An exciting new waterfront festival is taking over St. Pete’s North Straub Park later this month. The inaugural St. Petersburg BayFest is offering a full weekend of live entertainment, neighborhood vendors and tons of fresh local bites from March 20-22. Admission is only $5 and open to the public.
Produced by Paragon Festivals, who hosts some of our favorite local festivals, BayFest is part of a lineup of traveling food and music events held across Florida throughout the year. The festivals combine outdoor concerts with curated food vendors and artisan markets. This gives attendees a chance to spend a day enjoying live performances while exploring local crafts and cuisine.
The curation emphasizes local food, vendors, and musicians. Attendees can explore and indulge in a diverse menu of seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes, all cooked fresh onsite by local restaurants and food vendors. Entrees can be complemented with side dishes, decadent desserts, and refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
The family-friendly and pet-friendly festival is a celebration of all things good, packed with music, artisans, and fantastic food. We won’t presume to tell you what to eat, but you’ll definitely want to make sure you plan your visit around the incredible musical lineup. You can find the full schedule below to help you get ready. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the festival entrance
Friday March 20
Live music kicks off Friday, March 20 from 4-10 PM.
Performances start with Ellipsis from 4:30-6PM. They’re a Sarasota-based Alternative Rock band formed by brothers Nick and Michael Sabattini and bass player Aaron Williams.
Following them, the Black Honkeys hits the stage from 6:30-8PM. They are a nine-person band and award-winning Tampa Bay favorite bringing in a high-energy mix of R&B, funk, soul, and rock.
The night wraps up with the Soul Circus Cowboys, a southern rock band blending their sound with soul and lyrical storytelling.
Saturday March 21
The second day of the festival runs from 11AM-10PM and a jam-packed run of performances.
The afternoon brings smooth reggae with Jah Movement from 12:30-2PM. Dubbed “Florida’s Best Reggae Band,” their distinct style and inspiring sound has earned them an international fanbase.
Luna And The Warriors follows with electrifying pop-rock from 2:30-4:30PM. They’re a Tampa‑area rock band known for their bold vocals and high‑energy live shows.
Saturday evening performances begin with blues from Damon Fowler from 4:30-6:30PM. Fowler is a guitarist and singer whose soulful blend of blues, roots rock, and sacred steel has earned him acclaim as one of the region’s standout Southern artists.
Following Fowler is classic rock from Greg Billings and The Stay Up Lates from 6:30-8PM. They’re a classic rock band performing across Florida, serving up crowd-pleasing hits and festival-ready grooves that keep fans dancing.
Saturday night finishes with tributes from Absolute Queen from 8:30-10PM. They’re a tribute band faithfully recreating the legendary rock band’s iconic hits and stage spectacle all throughout Florida.
Sunday March 22
This is the final day of the festival, and festivities run from 11AM-6PM.
Sunday performances begin with blues, R&B, and soul from Annika Chambers Deslauriers, a veteran and powerhouse Houston vocalist, with her husband Paul on guitar from 12:30-2PM. Together they create a soulful, high-energy set with ground-stomping tunes.
Then, party band 22N follows from 2:30-4PM. They’re a Florida band known for playing crowd-favorite hits spanning rock, pop, country and Top 40.
The festival ends off on a high note with soul and R&B from K-Luv & United Funk Foundation. They’re a funk band delivering R&B and funk sets that keep festival crowds dancing.
Plan your BayFest visit
Whether you’re coming for reggae in the afternoon, classic rock in the evening, or soulful blues on Sunday, this festival lineup offers something for every music fan. Plus by attending, you’re also supporting local businesses and performers.
For the full schedule of performances, vendor information and festival updates, visit the official BayFest website.