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<\/p>\nFor Aron Bryce, the St. Pete CommUNITY Festival is a way to celebrate all things that make the city unique. The gathering, organized by Bryce\u2019s Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation, returns Saturday (March 7) at Azalea Park from 1 to 9:30 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt all stemmed from an idea I had a few years back,\u201d he explained, \u201dto try to put on an event outside of downtown.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bryce, born and raised in west St. Petersburg, wanted to develop a festival that encouraged community and civic engagement. The goal was to get local businesses, neighborhood associations, nonprofits and first responders such as the police and fire departments involved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Introduced in 2023, the West St. Pete CommUNITY Picnic welcomed approximately 1,000 people. This served as a catalyst for a larger-scale event. Rebranding the concept, he said, led to a more \u201cunifying theme that focused on our city as a whole.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the key aspects of the festival\u2019s expansion was incorporating the arts. Bryce contacted various local musical acts to see if they would like to participate. He also reached out to artists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Initially planned for September 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton delayed the refreshed event. The date was pushed back to March 2025 \u2013 which gave Bryce more time to plan. It also helped him create a foundation for the annual gathering. \u00a0<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s edition adds more to the experience. Bryce said that a\u00a0new artistic and vendor corridor called Shakedown Street will be introduced. Additionally, the Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation team has developed an area called the Grove. It will feature installations from local artists including a live mural from Chris Dyer.<\/p>\n
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Live music is a key aspect of the St. Pete CommUNITY Festival.<\/p>\n
The Kid\u2019s Corner section has also been expanded. It will feature more experiences from community partners. These include organizations such as R\u2019Club Child Care, the Parc Center for Disabilities and the University of South Florida Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to be more intentional and thoughtful in the design and layout of the Kids\u2019 Corner to make it more engaging,\u201d Bryce explained. \u201cWe want to ensure that these different families are aware of the resources that are out there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event will feature a birds of prey presentation from the Friends of the Largo Nature Parks and a St. Petersburg Police Department K-9 Unit (canine) demonstration as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There will be a variety of interactive vehicles present on the premises including BayCare Health System\u2019s Mobile Unit, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority\u2019s SunRunner and a Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office helicopter. Additionally, cars and trucks from both the St. Petersburg Police Department and Fire Rescue will be on location.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vendor Village, an area featuring craftsmen, artisans and nonprofit organizations, will return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the City of St. Pete continues to grow, the one thing I think we consistently hear all the time is that we do not want to lose ourselves,\u201d he said. \u201dWe do not want to lose the things that make St. Pete St. Pete.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event is free to attend, Bryce explained, and vendors are not charged to participate in the gathering. This year, there will be a VIP area to show appreciation to the various sponsors that helped fund the effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiving vendor fees is our way of giving back to the community and supporting our small businesses in the most authentic and expressive way possible,\u201d he said. \u201cIt just speaks to community, unity and bringing people together in every way, shape and form.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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