MacDill Happenings

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park transforms into a winter wonderland with activities and amusements for the entire family with Santa Fest and a Holiday Parade. Activities include visits with Santa Claus, continuous holiday entertainment, hands-on games, make-n-take holiday themed crafts and a holiday parade. The parade begins at 11am and runs along Morgan Street and Kennedy Boulevard and ends at Ashley Drive and Cass Street at Curtis Hixon Park.  Of course the highlight of the parade is Santa Claus!  The Santa Fest runs until 5pm. The beautiful Curtis Hixon Park is located on the waterfront in downtown Tampa along Ashley St between the Tampa Museum of Art and the Sykes building. Food is available at nearby restaurants including Five Guys Hamburger across the street from the Park and a new nearby Mexican restaurant Urban Cantina located at the corner of Madison and South Tampa. You can also bring a picnic dinner and don’t forget the blankets and chairs! There will also be a few concessions selling drinks and snacks. Alcohol is not allowed but well behaved pets are! Curtis Hixon Park has a fenced animal park along the water. This park is one of nicest parks in Tampa. With an interactive playground, wide open flat grass play area, a view of the University of Tampa, and cooling water fountains, this is a great place to relax on during a Tampa evening. Parking is available at the Curtis Hixon parking garage or at nearby public parking lots. On street parking is free in Tampa after 6pm, so you don’t have to place any quarters into the meters! If you’re lucky, you can get a parking spot in front of Five Guys Hamburgers right across the street from the Park at the corner of Ashley and Polk.

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Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa is the location for Tampa’s Tree Lighting Ceremony this Friday starting at 6pm. The beautiful Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is located in downtown Tampa along Ashley St between the Tampa Museum of Art and the Sykes building. Join hosts Keith Cate from New Channel 8 and Chad & Kristi from the Magic Morning Show as they host this family fun event. There will be entertainment provided by the Late Night Brass and a special performance by singer Belinda Womack. At 8:15pm, the Movie in the Park will be the new classic Christmas comedy “Elf”! Food is available at nearby restaurants including Five Guys Hamburger across the street from the Park and a new nearby Mexican restaurant Urban Cantina located at the corner of Madison and South Tampa. Get it to go! You can also bring a picnic dinner and don’t forget the blankets and chairs! Alcohol is not allowed but well behaved pets are! Curtis Hixon Park has a fenced animal park along the water. This park is one of nicest parks in Tampa. With an interactive playground, wide open flat grass play area, a view of the University of Tampa, and cooling water fountains, this is a great place to relax on a Thursday evening or any evening! Parking is available at the Curtis Hixon parking garage or at nearby public parking lots. On street parking is free in Tampa after 6pm, so you don’t have to place any quarters into the meters! If you’re lucky, you can get a parking spot in front of Five Guys Hamburgers right across the street from the Park at the corner of Ashley and Polk.

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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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Hyde Park Village in Tampa will host the Enchanted Tree Lighting Ceremony on 25 November. The ceremony takes place from 5pm to 8pm at the Fountain in the heart of Hyde park Village. Make sure you get there early, about 4000 people are expected. Parking should not be an issue with the 3 multi-level parking structures available in the village. Come out and enjoy the live entertainment, free cookies and cocoa, the holiday light display and the 30-foot Christmas tree. Of course, Santa will be making an appearance. There will be live holiday music with Late Night Brass, a bouncy house, face painting, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders. Hyde Park Village is an open-air shopping center located in the neighborhood of Hyde Park. The Village center is situated in several buildings located between Swann and Rome Avenues. Although are national retailers, the majority of tenants in the center are independent boutiques and eateries. The neighborhood of Hyde Park is located near the University of Tampa and close to Tampa’s business and cultural arts district. The boundaries of the neighborhood include the Hillsborough Bay to the east, Kennedy Blvd to the north, historic and picturesque Bayshore Boulevard to the south, and Armenia Avenue to the west. Major thoroughfares within the historical district include Kennedy Boulevard, Bayshore Boulevard, Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway, Howard Avenue, and Swann Avenue. There are 3 free parking structures available in Hyde Park.

