Jul 31, 2025 - Things to Do

Weekend things to do: Backpack giveaways, CatVideo Fest and storm expo

Kathryn Varn

Animated illustration of calendar pages with neutral emojis on them being torn off, until you get to Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which have smiling, sunglasses-wearing emojis on them with neon yellow waving lines. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

It's hot as heck, but the weekend events persist.

🎒 Backpack giveaways: With the first day of school less than two weeks away, several organizations are giving out free backpacks and school supplies this weekend:

Bounce Back to School Backpack Giveaway, St. Pete: Saturday, 4-8pm at Tropicana Field Lot 1. Featuring bounce houses, food vendors, a chicken wing cookoff and 2,500 free backpacks loaded with school supplies.
Back-to-School Community Resource Fair, Tampa: Saturday, 10am-2pm at the Victor Crist Community Center Complex. Featuring free backpacks (with child present) and school supplies, plus food, resources and fun.
Back to School Bash, Clearwater: Today, 2:30-4:40pm at the Ross Norton Recreation Center. Featuring free backpacks (with child present), games and refreshments.

😻 CatVideo Fest 2025, Tampa: Watch a compilation of cats being silly little weirdos while supporting the Humane Society of Tampa Bay at this festival-fundraiser combo at Tampa Theatre.

Saturday, 3pm, or 2pm if you want to hang with some of the Humane Society's adoptable kittens. Buy tickets ($12) here.

🌀 Storm Mitigation Expo, St. Pete Beach: Pinellas County and St. Pete Beach teamed up for this free event featuring vendors with best practices on how to protect your property and the latest home mitigation products and strategies.

Saturday, 10am-1pm in the St. Pete Beach Community Center Ballroom.

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Weekend things to do: Backpack giveaways, CatVideo Fest and storm expo

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