Free and cheap things to do in the Tampa Bay area this week

Who doesn’t love a deal? As we navigate higher prices for everything from school supplies to groceries, the cost of entertaining ourselves has also gone up.

We’re kicking off this recurring feature with the aim of highlighting things happening or specific deals in the Tampa Bay area for $10 or less.

Here are some options this week:

Free Golf for Kids: Running through Aug. 31, families who can’t afford to put their children in summer camp but still want them to be active can sign them up for a free summer golf program. Children ages 5 to 15 get a free bucket of golf balls to hit on the practice range every day through Aug. 31. Children should bring their own clubs, though some rentals are available. The offer is valid at Ace Golf locations in Riverview, Land O’ Lakes and Tarpon Springs. At the Riverview and Land O’ Lakes locations, kids may substitute a free round of mini-golf instead of a free bucket of balls. In addition to the practice program, children get a free round of 18 holes of golf after noon each day when accompanied by a paying adult. ace-golf.com/2021/05/04/free-golf-for-kids-2021.

Regal Summer Movie Express: Escape the heat and take the kids to Regal for a cheap movie date. For $2, every Tuesday and Wednesday you can see a family-friendly movie. Here’s the coming schedule through the end of August. regmovies.com/static/en/us/promotions/summer-movie-express.

• Aug. 2-3: “The Boss Baby: Family Business” and “The Croods: A New Age”
• Aug. 9-10: “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and “Trolls”
• Aug. 16-17: “Scoob!” and “The Secret Life of Pets”
• Aug. 23-24: “Hop” and “The Secret Life of Pets 2″
• Aug. 30-31: “The Grinch” and “Shrek”

Free Beer: While it’s not cheap to get into Busch Gardens, this is the last week that guests age 21 and older can beat the heat and enjoy a complimentary beer sample daily at Pantopia Drinks and Snacks. The deal, which hearkens back to the park’s roots as a brewery, runs through Aug. 7. And it’s not just a puny shot glass sample. It’s a nice 7-ounce beer.

Woodcarving, Wood Burning and Folk Art Painting: A cheap way to take up a hobby is by joining a class at Dunedin’s Hale Senior Activity Center. You can learn woodcarving, wood burning and how to paint on pre-made products and pictures on wood. Paint with oils, acrylics, pencils, pastels or chalk. It costs $8 if you have a city card, $12 without a card daily, $42 no card monthly. Class is 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday. 330 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 727-298-3299. dunedingov.com.

Blah Blah Blah! Open Mic: This literary storytelling and prose open mic is coordinated by Wordier Than Thou and the Studio@620. Each month starts with a reading from a recently published work by a featured local author, then they give seven minutes each to area storytellers and prose writers. Meet local authors and listen to interesting stories from locals. Each month there will be a theme. $5. 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday. 620 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-895-6620. thestudioat620.org