ST. PETERSBURG \u2014 What started three years ago as a neighborhood picnic with one DJ and a couple of rows of folding tables has grown into one of the city\u2019s largest free festivals \u2014 and organizer Aron Bryce isn\u2019t done yet.<\/p>\n
The St. Pete CommUNITY Festival returns to Azalea Park on Saturday, March 7, from 1 to 9:30 p.m. with an expanded music lineup, new immersive art installations, emergency vehicle exhibits and a laser light show to cap the evening. Admission is free.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so divided. What\u2019s a more important concept to promote than unity,\u201d said Bryce, president of the Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation Inc., the nonprofit that now organizes the event.<\/p>\n
The festival traces its roots to the West St. Pete CommUNITY Picnic, a modest gathering Bryce organized to give the west side of St. Petersburg something it didn\u2019t have, a large-scale community celebration of its own.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was small in scale but there was a lot of interest,\u201d Bryce said of that first event.<\/p>\n
Interest turned into momentum. For the second year, Bryce expanded the picnic into a full festival, originally scheduled for Sept. 28, 2024, at Azalea Park. But Hurricane Helene forced a postponement, and Hurricane Milton followed less than two weeks later, shelving the event indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Bryce regrouped, expanded the offerings, dropped \u201cWest\u201d from the name and rescheduled for March 2025. About 3,000 people turned out despite the long delay, and Mayor Ken Welch delivered a proclamation at the event.<\/p>\n
Now in its third year, the festival has formalized under the Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation, with Dr. Byron Green-Calisch serving as vice president and John Hoke as treasurer. Bryce said the growth has been organic, driven by community demand.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s music lineup features a mix of original performances and tribute sets. Ajeva returns with an original set and a Pink Floyd tribute. Greg Roy & The Pressure Band will perform originals alongside a Bob Marley tribute. Dead Set Florida teams up with Antelope for a Dead Phish Superjam, and Br\u00f6ther Bear adds a new electronic element with Pretty Lights and ODESZA tributes.<\/p>\n
An official afterparty is planned at CJ\u2019s Backstage, featuring Dead All Over performing a Grateful Dead tribute.<\/p>\n
Bryce said the music choices were deliberate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe music was by design to promote love and unity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
New this year are Shakedown Street, a dedicated corridor for live painting and local artists, and The Grove, an immersive installation area built around light, color and interactive displays. Giant bubble performers will also roam the grounds.<\/p>\n
The festival\u2019s public safety presence has become one of its signature draws. St. Petersburg Police will bring a K-9 unit, motorcycle and armored vehicle. A firetruck and the Marine Exploration Center\u2019s mobile aquarium will be on site. The Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office will land a helicopter in the park.<\/p>\n
A Birds of Prey education demonstration will offer a closer look at raptors, and the Kids Corner returns with balloon art, face painting and hands-on activities and sensory-focused activations for younger visitors.<\/p>\n
The Vendor Village will feature local artisans, small businesses, nonprofits and community organizations. Food trucks from across Tampa Bay will be on hand.<\/p>\n
Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food or hygiene products to donate to Love Thy Neighbor Food Pantry.<\/p>\n
Bryce said the festival has done more than draw crowds \u2014 it has connected vendors and organizations to each other, building relationships that extend beyond the event itself.<\/p>\n
The choice of Azalea Park, at 1600 72nd St. N., was also intentional. Bryce said the location checked a lot of boxes logistically and underscores his commitment to bringing a major event outside the downtown corridor.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Bryce said he wants the CommUNITY Festival to grow on the scale of the Green Thumb Festival, an annual spring event on the west side of St. Petersburg that has been a neighborhood staple for decades. He also envisions expanding to a two-day format.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the natural progression,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n