Enjoy the communal, festive spirit of Black Friday shopping without the parking headaches of malls and war zones of your area WalMart.
A slew of independently owned stores in downtown St. Pete, Dunedin and other spots throughout the Bay area will be hosting special events to entice you to Buy Local and enjoy a more low-key gift-shopping experience this weekend (and a little later on in the season).
Stop at Bananas for Black Friday Record Store Day for sales, limited releases, live music by local accordionist Nick Boutwell and special giveaways throughout the day.
Mojo Books & Music and Daddy Kool will be hosting special promotions and live music, too.
Saturday is Small Business Day. Celebrate by browsing stores in the Seminole Heights Shop Hop. The event will include sales, raffles, and prizes, and shoppers will get a “Shop Hop Passport,” which must be stamped by at least six of the 12 participating businesses. Winners announced at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Open House at Forever Beautiful Salon & Wine Spa, 5135 N. Florida Ave., Tampa.
On Sunday, drop in to to Microgroove’s Third Anniversary Party for a family-friendly event with free PBR, coffee from Commune and Co. and live music by Mrenc, Zulu Wave, Awkward Age and Meatwound. Visit facebook.com/microgroovetampa for more details.
Other shopping events happening this weekend:
Small Business Saturday Holiday Galleria Join Stained Market Place Ybor for all things local. Local small businesses will be on hand at the Ybor warehouse store displaying great holiday gifts and more. Enjoy complimentary wine and snacks while strolling the event booths. Free. Sat., Nov. 29, 2-8 p.m. Stained Market Place, 2106 E. 15th Ave., Tampa. 813-501-3238. facebook.com/StainedMarketPlace.
The Ybor City Wine Bar‘s Annual Sip & Shop Holiday Tasting Extravaganza $35 admission includes more than 75 wines, food pairings, gourmet cheeses and desserts. Sun., Nov. 30, 2-7 p.m. Ybor City Wine Bar, 1600 E. Seventh Ave. on the first floor of the Centro Ybor Complex. YborCityWineBar.com
Mark your calendar:
St. Pete Indie Market Mini Pop-Up Market Attend a market in front of The Bends, in celebration of Small Business Saturday. The market will be showcasing 10 indie businesses from the area who will be featuring artisanal goods, handcrafted jewelry, plants, vintage clothing and original art. The bar will have specialty cocktails and a food truck will feed folks until 9 p.m. Sat., Nov. 29, 5-9 p.m. 919 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Event on Facebook.
Atomic Holiday Bazaar Central Florida’s biggest and baddest indie vintage show is in its 21st year. An Atomic tote bag and swag will be handed out at each show to the first 100 adults who enter the show. A raffle basket filled with donated handmade items supports the Cat Depot mission. DJs and an Atomic first — two food trucks — will be onsite. Sat., Dec. 6, noon-5 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 7, noon-5 p.m. Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-539-9044. facebook.com/AtomicHolidayBazaar.
Holizaar 7: Handmade Holiday Bazaar The Studio@620 in St Petersburg hosts the annual shopping fair with two dozen local artists and craftspeople selling everything from jewelry to jam, block prints to baby clothes. Get reviews of the vendors at craftheroes.blogspot.com. Sat., Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Click here for Facebook event.
It all adds up to a fun and productive-shopping weekend free of big-box stress.
