selmon Expressway runs from Brandon to Tampa and can cut 10 to 15 minutes off your commute during rush hour. Make sure you buy a SunPass transponder it’ll save you .25 cents at each toll booth. Also, instead of waiting to pay at the toll booth with a SunPass transponder, you can go through the automated pay lane and save yourself some time. Brandon has all the amenities that anyone would need. The Westfield Shoppingtown is one of the largest malls in the Tampa area. It not only a shopping destination but also a great place for dinner with the Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen and Sam Selzer’s Steakhouse along with a host of other restaurants.

This is a big weekend to celebrate! But if you want to take a little break and not spend too much money, then stop by the recently renovated MacDill AFB movie theater. Admission is very reasonable and the refreshments are half the price you would pay out in town. On Friday, Star Trek is playing at 7pm. This movie is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action/violence, and brief sexual content and has a runtime of 127 minutes. This version is at the start of the Star Trek legend with Capt Christopher Pike starting out as the captain of the Enterprise. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk, is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before. On Saturday, there is only a matinee playing at 3pm since everyone will be out enjoying the fireworks displays all around the Tampa Bay area. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is playing at 3pm. This movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action/violence,and partial nudity and has a runtime of 107 minutes. This movie tells the story of Wolverine’s epically violent and romantic past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed, and the ominous Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many mutant, both familiar and new.

The celebration begins at the Pier at Second Ave on the waterfront in St. Pete. Starting at 1pm, there will be live music from Cool Daddies, and Save the Radio. Bring the kids out for face painting, drum circle and other activities. Near by at North Straub Park, there will be bounce houses, members of the Tampa Bay Rays staff with inter active games from 4pm-9pm and live music starting at 5:30pm with Sweet Caroline, Due West and Krista Marie. Along the waterfront at Albert Whitted Airport, there will be the Rock ‘n Wings concert starting at 4pm and running until 10pm. Headliners include American Idol finalist Amamda Overmyer, Greg Billings Band and Drew Street Mary. There will also be classic cars and airplanes on display. Beach chairs and blankets are welcome, but no coolers or pets. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12 and $5 for parking. You will be able to see the fireworks display from the concert. The fireworks start at 9pm. Plan ahead for parking if you are parking in the downtown area and not the concert.