What Happened This Week in Valrico

Here's your weekly check-in for everything going on in Valrico, Bloomingdale, and eastern Hillsborough County for the week of March 23-28, 2026.

The Rundown

• Friends of the Poor Walk at St. Stephen Catholic Church. The first annual St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk took place Saturday, March 28, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Riverview. The event raised financial assistance for families in Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, Gibsonton, and Ruskin. Last year, the organization distributed over $620,000 to help more than 2,000 families with shelter, utilities, and critical household needs. The walk included games, raffles, and food vendors. Learn more at svdpfopwalkehd.org.

• No Kings Rally draws crowd in Brandon. The nationwide No Kings protest movement reached eastern Hillsborough County on March 28, with a local rally organized by Indivisible East Hillsborough at Lumsden Road and Brandon Parkway. The original location was changed due to construction. The March 28 protests were part of more than 3,300 organized events across the country.

• Back to school after spring break. Students returned to Hillsborough County classrooms on Tuesday, March 24, after the extended break. Monday, March 23, was a non-student day. Morning commute traffic is back to normal — which around Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest Road means heavy.

• Pipeline construction continues on Boyette Road and S. Kings Avenue. The South Hillsborough Pipeline project rolls on. Boyette Road returned to standard daytime work hours after the 24/7 spring break construction push. S. Kings Avenue between Center and Bloomingdale remains closed to through traffic. Open-cut trenching for the 26.5-mile pipeline is now underway, with tunneling operations planned under Falkenburg Road, SR 60, and the Alafia River in coming months.

• Burn ban still in effect. Week 11 and counting. Hillsborough County's emergency ban on outdoor open burning continues with no end in sight. The drought persists across the Tampa Bay region. If you see a brush fire, call 911.

• Riverview businesses feeling construction impacts. Local businesses near the S. Kings Avenue and Boyette Road construction zones are reporting reduced foot traffic. If you have a favorite spot in those corridors, now is the time to show up and support them.

• County honors standout fall sports athletes. Hillsborough County held a ceremony recognizing top student athletes from the fall sports season, including several from eastern Hillsborough County schools including Strawberry Crest, Newsome, Durant, and Bloomingdale.

New Business Spotlight

Whole Foods coming to Valrico. If you haven't heard yet, Whole Foods Market has confirmed plans for a Valrico-area location. Details on the exact opening timeline are still developing, but the announcement signals continued confidence from national retailers in eastern Hillsborough County's growth. We covered the full story here.

Weather Outlook

Late March warmth is here — highs in the low to mid-80s, lows in the low 60s. Mostly sunny skies through the weekend. The dry pattern continues, and the drought shows no signs of breaking. Tampa Bay Water's Stage 3 water restrictions remain in effect with once-a-week lawn watering only.

Community Question

What local business near the S. Kings Avenue or Boyette Road construction zones deserves more support right now? Drop their name below — we'll feature a few in next week's roundup.

More on Valrico.blog

• Whole Foods Coming to Valrico
• Seeds of Hope: Bloomingdale's Community Food Bank
• Valrico Community Plan Adopted by Hillsborough County