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The 13th annual Ybor City Heritage & Cigar Festival takes place today November 19 in of course, Ybor City in Centennial Park. There will be thousands of heritage and cigar enthusiasts who will enjoy a day of activities celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Ybor City and the cigar industry. Admission to the festival is only $5 for a full day of activities. Children 12 and under are free. Highlights include traditional foods, sports zone, kid’s zone, antique car display, beer and wine garden, and an outdoor cigar exhibit. In addition to some of the world’s finest cigars, the on-site broadcast of the Cigar Dave Show and live entertainment by Hot Sun Quartet are always a big hit. Scheduled tours of the Ybor City Museum State Park, the Ybor City Saturday Market and shopping at the Museum Store and 19th Street Shops are also available. To help support the troops this year you can participate in the finale of the “Cigars for Soldiers” project where cigars that were purchased at various cigar shops and the Museum Store are collected for soldiers and shipped to Afghanistan. Cigars purchased at the festival can be donated at the “Cigars for Soldiers” tent. During or after the Festival, stroll around Ybor City for lunch or dinner. Ybor City you can choose from a variety of cuisine – Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek and French – just by strolling down La Setima, the main street of the Historic District. Share authentic tapas and a pitcher of Spanish sangria in a café atmosphere reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. Founded by Vicente Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center, Ybor City today is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies and narrow brick streets give it an old-world charm. The Columbia Restaurant located in Ybor City is must place to eat at in Tampa. This Tampa classic is over 100 years old and food is fantastic! Even with all the vistors to Ybor City, there is always plenty of parking.

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How about saving a little money and taking the family out for something fun and free! Take a free train ride in Largo Central Park in the city of Largo. But donations are appreciated! Kids and adults can experience large-scale model-railroading with a ride on the Largo Central Railroad. There are approximately 1.2 miles of main line track with numerous passings running through beautifully landscaped Largo Central Park. The Largo Central Railroad (LCRR), founded in 1991, was built and is now maintained through the work and dedication of the LCRR club members and through generous donations for visitors. The train runs the first full weekend of each month from 10am to 4 pm. There is no charge for the train ride but donations are welcome. Call (727) 585-9835 for more information or if you are interested in the joining the LCRR club. Largo is a community of more than 74,000 residents and continues to grow through annexation. Over the last 10 years, the City has developed such landmark projects as Largo Central Park, the Largo Cultural Center, and the new Largo Public Library. Downtown redevelopment is currently underway, as evidenced by the changes to West Bay Drive and the upcoming Clearwater-Largo Road Streetscaping project. Tucked away on tree-lined Vonn Road is the Largo Golf Course. This par 62 executive course was renovated in early 2007 to offer USGA standard greens and an enhanced golfing experience. Largo Golf Course’s 3,335 yards of family fun features eight par 4 and ten par 3 holes, great for the beginner or the pro looking for an exciting round. Bi-weekly Saturday morning Golf Scrambles offer a chance to join in the fun and take a swing at some great prizes. Largo is across the bay from MacDill AFB and is easily accessed by using the Gandy Bridge and is a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic.

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Come out to Old Hyde Park Village for the Free Live Music Series on 26 October. The show runs from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. The Vodkanauts will be playing their unique style of lounge music. Although the concert is free, donations are appreciated and tonight’s proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is a limited admission shelter. They only accept animals that they feel can be adopted. The Humane Society is a “No Kill for Space” shelter which means the shelter will not euthanize an animal to make space for another animal. Hyde Park Village is an open-air shopping center located in the neighborhood of Hyde Park. The weather should cooperate and so come out and enjoy strolling around the Village. The Village center is situated in several buildings located between Swann and Rome Avenues. Although are national retailers, the majority of tenants in the center are independent boutiques and eateries. The neighborhood of Hyde Park is located near the University of Tampa and close to Tampa’s business and cultural arts district. The boundaries of the neighborhood include the Hillsborough Bay to the east, Kennedy Blvd to the north, historic and picturesque Bayshore Boulevard to the south, and Armenia Avenue to the west. Major thoroughfares within the historical district include Kennedy Boulevard, Bayshore Boulevard, Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway, Howard Avenue, and Swann Avenue. There are 3 free parking structures available in Hyde Park.

