Localtopia 2025: ‘Most important ever’ for St. Pete businesses

After a challenging hurricane season in the Sunshine City, the upcoming Localtopia event is being billed as “the most important ever” in its 12-year history.

The annual festival, organized by Keep Saint Petersburg Local (KSPL) and co-sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg, will showcase over 300 of the city’s independent businesses and community organizations at Williams Park and surrounding streets Saturday, Feb. 22. Olga Bof, Founder and Executive Director of KSPL, emphasized the event’s significance in light of recent challenges faced by local businesses.

“I obviously don’t have to tell our community what everyone’s endured and continues to endure post-hurricanes,” Bof said. “It’s been tough enough trying to survive post-pandemic, in an ever-changing St. Pete, with higher costs. Then came one of the slowest summers ever sales-wise, followed by the hurricanes, and then a weak holiday season that they were counting on to make up for the previous months.

“As people look at this year, there are a lot of decisions being made around, ‘Are we going to stay here for another summer? Can we actually keep these doors open?’ Everybody’s in flux, and there are a lot of people who are still displaced. We’ve heard stories about makers not having a home to go back to and living in their cars. It’s just heartbreaking all around.”

Localtopia is one of the city’s largest one-day festivals, when tens of thousands of people descend upon downtown to shop from the large showcase of St. Petersburg’s small businesses. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is unique in that it features only St. Pete-based, independent enterprises. 

Localtopia also draws artists and performers, and will include a family zone and heath and wellness areas. Even though the Williams Park bandshell was damaged during Hurricane Milton, it’s still operational and bands will be performing during the event.

There will also be an array of food and drink options, including nearly 20 local food trucks and a “Draft Beer Central” featuring local breweries. More than 70 food and drink vendors are expected to participate.

Bof emphasized the importance of this particular Localtopia for vendors, noting, “They need that day to be epic for a lot of them to stay in business.”

In addition to local vendors, makers and artists, Localtopia draws musicians, performers and entertainers from around the city. Photo provided.

Bof views the festival as more than just a commercial event, describing it as a “community celebration” and a representation of the city’s pride.

“It’s always been such a special day that people feel so uplifted. Everybody’s coming together, and it’s story-filled, and hopefully that buoys us through this coming year,” Bof said. “St. Pete is such a special place, and these are such special businesses. Localtopia is a very visible manifestation of that message.”

To accommodate the expected large turnout, organizers are encouraging attendees to use alternative transportation. The SunRunner will offer fare-free rides on the day of the event. Star Trolley will provide a free shuttle service from Tropicana Field, where parking will be available for $10.

Bof stressed the importance of community support for local businesses, at Localtopia and beyond. 

“It’s not just this one day, but it needs to be all year if you want them to survive. 2025 is the year you really, really have to be extra mindful about where you’re spending your money,” she urged.

Although the event is family-friendly, event organizers encourage attendees to leave pets at home due to the large crowds. Volunteers are also still needed to help make the event a success, including beverage sales and event setup. Volunteers can sign up online at this link.