Updated on 3/19/14.

After a year and a half hiatus, the Air Fest (now known as the Tampa Bay AirFest) at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa is returning! The event will be held during the weekend of March 22 and 23, 2014. As many here in the Bay Area will recall, the 2013 event was cancelled due to federal sequestration cuts that wiped out a vast majority of US military community outreach events that were planned nationwide.

This year allowed for many outreach events to be held throughout the US, but on a different scale than in previous years. Since Washington is now only willing to fund so much for these outreach events, local communities have had to step up to the plate in more ways than ever before to make sure that the show goes on. In MacDill’s case, this meant a brand new focus that points more towards civilian displays and demonstrations.

As with past year events, the Air Fest will bring tons and tons of traffic headaches and bus route detours to the South Tampa area. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) has been working closely with MacDill to make sure that buses aren’t getting stuck and delayed with the influx of personal vehicles, while staying within their allowed budget.

Escape the traffic hassles! Use HART!

Gates will open at 8:00am, but as in years past, you can expect to see cars lining up as early as 7:00am or earlier. Why sit in traffic and worry about if you’ll even get a parking space when you can leave the driving to HART?

• Route 4 Shuttle Service
  • Back by popular demand is the Route 4 Shuttle Service. This shuttle will operate every 15 minutes, with buses running southbound beginning at 8:00am from the Marion Transit Center in downtown Tampa. Northbound buses will begin running at 9:00am from MacDill AFB. Southbound service will end at 4:00pm, with the last northbound bus leaving the base at 6:00pm.
  • Different this year, buses will be allowed to enter the base throughout the day. Buses will travel their normal weekday routing from the Marion Transit Center in downtown Tampa to MacDill Ave and Gandy Blvd via Britton Plaza. The deviation in the route then begins with buses traversing Gandy Blvd to Bayshore Blvd and into the base via the Bayshore Gate. Once on base, buses will travel west along South Boundary Blvd, then south on Hangar Loop Dr, then east on Florida Keys Ave, north on Hillsborough Loop Dr/Gull Pl, then east on Centcom Dr, and north on Bayshore towards Britton Plaza and downtown Tampa.
• Normal Route 19 Service
  • Route 19 will operate on its normal weekend route and schedule. Some buses may see delays due to base traffic.
• Modified Route 36 Service
  • Because of heavy traffic, Route 36 will terminate at Britton Plaza and will only operate its normal route between Britton Plaza and Fletcher/Dale Mabry. The route will operate every hour from 6:00am until 7:00pm. Route 36 will follow the regular weekend schedule (per HART).

Click here for a map I made of all three above routes. Click here for a flyer summarizing Route 4 and 36 services from HART.

For those driving to the event.

For those of you who wish to drive to Air Fest (or are coming in from another county), please keep in mind that the main and only point of egress is the Dale Mabry Hwy gate! The MacDill Ave gate, which serves as a secondary gate to the base, may only be open to allow traffic to exit the base. The Bayshore Blvd gate, as in past years, will only be open to military personnel with a valid ID. There is no cost for parking at the event.

With that said, here’s the main arterial highways that will get you to the AirFest.