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Come out to the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market. The market opens at 9am and runs until 2pm. The market will feature a mix of seasonal and locally farmed produce, organic also and all natural ready to eat foods and specialty foods; arts and crafts; cooking demonstrations (11:30 a.m.) with chefs from local restaurants and live music. The market takes place on the front lawn of Hillsborough High School and has over 100 vendors. Seminole Heights has 3 sub -sectors: Old Seminole Heights is the largest and has the biggest commercial areas including the historic district, South Seminole Heights is mostly residential with large homes and lots and then Southeast Seminole Heights is slowly being renovated. The Heights neighborhoods are bisected by I-275, bordered on the north, west and south by the Hillsborough River and on the east by 15th St. There are wonderful small stores and restaurants that are scattered among the main roads. To bolster the sense of community that sets these urban neighborhoods apart from their suburban counterparts, monthly porch parties are thrown in the neighborhoods at local homes. Everyone in the neighborhood is invited and encouraged to bring a covered dish. Although outsiders are not normally invited, if you are interested in the community, then you can probably get an invite. This is a great way to check out the neighborhood and neighbors. A great local restaurant is Cappy’s Pizza at 4910 N. Florida Ave which features New York-style and Chicago deep dish pizza. One of the hot spots in the Heights is Cafe Hey at 1540 N. Franklin St with great coffees, teas and homemade baked goods, sandwiches, soups and salads. Visiting on these establishments is a great to get a flavor of the neighborhood.

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Hyde Park Village is hosting a Block PAWty on 15 September from 6pm to 9pm. Pets are welcome! The Block PAWty is a free, festive neighborhood pet party featuring live acoustic music, Yuengling, Barefoot Wine & Opulent Vodka drink specials, free pet photos and an awesome raffle table. The PAWty takes place in the courtyard via way at the Snow Cirlce Shops by Downtown Dogs and all proceeeds benefit The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. A $10 donation is suggested at the door. Hyde Park Village is an open-air shopping center located in the neighborhood of Hyde Park. The Village center is situated in several buildings located between Swann and Rome Avenues. Although are national retailers, the majority of tenants in the center are independent boutiques and eateries. The neighborhood of Hyde Park is located near the University of Tampa and close to Tampa’s business and cultural arts district. The boundaries of the neighborhood include the Hillsborough Bay to the east, Kennedy Blvd to the north, historic and picturesque Bayshore Boulevard to the south, and Armenia Avenue to the west. Major thoroughfares within the historical district include Kennedy Boulevard, Bayshore Boulevard, Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway, Howard Avenue, and Swann Avenue. There are 3 free parking structures available in Hyde Park. Friendly dogs on leashes are always welcome in the Village.

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The Brandon Towne Center Westfield Mall is sponsoring a “I Am Special” event on 18 August. The start time is 4pm. The “I Am Special” event is designed to help boost confidence and self esteem in children with stories, snacks and activities. This portion features story time with It’s Me! by Eric Drachman and Isabelle Decenciere, and I Like Me! by Nancy L. Carlson. Kids will also decorate their own picture frame and enjoy a healthy snack. This a great way to spend an afternoon after a great meal at one of the many splendid restaurants in the mall. With stores offering everything from shoes to sports to sunglasses and everything in between, the Westfield Mall is also a destination place for dining out from something quick to eat in the food court to a sit down restaurant in the restaurant courtyard. The food court also has a wide variety of offerings at a very reasonable price. The Westfield Mall in Brandon is one of the largest malls in the Tampa area. Anchor stores at the Mall include Dillard’s, Macy’s, JC Penny’s, and Sears. The Mall is open on Mondays to Friday from 10:30am to 8:30pm, Saturdays 10am to 9pm and Sundays from 11am to 6pm. The town of Brandon is a pretty popular location for 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.

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