By Ryan Hughes, University Communications and Marketing
The University of South Florida will welcome thousands of Tampa Bay community members to Bulls Family Fest, a free, interactive event that gets children of all ages interested in higher education and engaged with USF early in their lives. The festival provides a variety of the opportunities available at USF and within the local community. From educational and cultural activities to sports and entertainment, there’s something for everyone to experience. Bulls Family Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, on USF’s Tampa campus.
Just prior to the festival, hundreds of runners will hit the pavement for the Rocky’s Run 5K. The run begins at 8 a.m. at the Marshall Student Center.
More than 150 exhibitors will participate in Bulls Family Fest, with representatives from USF colleges, departments and student organizations. Local businesses and community organizations will also be on hand. USF Athletics will offer Spirit Squad photo opportunities and interactive sports games. Stilt walkers from Busch Gardens and mermaids from Weeki Wachee are also set to entertain attendees. Food will be available for purchase from many of the dining options inside the Marshall Student Center.
The event will also feature a mascot race with USF’s Rocky the Bull and several other local favorites, including ThunderBug from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Captain Fear from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Phinley from the Clearwater Threshers. USF President Rhea Law is set to emcee the race, which starts at 11 a.m.
For many local children, this will likely be their first exposure to a higher education institution, which helps to set the stage for future interactions.
“Our inaugural Bulls Family Fest was wildly successful, and we’re thrilled to keep the celebration going for a second year,” said Caryn Preston, assistant director of the Office of Youth Experiences at USF. “Bulls Family Fest allows children and their families to see the limitless opportunities available at USF and help them experience all that’s available as they prepare for the future.”
While the event is free, attendees are encouraged to register. Interested participants can also sign up for Rocky’s Run 5K. The race is $35 to participate.
As part of USF Lifelong Learning, the Office of Youth Experiences operates under the umbrella of the Office of University Community Partnerships. Youth Experiences works to connect the Tampa Bay community to the colleges, programs and people of USF through summer camps, field trips, community events, guest speakers, educator professional development and curriculum support.