5 Things to Know Today

1. "The Best Time of Year" is the theme for this year's Florida State Fair, which opens Thursday at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa, and runs until Feb. 21. Featured activities this year include a Corndogs n' Country concert Friday, Feb. 11, with Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Sunny Sweeney and Brett Eldredge performing the 1-800 Ask Gary Amphitheater. Ticket prices are $20 and also include admission to the fair. The doors open at 5 p.m.

Regular prices for the fair are $10 for adults and children over age 12 and $5 for children ages 6 10 11. Fair-goers can save up to $4 on tickets by purchasing them at Sweetbay Supermarkets now through Feb. 9.

Pepsi armband tickets are $30 each and are valid for a single-day use on Feb. 11, 13, 18, 20 or 21. Armbands can be purchased at any entrance gate or at midway tickets booths. 

A coupon book, available for $5 at the gate, lets fair-goers save on food, products and services sold by concessionaires and exhibitors.

For more information, visit www.floridastatefair.com or call 1-800-345-FAIR or (813) 621-7821.

2. Operation Vittles, a paintball tournament benefiting the Emergency Care Help Organization in Brandon, will be held Feb. 12 at FishHawk Fellowship Church, 15326 FishHawk Blvd, Lithia. Check-in is at 9 a.m. and the last game will begin at 2:30 a.m. The game fee is $20 and includes lunch, and equipment rental is $5.

Residents can preregister at Tiki's Paintball, 428 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon. Call (813) 671-1300 or visit www.wfcpaintball.com.

3. On Tuesday, Feb. 8, there will be an informational meeting for the FishHawk Relay for Life, "Toon Out Cancer," at Sunset Bay Chapel, 6036 Churchside Drive, Lithia. The Relay for Life will be held March 25 at Newsome High School, 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia. E-mail cathy.vallianatos@cancer.org.

4. To raise money for the Relay for Life, the Newsome High School Class of 2012 Relay for Life team will host a 5K race Saturday, Feb. 19 at the FishHawk Sports Complex on FishHawk Boulevard. Last year the team raised $15,000 and this year its goal is $25,000. Preregistration is $15 at DaSilva's Coffee House, 15282 Fishhawk Blvd., Lithia, or runners can register the day of the race for $20. All money raised will go to the American Cancer Society.

5. Both credit and non-credit courses through Hillsborough Community College are now being offered at The Regent, 6437 Watson Road, Riverview. During the spring semester, which runs through May 9, students can take financial accounting, introduction to music, personal finance and world humanities for credit. Non-credit courses include conversational Spanish, interior design, photography, parenting, and Passport to Retirement and Golf.  Classes are offered from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursdays as well as on Saturday morning.

For information, visit www.hccfl.edu.