MacDill Happenings

Get your body ready to for Turkey Day at FishHawk Ranch. FishHawk Ranch in Lithia will host a Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning. You can register the morning of the event from 6:30am to 7:55am. The 5K starts at 8am and the Kids Fun Run starts at 9am. The Fish Hawk Turkey Trot will begin on FishHawk Crossing Blvd. in front of the Publix Shopping Center located at 5642 Fishhawk Crossing Blvd in Lithia. The proceeds from this year’s race will benefit Feeding America Tampa Bay. Located within a 40 minute drive to downtown Tampa and MacDill AFB, FishHawk Ranch is a unique community with walking and biking paths throughout the neighborhood. You’ll find shops and grocery stores all around the neighborhood for your shopping convenience with a wide variety of restaurants for every taste. There is a Publix and a SweetBay grocery store along FishHawk Blvd. Top rated elementary, middle and high school are nearby with a new sports park close to Randall Middle School. Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit also offers express bus service to MacDill AFB from FishHawk Ranch. MacDill AFB also provides free monthly bus passes to military and civilian personnel. FishHawk Ranch has a large number of military personnel who live there, so you might find someone you know or someone you work with there! There is a great running and bicycling path that meanders through the neighborhood which is great for those evening or weekend runs or rides!

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If you are looking for something free to do on Monday’s, then head over to Sarasota and visit the Ringling Museum. Although it is not advertised on their website, the Ringling Museum has free admission on Monday’s. The John and Mable Ringling Museum was built with the fortune John Ringling earned with his brothers in the world famous circus empire. John Ringling became even wealthier through oil, railroad and real estate holdings. The Museum is partnered with Florida State University to produce educational seminars and programs. However, the free admission does not include Cà d’Zan and Circus Museum. When John Ringling bequeathed his art collection, mansion and estate to the State of Florida, his bequest included a requirement for free admission to the Museum of Art one day a week. Also, the grounds of the museum can be wandered for free any day of the week. The Museum of Art was built by John to house his personal collection of masterpieces, today features paintings and sculptures by the great Old Masters including Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, El Greco, Gainsborough and more. The Ca d’Zan Museum which means “House in John” in Venetian dialect is a palatial mansion with 56 rooms filled with art and original furnishings. The Ca d’Zan Museum is built in the style of Venetian Gothic architecture. The Circus Museums built after the death of John Ringling is a tribute to the American circus. The grounds and gardens are a beautiful part of the estate that can be enjoyed for free any day of the week. The Rose Garden, Mable’s Secret Garden, the Dwarf Garden, and the Millennium Tree Trail. Grounds are open from 9:30am to 6pm. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Normal admission prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students 18 and older with an ID, children 6-17, Florida teachers with ID and active duty military. You can save yourself a lot of money by visiting the museum on Mondays!

The 23rd Annual Ruskin Seafood Festival takes place this weekend at E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin. The Seafood Festival is South Hillsborough County’s largest community event with over 18,000 in attendance in 2010! Enjoy the huge variety of seafood fare, dance to the rhythm of live island music and tryout all the activities… a boat show, arts & crafts, educational displays, commercial exhibits, strolling entertainment and the kid’s area with rides, games & activities. There will be lobster, oyster, clams, grouper, mullet, shrimp and much more mouth-watering seafood. Enjoy entertainment and live musical performances on the main stage, that will have you relaxing to the mellow island sounds of a steel drum, swaying to the energetic reggae rhythm and dancing to beach music. Listen to jazz, pop, blues, country and gospel music and steeldrum, Calypso plus Reggae Bands. Checkout the powerboats, pleasure boats, flat boats, bass boats, cruisers and more boating accessories than you can imagine. This is an Alcohol Free Event. Pet are okay but they must be on a leash, ATM located in the food area. Restrooms are located near the Kid’s area, Food area and adjacent to the parking lot near the gate admission booths. Parking is $2 per car. Admission is $5 for 13 and older, and 12 and younger are free. Military with an ID will receive free admission. On Saturday the Festival is open from 10am to 5pm and on Sunday from 10am to pm.

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This year’s MacDill AFB AirFest will take place Saturday 5 November and Sunday 6 November.  The featured performers will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.  The Thunderbirds will be flying the F-16, demonstrating the acrobatic maneuverability of the plane.  The Thunderbirds will perform at 3pm each day.  The show will feature many different flying acts from heritage planes to current fighter aircraft along with a dozens of static aircraft. The B-25 and the P51 Mustang from WWII, C-54 cargo plane, and the F-15E Strike Eagle will be performing along with other aircraft.  The U.S. Army’s Virtual Army Experience will be available for attendees at AirFest 2011. Individuals will have the opportunity to employ virtual interactive state-of-the-art military technology in a virtual terrorist mission. The high-tech, team-based experience immerses participants into operational roles of Soldiers.  This show is open to the public with free admission and free parking.  Gates open at 8am and the show runs daily from 9am to 5pm.  The gate to use for the public will be the Dale Mabry gate.  The Bayshore and MacDill Avenue gates will not be open for the public.  Expect Dale Mabry Avenue to be crowded from Grandy Blvd to the Base gate, but once you get on base everything should be smooth.  You will be directed to park near the flight line.  You can bring chairs. Prohibited items include weapons of any kind, coolers, glass containers, pets, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, scooters, fireworks and large tote bags. Bicycles, roller blades, etc., are acceptable modes of transportation to the event, however, they will not be allowed on the flightline. There will be plenty of food and drinks for sale.  The AirFest can attract an audience of 250,000 and up over its two day show.

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