5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Friday, August 3

TAMPA - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Friday, August 3.

(1) Mars-themed weekend at Kennedy Space Center

KennedySpace Centerwill host four days of special Mars-themed activities, exhibits and presentations beginning on Friday.

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is scheduled to land on Mars at 1:31 a.m. on Monday, August 6. The landing will be shown live on NASA TV at www.nasa.gov/ntv .

The MSL began its nine month voyage from Kennedy Space Center last November. Its car-sized Curiosity rover is equipped with the most advanced payload of scientific gear ever deployed to the surface of Mars.

Children of all ages are invited to the LEGO Build the Future play area in the IMAX Theater Hubble Gallery. Guests will have 45 minutes to use over 800,000 LEGO bricks to build their vision of the future. The play area will be 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. August 3 to 5.

A special video presentation, The 7 Minutes of Terror, about the Mars Curiosity Rover landing will be shown in Exploration Space.

On August 5 at noon and 5:00 p.m. NASA Deputy Chief Technologist Jim Adams will host a special presentation called "How to Land on Mars" in Exploration Space.

All the Mars-themed events are included in the regular price of admission to Kennedy Space Center.

For more information, call (877) 313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com .  

(2) Dine Tampa Bay Restaurant Week 2012

More than 100 Tampa Bay area restaurants will begin offering a special menu for the 3rd annual Dine Tampa Bay Restaurant Week on Friday.

Through August 17, food lovers will have an opportunity to enjoy a $25, $35, or $45 prix-fixe, three-course dinner. The meals include an appetizer, entrée and dessert.

Prices are per person and exclude beverages, tax and gratuities.

Each restaurant will provide a special Restaurant Week menu with three options for each course, in addition to their standard menu.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and their special menus, visit www.dinetampabay.com .

(3) Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays will host the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on Friday night.

The Rays just finished up a nine-game road trip. Through 105 games, the Rays have the same record (55-50) they did in 2011.

Tonight's pitching matchup will see the Orioles' Tommy Hunter verse the Rays' Matt Moore. Tampa Bay is currently tied with Baltimore in the American League East. Both teams are 1 1/2 games out of a playoff spot.

The first 10,00 fans to tonight's game will receive a free Luke Scott collectable t-shirt.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

For more information or tickets, call (888) FAN-RAYS or visit raysbaseball.com .

(4) Florida 2012 Sales Tax Holiday

If you need to purchase back-to-school clothing or school supplies, your opportunity to avoid paying sales tax in Florida begins on Friday.

Through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, most clothing and shoes, and some accessories costing of $75 or less will be tax free. Certain school supplies of $15 or less will also be tax free.

"Clothing" does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, or sporting equipment.

"School supplies" means pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunch boxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rulers, computer disks, protractors, compasses, and calculators.

For a complete list of taxable and tax-exempt items visit www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/money/consumer/the-list-of-items-exempt-from-florida-sales-tax-during-this-weekends-2012-sales-tax-holiday .

(5) Puss in Boots

The City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department and the Tampa Downtown Partnership are hosting the final film of the Screen on the Green movie series on Friday.

The outdoor family friendly event at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park features G and PG-rated movies with short animations before the main presentation.

Tonight's film is Puss in Boots, starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis.

Kahwa Coffee will be selling iced and hot coffee products, fruit slushy and pastries, cookies, and other sweets. Popcorn, candy and food trucks will also be available on site.

The event begins at 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.tampagov.net/dept_parks_and_recreation/news_and_events/screen_on_the_green.asp .