First Friday In St. Pete Is Back After Almost Indefinitely Cancelling
Good news for our St. Pete partygoers. The monthly tradition of the First Friday block party was almost indefinitely canceled because of lack of sponsors. But thanks to local businesses,…
Good news for our St. Pete partygoers. The monthly tradition of the First Friday block party was almost indefinitely canceled because of lack of sponsors. But thanks to local businesses, the party is back on! First Friday returns to St. Pete in January from 6pm-10pm. The block party has been happening down Central Ave since the 1990's, so we would have hated to see it go.
We've had a lot of great memories at First Friday in St. Pete. We always enjoyed the live music, vendors, and seeing all the people having a great time. Some business owners around Central Ave noticed a 10-15% drop in business the month First Friday was canceled.
The future First Friday?
Nightlife Productions LLC is working to make First Friday even better in 2024 by including increased security and a new setup for foot traffic. The main sponsors include CMK Construction and My Florida Bath. We're so happy to have the long tradition back!
Why was First Friday in St. Pete canceled for December?
The cost of putting on the event has gotten more expensive over the years, with seeing no profit. Organizers now say they are out of cash. Kristen Lee, Director of Operations for Nightlife Productions, LLC told the St. Pete Catalysyt "It costs $12,000, with no profit to us at all. It's a lot of work". Half of the money goes to the city (to pay for police presence and other fees), and the rest covers insurance, sanitation, live bands, and other city and state fees. Sponsors usually pay the bill but if they don't have enough, the organizers end up paying out of pocket.
Even though they had a major sponsor this spring, the organizers and city agreed to postpone the summer First Friday dates. Because of the record heat wave we saw this summer, the July and August dates were postponed.
The Best Late-Night Bites In St. Pete
With endless options to bar-hop in St. Pete, it's good to know a list of places that are serving late-night bites. There are plenty of spots downtown that still serve food till midnight or later! So when you're not ready to take the party home, or Taco Bell doesn't sound like the move, consider trying one of these late-night restaurants!
Of course, Taco Bell, Applebee's, and McDonald's are always contenders. But you won't find any big food chains on this list. We try to keep it local and only feature the best-kept secrets in the Burg. We took the most popular suggestions from Yelp and added our favorites to the list. Whether it's pizza, burgers, or ice cream, we have all the recommendations for you!
Where's your go-to late-night spot? Let us know on social media!
#1. The Avenue - Downtown St Pete
The ultimate hangout for locals! The Avenue has 55 TV'S & 2 bars, and they're open till LAST CALL! Making it the perfect spot to grab a late night snack.
#2. The Galley
Open till 3 A.M. daily, this is a great spot to relax and munch all night long
#3. Thirsty First
Open till midnight and daily specials make this hidden gem one of our top 3!
#4. Joey Brooklyn's Famous Pizza Kitchen
If you haven't stopped at Joey's after a show at Janus, are you even from St Pete? For over 15 years now, Joey Brooklyn's has been satisfying the cravings for the Downtown St. Petersburg & Tampa Bay area. Open till 3 a.m. every day!
Getty Royalty Free#5. The Birchwood Canopy
Open till midnight on the weekdays and 2 a.m. on Friday & Saturday! Enjoy the beautiful views of Tampa Bay while sipping on craft cocktails and snacking on delicious bar bites.
#6. Copper Shaker
Located in the heart of Downtown St. Petersburg, The Copper Shaker is a locally owned and operated craft cocktail bar and kitchen, offering delicious shareable appetizers and craft cocktails. You won't find your average bar bites here. Open till 3 a.m. daily!
#7. LALA St. Pete
Part restaurant, part bar, part karaoke room! One of St. Pete's newest additions LALA is a must try! They over a French Mediterranean fusion cuisine alongside classic American bar food favorites. Open till 12 a.m. on the weekdays and 1 a.m. on Friday's and Saturday's! Check out their late night menu here
#8. Bright Ice
If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth late at night you may run into some issues. There are a few places across the bridge in Tampa that stay open a little later but in St Pete you'll find Bright Ice. They're open till 10 p.m. on the weekdays and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
