By: Sally Baker

With the high gas prices in Tampa shooting through the roof, there is even more cause to stay local. Find out free things to do in Tampa to help save that expensive trip to the gas station. Luckily, the community has plenty of free events in Tampa and things to do at a zero dollar budget.

Some of these free events include: MacDill AFB Airfest 2011, Yuengling Brewery Tour, BioWorks Butterfly Garden, Curtis Hixon Park, Ballast Point Park, TECP Manatee Viewing Center.

  • Airfest 2011- Every year MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa hosts an annual Airfest show, usually featuring the Blue Angels. This year’s 2011 event will be postponed until November giving plenty of time to clear out the calendar.

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  • The Yuengling Brewery hosts free tours throughout the week and on Saturdays. People of any age can attend, but those wanting to partake in the samples must come with a valid ID. Tours are held at 10am and 1pm Monday through Friday and at noon on Saturdays.

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  • MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) has the BioWorks Butterfly Garden which is free to wander so no need to purchase admission tickets. The butterflies and wildlife have left many visitors with great things to say about this place.

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  • Curtis Hixon Park is a great place to grab a blanket and relax overlooking the waters in front of the University of Tampa Campus. The water spouts at both the top and bottom of this large grassy knoll are great to kick your feet around and loved by all children! There are many events that are held at this park so make sure you check that the park is open on the day you want to go.

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  • Ballast Point Park is another of the many free parks in Tampa that is popular with the locals. Just past Gandy on Bayshore Blvd. overlooking the bay, this park has everything you could imagine from a pier, playground, grills, concessions, boat ramp and more.

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  • The TECP Manatee Viewing Center, although located in Apollo Beach, is definitely worth mentioning. This spot offers the public a free viewing of the manatees that tend to swarm when the waters reach below 68 degrees. Butterfly gardens, games, a hurricane simulator and a 900-foot tidal walk are also available here.