• From Central and South Pinellas County via Gandy Blvd.
  • If you’re coming from the southern Gulf Beaches, south and central St. Pete, and Gulfport, you can use I-275 north to Exit 28 – Gandy Blvd. Travel Gandy Blvd eastbound across the Gandy Bridge until you reach Dale Mabry Hwy (intersection immediately after the Selmon Exwy). Turn right onto Dale Mabry and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate.
  • If you’re coming from Seminole, Largo, and other points within central Pinellas, just follow Gandy Blvd eastbound to Dale Mabry Hwy (intersection immediately after the Selmon Exwy). Turn right onto Dale Mabry and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate.
• From Northern Pinellas County and Western Pasco/Hernando/Citrus Counties.
  • Those coming from Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, the northern Gulf Beaches and other points north can use either the Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60 east) and follow the signs to Kennedy Blvd (SR 60 east). Continue along Kennedy until you reach Dale Mabry Hwy (US 92 west). Turn right onto Dale Mabry and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate.
  • Alternatively, you can use Gandy Blvd eastbound to Dale Mabry Hwy southbound.
• From Northwest Hillsborough County, Central Pasco/Hernando Counties, and Eastern Citrus County via Dale Mabry Hwy.
  • If coming from West Tampa, Drew Park, Carrollwood, Town-N-Country, Citrus Park, and Lutz, you can simply use Dale Mabry Hwy southbound until you reach the MacDill AFB gate.
  • If coming from central Pasco County and northward, proceed on US 41 south until you reach Dale Mabry Hwy (SR 597) southbound. Fork right onto Dale Mabry and proceed southbound until you reach the MacDill AFB gate.
  • An alternate to the northern portion of Dale Mabry is the Veterans Exwy/Suncoast Pkwy. Use the highway to reach Kennedy Blvd (SR 60) east. Then proceed on Kennedy until you reach Dale Mabry Hwy (US 92 west). Turn right onto Dale Mabry and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that the Veterans Exwy/Suncoast Pkwy are TOLL ROADS!
• From Northeast Hillsborough County and Eastern Pasco/Hernando Counties.
  • If coming from the New Tampa and USF areas, you can use I-275 south towards downtown Tampa. Be sure to follow the signs towards St. Petersburg when approaching the I-4 junction. From there, use Exit 41A/B – Dale Mabry Hwy southbound (US 92 west). Turn left onto Dale Mabry and proceed south to the MacDill AFB gate.
  • If coming from eastern Pasco and Hernando counties, use I-75 south to I-275 (Exit 274) south and follow the directions above. After merging onto I-275 south, travel to Exit 41A/B – Dale Mabry Hwy southbound (US 92 west). Turn left onto Dale Mabry and proceed south to the MacDill AFB gate.
  • Alternatively, you can use the newly opened I-4/Selmon Connector (I-4 Exit 2) to connect to the Selmon westbound and exit off Gandy Blvd east (Exit 1A). From there, turn right at Dale Mabry Hwy south (very first light as soon as you get off the expressway) and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that the Selmon Exwy (including the Connector from I-4) are TOLL ROADS.
• From Eastern Hillsborough County, Polk County, and the Orlando Area via I-4.
  • If travelling along I-4 towards Tampa from East Hillsborough and beyond, simply follow the signs to I-275 south to St. Petersburg. Once on I-275, After merging onto I-275 south, travel to Exit 41A/B – Dale Mabry Hwy southbound (US 92 west). Turn left onto Dale Mabry and proceed south to the MacDill AFB gate.
  • Alternatively, you can use the newly opened I-4/Selmon Connector (I-4 Exit 2) to connect to the Selmon westbound and exit off Gandy Blvd east (Exit 1A). From there, turn right at Dale Mabry Hwy south (very first light as soon as you get off the expressway) and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that the Selmon Exwy (including the Connector from I-4) are TOLL ROADS.
• From Southern Hillsborough County and Manatee/Sarasota Counties via I-75 and the Selmon Exwy.
  • If coming from South Hillsborough County and points southward, use I-75 north to the Selmon Exwy (Exit 256) and proceed through downtown Tampa to Exit 1A (Gandy Blvd East). From there, turn right at Dale Mabry Hwy south (very first light as soon as you get off the expressway) and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that the Selmon Exwy is a TOLL ROAD.
  • If you do not wish to use the Selmon, you can use SR 60 (Exit 257 from I-75 north) and proceed through the Channelside District and downtown Tampa to Bayshore Blvd via Channelside Dr and Brorien St. Turn right from Bayshore Blvd to Bay to Bay Blvd, and then left on Dale Mabry Hwy. Proceed south on Dale Mabry until you reach the MacDill AFB gate.
• From Manatee/Sarasota Counties via I-275 and Gandy Blvd.
  • If you use I-275/Sunshine Skyway from Manatee County, proceed northbound on I-275 to Exit 28 – Gandy Blvd. Travel Gandy Blvd eastbound across the Gandy Bridge until you reach Dale Mabry Hwy (intersection immediately after the Selmon Exwy). Turn right onto Dale Mabry and proceed to the MacDill AFB gate.

For those using bicycles, roller blades, etc.

Although bicycles, roller blades, etc. are acceptable modes of transport to the base, they are not allowed on the flight line (the zone within the gated event area). Bike racks will be provided near the event gates so that you can lock up your bike securely. Those using roller blades, etc. should have a backpack to stow them away in (large tote bags are not allowed at the event).

Other tips to keep in mind.

• ARRIVE EARLY! Gates open at 8:00am on both Saturday and Sunday. However, lines of cars will start forming even before 7:00am. If you’re driving from another county, or using the HART bus system, please plan your trip accordingly. For HART Customers, you can use the OneBusAway app for real-time bus arrival times.
• LIMITED PARKING. While parking is free at the event, there are only so many spaces available. Once all of the designated parking lots are full, base officials will close the Dale Mabry gate to all arriving traffic. This is why it’s strongly encouraged to use the HART bus system and its convenient Route 4 Shuttle Service.
• PACK ITEMS CAREFULLY. While you definitely want to make sure you have water with you, please be considerate of what you take with you to the event. The event gates, as in years past, will have a tented airport-style security checkpoint. Basically anything that prohibited at the airport will be prohibited at the event (including firearms). Coolers, glass containers, pets (except service dogs), and fireworks are also prohibited.

Click here to go to the official AirFest webpage. Also, don’t forget to follow the official MacDill AFB Facebook Page.

Enjoy the AirFest weekend!

HARTride 2012