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First Friday St. Pete future in jeopardy
The monthly event supports local small businesses, artists and musicians.
A monthly block party on St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, has been a tradition for more than 25 years. However, First Friday is in jeopardy.
According to Nightlife Productions, LLC director of operations Kristen Lee, the City of St. Petersburg has increased fees for services such as police department protection and sanitation.
“We were sent four months’ worth of bills from the City a week ago,” she explained. “Depending on the month, they increased by approximately 37 to 56%.”
Due to the rising costs, Lee said, the future of the event is uncertain. This has changed the budget “dramatically.” It will be more difficult to pay for essential expenses.
“Those increases would’ve been approved during the FY 2026 budget process,” City spokesperson Samantha Bequer told the Catalyst, “which is ultimately approved by council.”
To “bridge the gap” and keep admission free, more sponsorships are needed.
“Right now, it costs about $15,000 to 17,000 to run the event and that’s with city services and insurance,” Lee added. “There’s no profit for us at all.”
The next First Friday is scheduled for April 3 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Nightlife Productions and the Lay-Lee Foundation, Inc. began to organize the event after the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, it was run by the St. Petersburg Breakfast Optimist Club.
Lee, who is the lead singer of local rock band 22N, had performed at First Friday many times prior to overseeing the gathering.
“It’s a historical event and we’d like to see it keep going more than anything,” she said. “We’d also like to keep it in the same location.”
First Friday has had financial challenges in the past. The event was canceled in November and December 2023 due to a shortage of funds. It returned the following January.
In 2025, food vendor fees were raised from $100 to $125.
Co-organizer David Lay is also a member of 22N and runs 22N Force Productions, which provides light and sound equipment for events around the Tampa Bay area and the west coast of Florida. “So, we’re heavily invested in all sides of the entertainment community,” he explained, “and First Friday is kind of a labor of love for us.”
Lay added that the monthly gathering has an economic impact. It is a way to support local companies, artists and musicians.
“The City government determines what these services are worth,” he said. “But, First Friday raises the normal Friday night earnings for local businesses in the area from anywhere between 27 to 47%. So, our event generates tax dollars.”
Ryan Cosworth
March 28, 2026at12:15 am
This is absurd, 15K to 17K per event for what? To close a street and have 6 to 8 off duty cops? No way is that accurate!! Stage and band are the only other costs, and guess what, dude owns the stage company too. Also the same two people who run the event also run the charity that is benefiting from the event????? Something is fishy.. Also checked and the “charity” isn’t even located in St. Pete???? They did this before, cried lack of money but I think they are just greedy. This event was started to help bring people to a struggling downtown but guess what, she is not struggling anymore. It is just a drunk shit show now.. Time to move on…
Phyllis Bernaldo
March 27, 2026at6:44 pm
First off, the event is supposed to be run by a Not-for-profit organization. So, there should never be a profit. The company that is putting the event on is a FOR PROFIT company, finding nonprofit organizations to sponsor the event for a few hundred dollars. At one time there was an honest nonprofit organization running it. Maybe the city should bring them back.
Laura Turley
March 25, 2026at9:57 pm
There has been ginormous(!!!) growth in St. Pete, but the City can’t find a way to help local artists maintain this decades-long event that benefits so many? And your solution is to RAISE the fee for food truck vendors?? Again… your hitting the little guys??? Congratulations, you’ve Ft. Lauderdaled St. Pete. 🙁
Bill Herrmann
March 25, 2026at5:52 pm
“We were sent four months’ worth of bills from the City a week ago,” she explained. “Depending on the month, they increased by approximately 37 to 56%.”
That is not the way to run a city! Instead of trying to support an activity that drives visits, and helps small business, the city drops 4 months of bills on them. The fact that they go up 37% to 57% PER MONTH is worth investigating.
Timothy Kerr
March 25, 2026at8:02 pm
Just another perfect example of the incompetence at City Hall time to get rid of these people m
Kristopher Konefal
March 25, 2026at4:22 am
Contact me would help with sponsorship