Shopping, Craft Fair, Night at the Circus Dominate St. Pete's Weekend

Editor’s note: The following information was provided directly by the City of St. Petersburg for events taking place Nov. 21-23:

St. Petersburg gets a head start on the holidays with an opportunity for fine craft art from across the nation and deeply discounted pre-Black Friday deals, before joining the circus for Chillounge Night.

Art at its Finest

More than 100 of the nation’s best established and emerging craft artists from Florida and across the nation showcase works in jewelry, clay, fiber, glass, wood, metal, paper and mixed media during the 17th annual CraftArt 2014 festival Saturday and Sunday, November 21 & 22. The free festival, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the 400-600 blocks of Central Ave., also features live artist demonstrations, glass plate etching and other hands-on activities. Festival goers may also enter a raffle to win artwork donated by a participating CraftArt artist. Visit www.floridacraftart.org for information.

Road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect for the two-day festival. Central Ave., between Fourth to Sixth Streets, and Fifth Street, from First Avenue N. to the alley north of First Avenue S., will be closed beginning at 2 p.m. Friday. Both First Avenue North and First Avenue South will remain open to traffic during the festival.

Festival parking restrictions will be in effect within the street closure beginning at noon tomorrow through 8 p.m. Sunday. Restrictions will also be enforced on the north side of First Avenue N. from Fifth to Eighth Streets from 5 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday, November 24. Owners of vehicles displaying Residential Parking Permits who normally park in the area are encouraged to find alternate parking locations during the festival to avoid citations or relocation.

Shop Til You Drop

On Saturday, November 22, avoid Black Friday crowds and save big during Shopapalooza, St. Petersburg’s annual free pre-holiday, shop local day in North Straub Park. Browse potential gift ideas from more than 130 locally-owned businesses, restaurants, art galleries, service providers, and community organizations offering deep discounts from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cool off with local craft beers from the Beer Garden, enjoy live entertainment, or watch the kids create holiday memories or play games in the Children’s area. Visit www.LocalShops1.com for information.

Chill Out with a Twist

Relax under the stars minus the Big Top when the strength and beauty of the circus arts bring a new twist to Chillounge Night
in Straub Park on Saturday. This year’s Cirque du Chill/Chillounge Night features acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, jugglers, high-flying daredevils and hand balancers from The Circus Arts Conservatory, along with the latest fashions, al fresco dining, and live entertainment topped off with fireworks over the waterfront. Guests are invited to enjoy the view and live video of the event streamed onto an LED wall from chic daybeds, cabanas and luxury outdoor furnishings. While VIP and reserved seat tickets have sold out, general admission tickets are still available at www.chilloungenight.com.

Look for comedians Mike Birbiglia and Terry Fator as they give Mahaffey Theater audiences a reason to chuckle this weekend. Catch the rhythm on Saturday with the Florida Marching Band finals at Tropicana Field or enjoy the smooth sounds of Vegas and the Rat Pack, part of the Florida Orchestra’s Pops Series, at the Mahaffey Theater. For a complete events listing, visit
www.stpete.org/events.