PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — More than 300 local businesses are coming together at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg this weekend for the Shopapalooza Festival, which is expected to be the biggest celebration in the nation, according to LocalShops1.
“This is going to be the biggest small business Saturday and Sunday in the nation,” said spokesperson Pat Largo. “It’s a celebration. Especially, after last year not having it.”
What You Need To Know
- More than 300 local businesses are participating in the Shopapalooza Festival in Vinoy Park this weekend.
- LocalShops1 says this will be the largest small business celebration in the nation.
- The free festival begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The outdoor shopping extravaganza will feature local music, artists, Christmas village display with a life-size gingerbread house, Santa station, kid zone and street performers on 11 acres at the waterfront park.
“You’re going to see literally thousands of people just walking around this path and stopping and shopping and smiling,” said Largo. “When you’re shopping local, you’re keeping about 70 cents per dollar spent in the local community.”
The owner of Muddy Walrus Pottery, Beth Miranda, will have a booth at Shopapalooza. Miranda expects her St. Pete mugs and flamingo bowls to be hot sellers.
“That’s all I’m going to be making this week is St. Pete mugs and flamingo bowls,” she said. “Those are the other big thing.”
Like many small businesses during the pandemic, Miranda said she took a giant hit and hopes to recapture some of that income at Shopapalooza.
“I’m already on track to have a record breaking November,” she said. “So for me, Shopapalooza will just wrap it up. I’m really, really excited.”
The free community festival begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.