Shopapalooza Festival, one of the biggest shopping events in the Tampa Bay region, is back for its 16th rendition this Thanksgiving weekend. Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, November 28 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the free vendor market will be held on the waterfront at St. Pete’s Vinoy Park (701 Bayshore Drive NE).
Kicking off on Small Business Saturday, Shopapalooza provides the perfect opportunity to support local vendors, with the 350+ small businesses represented making it the nation’s biggest Small Business Saturday (and Sunday!) event. Organized by LocalShops1 Founder Ester Venouziou and supported by the City of St. Pete, the event celebrates small businesses across Tampa Bay. No tickets or RSVP are needed, but you can sign up for a chance to win one of the $500 shopping sprees or other prizes.
In addition to the hundreds of local vendors, the festival will feature outdoor food halls, live entertainment, activities, beer and wine garden, a “Kidpreneurs” zone, pictures with Santa, princesses and the Grinch, acrobatic performances by Violet’s Aerials, and much more – all for free. As LocalShops1 points out, you can save your money for shopping. The event is family-friendly, open to all ages, and welcomes well-behaved, leashed pets…