Hillsborough County Students Will Not Be Excused To ‘Shake It Off’

In case you haven't heard, the biggest concert of the year is happening this week. Taylor Swift is kicking off her three nights at Raymond James Stadium tonight, April 13 with two shows following on the 14th and 15th. Over 225,000 "Swifties" are expected to be in the Tampa Bay area. Hillsborough County Superintendent Addison Davis sent a clever warning to students that they will not be excused to "Shake It Off."

Thursday morning, students and parents in Hillsborough county received a letter from their Superintendent warning that no absences will be excused to see Taylor in concert. The letter is filled with Swift's song titles. Davis understands that he is the "Anti-Hero" here, but he emphasizes how education is more important than a concert.

"You know All Too Well you Should’ve Said No to attending a Thursday night concert. Especially one from an artist who is known for putting on a 3-hour amazing show." Davis' writes in the letter.

Check out the full letter below.

Davis also made a video version of the letter, you can watch it here.

Going to one of the shows? Check out all of our tips and things to know before you go!

We're counting down the days until Tampa Bay's newest concert venue is open. To celebrate their opening, The Sound amphitheater in Clearwater is going to be hosting a weeklong series of events. The first five shows for the new venue have already been announced. What else does the new venue have in store?

The new Clearwater venue is managed by Ruth Eckerd Hall. According to the Tampa Bay Times, they are in charge of booking events, managing food and beverage, and oversee staffing. The $84 million dollar project will be built to have 4,000 covered seats and 5,000 lawn seats. The amphitheater is expected to host a number of events from concerts, graduations, and other community events. Here are some other fun things to know about The Sound.

Ruth Eckerd Hall CEO Susan Crockett told the Tampa Bay Times "Clearwater will truly be celebrating with a wonderful grand opening week that offers something for everyone." If you're interested in checking out any of these events, head to TheSoundFLA.com for tickets!

[Source: Tampa Bay Times]

The first concert at The Sound is going to be a FREE event! More details to be announced soon from Ruth Eckerd Hall. There will also be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5pm.

The second event for the grand opening weekend will be a multicultural market. Clearwater is celebrating diversity by hosting local crafters, as well as dance troupes and musicians showcasing their talents. Kids are welcome to come with many family friendly activities like inflatables and face painting. The night will end with a community concert featuring local band The Black Honkeys Band.

The Sound's first weekend kick off is going to be fun for the whole family. Come by and see the craft beer garden, street entertainment, children's activities, and plenty of local food trucks to keep your belly full! The night will end with a concert featuring Grammy winner Colbie Caillat and singer Gavin DeGraw starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $9-$99 and will go on sale April 14 at 10 a.m. at rutheckerdhall.com and the ticket office by calling 727-791-7400.

July 1st is Community Day! The day starts with a 5K, then enjoy some brews at the craft beer garden. Local performances will be happening all day on The Green. The night ends with a concert at 7pm featuring Grammy nominee Dave Koz with special guests Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius. Tickets are $9-$50 at rutheckerdHall.com.

Want to learn how to salsa? The first ever Hispanic Culture Celebration at The Sound will be taking place on July 2nd. There will be dance classes, local music, and Hispanic cuisine from local food trucks. The day wraps up with a concert with Peter Frampton at 4p. You can grab tickets at rutheckerdHall.com.

The Grand Opening celebration ends on July 4th. The Sound might become one of the best places to watch 4th of July fireworks. The day starts with a classic car show, farmers market, followed by the "largest fireworks display in Clearwater accompanied by the Florida Orchestra." Stick around after the fireworks for a silent disco party!