Traffic, Parking Alerts Issued in Advance of Weekend Events

St. Petersburg residents are in for another busy weekend of events planned throughout the city. From a tribute to ABBA to the yoga festival, the city’s venues will be alive with activity, and so will its roads.

With that in mind, the city issued the following media release to give motorists a heads up on what to expect from traffic and where to park for the fun on tap:

“St. Petersburg offers residents and visitors a full spectrum of the arts this weekend with the Times Festival of Reading, FolkFest 2014, Philadelphia jazz, a tribute to ABBA, and the St. Pete
Yoga Festival. Road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect on the USF St. Petersburg campus and on Central Ave. for the Festival of Reading and FolkFest.

More than five thousand book lovers are expected to attend Saturday’s 22nd annual Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading on the USF St. Petersburg campus. The annual free festival pairs bookworms with more than 40 local and national authors and book sellers of all genres for the one-day celebration of the written word. Book lovers may attend author signings, panel discussions, or browse the festival book market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Parking is
available downtown and on the USF St. Petersburg campus. More details are available at www.festivalofreading.com.

Through Sunday, October 26, at 5 p.m., Sixth Ave. S. and Second St. S. will be closed to traffic for the Festival of Reading. Sixth Ave. S. will close from First to Third Sts. S., while Second St. S. will close from Fifth to Sixth Ave. S. No vehicles will be allowed inside the street
closure.

Meanwhile, Central Ave. kicks things up a notch with two days of live music, art, and kids’ activities during Creative Clay’s annual fundraiser, FolkFest St. Pete 2014. In its eighth year, the family-friendly festival features local and national recording artists, including Ella Jet, Rebekah Pulley, Von Grey and more from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Sunday. Free parking is available in Tropicana Field Lot 6, at First Ave. S. and 13th St. Festival goers are encouraged to observe posted parking regulations. For information, visit www.folkfeststpete.org.

In preparation for FolkFest, Central Avenue will close between 11th and 13th Sts. beginning at 10 a.m. October 24, through 5 p.m. Sunday, October 26. Additionally, the 1100 to 1300 blocks of Baum Ave. will close to all but local traffic from 7 a.m. Friday through Sunday with parking restrictions on both sides of Baum in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday only. Other FolkFest parking restrictions include both sides of Central Ave. from 11th to 13th Sts. from 7 a.m. tomorrow through 5 p.m. Sunday, as well as the south side of Baum Ave. from Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. N. to 13th St. from 7 a.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Sunday. Owners of vehicles with Residential Parking Permits who usually park in the affected area are encouraged to find
alternative parking locations to avoid citations or possible vehicle relocation.

The Circus McGurkis festival celebrates 43 years of peaceful co-existence this weekend in Lake Vista Park, 1401 62nd Ave. S. Spectators can enjoy live music, vendors, lifestyle workshops, food and more during the Peoples’ Fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. www.circusmcgurkis.org.

Other arts-related events in St. Petersburg this weekend include Friday’s tribute to 70’s Swedish supergroup ABBA with Arrival: The Music of ABBA at the Mahaffey Theater as well as the sounds of R&B, funk, new jack swing and smooth jazz with Pieces of a Dream at the Palladium Theater. On Saturday, the Mahaffey Theater hosts the Florida Orchestra in concert, performing Barber’s Violin Concerto. And on Sunday, find your center at Sunken Gardens during the St. Pete Yoga Festival, watch beauty in motion in the final performance of Nureyev’s Eyes at American Stage or get bitten by Dracula - The Vampire Strikes Back at St. Petersburg City Theatre. For more event information, visit www.stpete.org/events.”