ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After organizers of St. Pete’s ‘First Friday’ canceled the event indefinitely last year because of lack of support and sponsorships, the block party style event is back on.
The event’s organizer, Kristen Lee with Nightlife Productions LLC, says after she announced the event would have to end a group of bar owners and local businesses stepped up to sponsor.
Lee said Pete Boland of Mary Margarets, Josh Cameron of Crafty Squirrel and Where’s Jubes, and Mark Acchione of Goodnight John Boy and Welcome to the Farm, were the driving forces on the block to get other businesses involved and enough money to get ‘First Friday’ going again.
Accione says at his bars, which are just around the corner from where the ‘First Friday’ main stage sits, had a 10-15% drop in business during the months the event didn’t happen.
“Once we saw the impact of November and the continuation to December, I decided to rally some troops and some other owners, and bring to life a resurgence of excitement and some new sponsorships,” he said.
What makes ‘First Friday’ so unique, Accione says, is that people come from Tampa and Bradenton to explore downtown when that’s a market they don’t usually reach.
Nightlife Productions LLC along with the group of sponsors and bar owners, said they’re working on plans to make ‘First Friday’ even better in 2024, including increased security and a new setup for foot traffic.
“It was an amazing reemergence of new leadership in the downtown area and I believe going forward that group of leaders will become good friends and will make ‘First Friday’ a priority at the top of priority of our agenda,” Accione said.
Other main sponsors include CMK Construction and My Florida Bath.
January’s ‘First Friday’ will be held today from 6-10 p.m. on Central Avenue in between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
Expect heavy traffic in the area as that stretch of road will be closed starting at 4 p.m.