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Tax-free weekend, health screenings and more back to school events in Tampa Bay

 
Tampa Bay Times
Published July 24, 2018

Sales Tax Holiday

The state sales tax will be waived on all school supplies, clothing and computers Aug. 3-5 at retail stores throughout Florida. For details, visit floridarevenue.com.

Wellness

Immunizations, health screenings, dental checks and haircuts are being offered across the bay area in the runup to back to school. In most cases, a parent must be present. Check any requirements before you go.

Pinellas County summer clinics

Students from low-income families and students who don't have health insurance can receive free school/sport physicals, limited dental services and vision screenings. Call (727) 824-6900, ext. 4, to schedule a required appointment. Runs Mondays-Thursdays through Aug. 8. Free. pinellas.floridahealth.gov.

Gibbs High School, 850 34th St. S, St. Petersburg.

Boca Ciega High School, 924 58th St. S, Gulfport.

Northeast High School, 5500 16th St. N, St. Petersburg.

Pinellas Park High School, 6305 118th Ave., Largo.

Hillsborough County immunizations

The Back to School Coalition of Hillsborough County is providing free immunizations with required registration. sdhc.k12.fl.us.

• Bowers/Whitley Career Center, 13609 N 22nd St., Tampa. (813) 276-5671. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

• Middleton High School, 4801 N 22nd St., Tampa. (813) 276-5671. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Blake High School, 1701 N Boulevard, Tampa. (813) 276-5671. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 4.

Back to School With the Bucs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Bullard Family Foundation offer Hillsborough County K-12 students free sports and back to school physicals, haircuts, eye exams, immunizations and school supplies. Free. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 4. Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. (813) 274-0900. unitedwaysuncoast.org.

North Suncoast Back to School Bash

There will be free resources for children of all ages including school supplies, backpacks (limit two per family), immunizations, haircuts, physicals (registration required), dental and mental health screenings and other support from more than 25 organizations. Free. Nature Coast Technical High School, 4057 California St., Brooksville. (352) 797-7088. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. hernandoschools.org. Free bus transportation is available to and from the event with pickup locations as follows:

• Eastside Elementary, 27151 Roper Road, Brooksville, and Westside Elementary, 5400 Applegate Drive, Spring Hill. 8:15 and 11:15 a.m.

• Brooksville Elementary, 885 N Broad St., Brooksville, and Deltona Elementary, 2055 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. 8:30 and 11:30 a.m.

• Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, Brooksville, and Explorer K-8, 10252 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill. 8:45 and 11:45 a.m.

The last bus departs from Nature Coast Technical High School at 2:15 p.m.

Back to School Care Fair

For more than 20 years, the Junior League of St. Petersburg has brought together local providers to prepare K-12 students for the new school year. Children can receive medical exams, screenings, immunizations and backpacks filled with school supplies. Free. 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. Johnnie Ruth Clarke, 1344 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 895-5018. jlstpete.org.

Back to School Dental Clinic

The Florida Department of Health is offering free dental exams and X-rays to children 4 to 18. Services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and parents must be present. Free. 7 a.m.-noon Saturday. Pinellas Park Health Department, 6350 76th Ave. N. (727) 547-7780. pinellas.floridahealth.gov.

Giveaways and more

Back to School Dizzy Kickball Classic and Public Carnival: Watch as preselected teams of children, firefighters, police officers, professional athletes and local celebrities battle it out in a six-inning kickball game with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman rolling out the first ball. The game is followed by a morale-boosting kids carnival that's open to the public and includes bounce houses, DJ dancing, free haircuts and styling, little league baseball registration, dance performances, a raffle and more than 100 free backpacks full of school supplies. Free. Noon-6 p.m. Aug. 5. Thomas "Jet" Jackson Park and Recreation Center, 1000 28th St. S, St. Petersburg. (407) 530-7756.

Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo: Kids, parents, coaches and sports administrators can sharpen their life and sport skills while getting ready for school with activities that include interactive skills zones, live demonstrations, DJ dancing, games, food, vendors and a backpack giveaway. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 4. The Skills Center, 300 E Sligh Ave., Tampa. (813) 703-1324. theskillscenter.org.

Operation Backpack: Children K-8 attending Hernando County schools can pick up a free backpack full of supplies. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Towne Square Mall, 3021 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, (352) 263-7829; and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, Brooksville. (352) 540-3835. business.hernandochamber.com.

Back to School Fair: Starting at 10 a.m., the first 500 kids get a free book bag. There will also be a princess sing-along, entertainment, exhibits, appearances by ThunderBug and Captain Fear and roaming pirates. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 4. WestShore Plaza, 250 WestShore Plaza, Tampa. (813) 286-0790. tampabayparenting.com.

Back to School Open House: There will be hands-on activities, games and crafts, and the first 200 kids will get free backpacks filled with school supplies. Free. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 2. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 550 Laura Lane, Dunedin. (727) 738-2920. dunedingov.com.

Back to School Swap: Families can save money and swap out unwanted, gently used clothing, shoes and accessories for something they can use. Items for babies, children and teens are being accepted. Swapping is not required to shop. (Donations are not required.) Free. Noon-4 p.m. Aug. 10 and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 11. New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St. (727) 853-1279.

Back to School Celebration: Go back to school in style with free haircuts and school supplies from a festival with bounce houses, giant games, puzzles, corn hole, a baseball pitching contest, hockey and soccer goal contests, chalk art and a hula hoop contest. Free. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 12. 4/One the Gentlemen's Quarters, 38435 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills. (813) 715-2039.