Florida Orchestra Friday

The Florida Orchestra will give a free Pops in the Park concert in Curtis Hixon Park tonight, starting at 7:30 p.m. The ground may be a bit soggy from an earlier downpour, but it appears the show will go on. The performance will include favorites by Brahms, Rogers & Hammerstein, Bernstein and Gershwin and will finish out with a rousing rendition of the 1812 Overture. Don't forget to bring a canned food donation for the Tampa Bay Harvest.

Cinco de Mayo Freebies

Rock the Park on Cinco de Mayo at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park when the Marksmen play for free. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and is sponsored by *tbt. The Marksmen were featured in the pub's list of 2011's top 10 local artists.

Channelside will have a party starting at noon with live music, drink specials and free sombreros. The first 250 people to come after 4 p.m. will receive a Cazadores Cocktail or a Bud Light Lime.


St. Petersburg
Jannus Live is holding a free concert called Cinco de Drunko. It features My Darkest Days and gates open at 5 p.m.

The City of St. Petersburg is holding a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta starting at 11 a.m. on Second Street South between First and Second Avenues. There will be live music, Juanita the dancing donkey and Mexican Side Show Act Juan Julio La Budde. Red Mesa Cantina will have live music and a ruleta wheel.

Dunedin
Downtown Dunedin is holding their own street fair starting at 5 p.m., with Salsa dancing, giant puppets and circus performers.

Why drive home drunk when you can get a free ride? AAA is offering free towing on Cinco de Mayo. Just call 1-800-AAA-HELP.

Dragon Boat Races, Jazz and Sea Creatures

This weekend the Dragon Boats will be taking over Tampa. Racing starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. There are more than 50 teams racing, and there will be heats every 10 minutes. Word is the best place to watch is the Marriott Tampa Waterside. And the best part is it's all free. I haven't been to this event, but I've heard great things. (photo by theSuperStar)

Jazz - You can get into Clearwater's Smooth Jazz Fest for free if you get a ticket from a select sponsor. The jazz fest starts Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on the waterfront, and on Sunday there will be a Fun 'n Sun Quest in Coachman Park featuring Kansas, the Little River Band and a Journey tribute band.

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can also get in free at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg for MarineQuest 2011, where they'll let kids hold all kinds of sea creatures and create prints from fish, called gyotaku.

There's also the Green Thumb Festival Saturday and Sunday in St. Petersburg, the Beach Goes Pop concert at Pass-a-Grille Friday and Saturday, and Art on the House at the Tampa Museum of Art tonight from 4-8 p.m.

Moms Get in Free at the Tampa Bay History Center

Mother's Day weekend the Tampa Bay History Center will let moms in free of charge both Saturday and Sunday. Read about it on their blog: Tampa Bay History Center: Tampa Bay History Center Celebrates Moms.

Free EVOS Milkshakes Friday

EVOS is giving out free milkshakes on Friday for Earth Day - no purchase necessary! I heard about it first from Creative Loafing. I love the company's mission ... sometimes more than the food, but the milkshakes are the REAL DEAL. My favorite is the Cappuccino (and the large is only 190 calories). I know where I'll be on Earth Day. And I may just have to get some air fries. With garlic ketchup.

When I started this blog, I planned on only writing about experiences, not free stuff, but this was too good to not pass on. Happy Earth Day!

Mainsail Arts Festival in St. Pete

For some outdoor art-gazing, check out the 36th Annual Mainsail Arts Festival on downtown St. Pete's waterfront. There will be 250 juried fine art and craft exhibitors, live music and good food. The show is free and goes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The show has been named one of the "100 Best" fine arts events in the nation by Sunshine Artist.

The rockabilly band Midnight Bowlers League will play Saturday at 3 p.m. and reggae group Tribal Style will perform on Sunday at 1 p.m. The show is at Vinoy Park on Bayshore Drive and 7th Ave.

Free Blues Tonight in Curtis Hixon

Feeling Blue? Well, get your blues on for free at the Friday Extra Concert tonight at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. The opening act, Al “Coffee” McDaniel, starts at 7 p.m. and the main event, Lois Greco, will come on at 7:30 p.m.

Greco released a new CD titled "Takin' Hold of Your Heart," last year, right around the time she opened for Robert Cray at the Clearwater Sea Blues Fest. Check out www.loisgreco.com to get a preview.