Valrico This Week — May 6, 2026

What's Happening Around Town

There's a lot of good energy in Valrico this week. First off, our local JROTC Raider Team just pulled off something incredible — they won their second straight national title. That's the kind of achievement that makes you proud to live here. These kids are putting in serious work, and it shows. Meanwhile, David Weekley Homes is celebrating 30 years of building communities in our area, which is a huge milestone. If you've driven through some of our established neighborhoods, there's a good chance Weekley had a hand in developing them.

On the lighter side, there's a "Catsino Night" event happening, which sounds like exactly the kind of quirky, fun gathering that makes Valrico special. And if you're looking to get your life organized this spring, there are resources popping up around town to help with that too.

Community Events You Don't Want to Miss

Both Bloomingdale and Newsome high schools are hosting summer basketball camps, which is perfect timing if you've got kids looking to sharpen their skills before the summer heat really kicks in. Getting them involved early keeps them active and engaged.

Here's something bigger on the radar: the National Veterans Golden Age Games are coming to Tampa, and they're actively looking for volunteers. If you've got some time this summer and want to support our veteran community, this is a meaningful way to give back. It's right in our backyard, practically speaking.

Also worth your attention — there's a "Pretty Smart" STEM project inspiring girls in our area. Scout is doing real work here, showing young women that being smart about science and technology is cool. We need more of this.

Schools Gearing Up for What's Next

Hillsborough County Schools is focused on preparing students for life beyond high school, and that's the conversation we need to be having. Whether it's college prep, trade skills, or career readiness, the district is thinking ahead about what actually matters for our kids' futures. It's refreshing to see education moving beyond just test scores.

On the inspirational front, an author known for the "Too Blessed To Be Stressed" message just launched a new devotional series. While that's not strictly education, it speaks to how our community values personal growth and wellness alongside academics.

Business & Real Estate Notes

Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers opened a new location in our area this week, which is solid news for folks looking for reliable car maintenance nearby. It's these kinds of service businesses that make a community more convenient and livable.

From a real estate perspective, we're still seeing strong interest in the Valrico market as we head into the heart of spring. Families are actively looking, builders are moving projects forward (hello, Weekley's 30-year track record), and the local inventory continues to move. If you're thinking about buying or selling, now's a good time to have that conversation.

Wrapping Up

There's a lot to appreciate about Valrico right now — from our students winning national championships to our community coming together for events and causes that matter. Whether you're here because you grew up here, chose to move here, or are thinking about making the move, there's genuine momentum in this town.

If you want to talk real estate, community happenings, or just need a local recommendation for anything around here, you know where to find me.

Stay active out there.

Barrett