Free events in Tampa Bay, FL

Keep the summer fun going at MacDill Lanes, where kids can bowl two free games every day. This family friendly activity offers easy, everyday fun and a chance to stay active while enjoying time indoors. Beat the heat and make the most of the season on the lanes.

Join AARP Tampa Bay and TampaWell for AARP FL Walk with a Doc, a free monthly walking group held on the second Saturday of each month. This session runs for an hour and is a friendly way to get some steps in, learn about health, and meet new friends.

This event supports families with students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and students must attend in person to participate. Free backpacks stocked with school supplies will be available, and tennis shoes will be offered when the right size is on hand. Vision and hearing screenings will be provided. A resource room will offer information for families. Advance registration is strongly encouraged.

The parish Outreach Committee is organizing a Giving from the Heart drive-through donation event at the North Campus to help students begin the new school year with needed supplies. Donations collected will support two nearby Catholic schools, St. Peter Claver and St. Joseph, with volunteers on site to receive items. Additional needs for local Catholic schools will be addressed in collaboration with ecumenical partners from Love INC. St. Peter Claver School, founded in 1893 as a mission of the Jesuit Fathers of Sacred Heart, is the oldest continuously operating historically Black elementary school in Florida and now operates as a microschool with intentionally small classes that focus on individualized instruction. St. Joseph Catholic School in West Tampa, established in 1896 by the Diocese of St. Augustine, has a longstanding connection to the Salesian Sisters, and many of its families benefit from assistance with basic necessities. An Amazon Wishlist and a complete list of requested items are available through the parish website.

Enjoy an outdoor Pilates class on the Tower Pool Lawn at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, led by instructors from Halcyon Studio. The class is complimentary for hotel guests and locals, and a complimentary beverage is offered after the session. Bring a yoga mat, a towel, and water. Additional mats will be available as needed, and hotel guests may use pool towels. Attendees should enter through the hotel lobby to access the lawn. Reservations are strongly encouraged, and walk-ins are permitted as space allows.

A back to school celebration at Westshore features a cosplay belly dance performance by Lady Darjuxena, presented by Touch of Magic Events. A variety of back to school goodies will be available, and admission is free.

All summer, kids can bowl two free games each day at MacDill Lanes. It is family friendly and simple, a fun way to stay active while cooling off indoors. Sign-up is available for this offer.

Tampa Theatre and the Henry B. Plant Museum present a free community screening of The Black Pirate in Sykes Chapel on the University of Tampa campus, celebrating the Museum’s exhibit Gaspar’s Gold: Carnival and Community in a New South City while the Theatre’s historic auditorium undergoes restoration. The swashbuckling silent feature, the second film ever shown at Tampa Theatre when it opened in 1926, stars and was produced by Douglas Fairbanks as a nobleman who goes undercover with pirates to avenge his father. The film will be accompanied by an original score performed live by Steven Ball, Tampa Theatre’s artist in residence and a member of the University of Tampa music faculty. No ticket is required. Seating is limited and first come, first served, and doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

This free community run starts from the parking lot at Woven Water, follows the Riverwalk, and finishes back at the brewery for post-run refreshments. Runners and walkers of every pace are welcome. The out-and-back course lets participants choose any distance, with many covering about 3 miles before heading back. After the run, enjoy 10% off drinks and time to unwind with the group. Additional street parking is available behind the brewery.

Put your knowledge to the test at a free trivia night. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

Keep the fun going throughout the summer as kids enjoy two complimentary games of bowling each day at MacDill Lanes. It is family friendly, easy to plan, and a great way to stay active while cooling off indoors. This simple, everyday activity offers plenty of chances for children to aim for strikes and have nonstop fun without the heat.

Bandingo Music Bingo takes place at Jerry's Dockside Bar & Grill in Gibsonton on the banks of the Alafia River. Formerly AJ's on the River, this waterfront venue offers food and drinks while participants play, and prizes include drinks and food from Jerry's Dockside.

Channel District Date Nights is a quarterly series offering unique date-night experiences throughout the Channel District neighborhood in Tampa’s Downtown, centered on hands-on how-to classes at Washington Street Park. It welcomes spouses, partners, and friends who want to learn something new together. One session features a couples yoga class led by Latonyia Sumpter of Empowered Wellbeing, with additional topics to be announced. Participation is free. Registration is recommended due to limited capacity and opens 10 days before each event, and sessions may reach capacity quickly.

Children can enjoy two complimentary games of bowling every day all summer at MacDill Bowling Alley. This family-friendly offer keeps kids moving, makes for simple everyday fun, and provides a cool indoor break from the heat throughout the season.

Art on the House at the Tampa Museum of Art offers pay-what-you-wish admission, allowing each visitor to choose the price of entry. Check in at the Welcome Desk to share your selected amount with the Visitor Experience and Engagement team, then explore exhibitions that highlight ancient, modern, and contemporary art. Celebrate 100 years of art in Tampa while enjoying the museum at a price that feels right for you. Donations of any amount are accepted.

Test your knowledge at a lively trivia night at BayScape Bistro in Heritage Isles, New Tampa. This public event is free to participate in. Enjoy a rotating $14 dinner special that includes a side salad and dinner rolls, along with a full bar, while you compete with friends. The top three teams take home gift cards worth $30, $20, and $10. For a quick boost, review the three daily article headlines before the game to earn an extra five points.

Enjoy free, live weekly general knowledge trivia at Beef 'O' Brady's Summerfield, run by Trivia Nation. The game is played in teams, so bring friends or connect with other players on site. Questions cover a wide mix of topics in a format reminiscent of Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit, welcoming a broad range of participants. Each week features $100 in prizes for top teams. For a small head start, the host shares a free answer of the week on its website.