There's always something to do in St. Pete, but this weekend it seems like there are a million things to do. Planned events run the gamut of entertainment options — there are food festivals, concerts, crafts shows, and some fun oddities. We could have written a much longer list, but we decided to stop at 16. It's a lot to do, but don't worry. There's really only one event you can't miss this weekend. Read to the end to find out which one — we saved the best for last.
1. Block out at First Friday St. Pete
It's the first Friday of the month, and you know what that means: Central Avenue (between 2nd and 3rd Streets) will be blocked off for First Friday St. Pete. This Friday, Gamble Creek Band performs. The party starts at 5:30 pm.
2. Go to the inaugural Asian lantern fest and food truck rally
The Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association and the City of St. Petersburg are hosting their first ever St. Pete Asian Lantern Festival. The food trucks will congregate at Albert Whitted Park, decorated with 400 lanterns for the night, from 6-10 p.m. Friday, to serve up special Asian-inspired dishes in addition to their standard fare.
3. Celebrate weirdness at the St. Petersburg Museum of History's Two Headed Calf Fest
This fest, at the St. Petersburg Museum of History Friday night, celebrates "the true weirdness of St. Petersburg" with live music, food trucks and beer. Admission is $30, and includes a look at their Alligators and Oddities exhibit. You also get a chance to name the calf. Calves. Bi-calves?
4. Listen to jazz at the Vinoy and pretend it's 1925
Local jazz group Gloria West and the Gents will perform at Marchand's Bar and Grill at the Vinoy from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 am Friday night (and part of Saturday morning). Jazz really is the perfect genre at a 1920s hotel. Make your 1920s fantasy complete by dining off the 1925 Classic menu — a three-course meal for $19.25 (available only from 5-6:30 p.m.). If you want to know more about the Vinoy, take their hour-long history tour every Wednesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for $10 a person, or $27 with lunch.
5. Celebrate the first season of Tampa Bay Drag Race at the Flamingo Resort
Tampa Bay Drag Race Season 1 starts Nov. 3. The seven-week competition at the Flamingo Resort aims to crown Tampa Bay's next drag superstar. Meet the queens at the Flamingo Friday night starting at 8 p.m., and watch the show via the Tampa Bay Drag Race Facebook page.
Love food and stories? Wordier Than Thou hosts the storytelling event, Food for Thought, Friday night. Listen to true stories about food and cooking from local authors, storytellers and performers at Story Brooke Craft Coffee Bar, from 6-8 p.m. $5 suggested donation.
7. Do some holiday shopping at Florida Craft Art
Florida Craft Art is having the opening reception for their holiday exhibit Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Get those one-of-a-kind gifts for loved ones.
8. Listen to blues at the Palladium
Award-winning blues artist, Victor Wainwright, is coming to the Palladium Friday night with his horn band, The Train. You'll get to hear songs from his new record, due to be released next year. $19-32.
9. See Julius Caesar performed in Williams Park
The St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival takes on Julius Caesar this year. Admission is pay what you can, with a suggested donation of $10. See it at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday in Williams Park. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket. Picnics welcome.
10. Get inspired at the Tampa Bay Home show
The Tampa Bay Home show takes over Tropicana Field this weekend. If you see some home improvements in your near future, then this event is for you. You can get a feel for the current trends while looking at hundreds of exhibits and displays. Free parking and admission.
11. Dance to the silence at 3 Daughters Brewing
3 Daughters Brewing has not one but two silent discos at their St. Petersburg tap house this weekend. Here's how a silent disco works: Instead of a DJ spinning through the PA system, everyone listens in through wireless headphones. Technically, the room is silent. So grab a pair of headphones and dance to the music in your head. Friday night has a 90s theme, and it's Y2K on Saturday.
12. Support Creative Clay at 3 Daughters Brewing
Remember Folkfest St. Pete? It's back with a new name — and at 3 Daughters Brewing. Now called Creative Clay Fest, it's an art and music fest this Sunday, and, as always, it benefits Creative Clay — a community arts center that makes art accessible to the disabled. The fest has a 10-year history, and on top of the beer, the day features folk art, live music from local bands and regional folk artists, and food from Locale Market and Bavaro's.
13. Watch a glass blowing show in the dark
The Morean Glass Studio's annual Night Blow happens Saturday night, and it's sure to sell out. Guests sit and watch as the Morean artists create their masterpieces in the dark while the DJ spins. $25; $30, door.
14. Party at The Movement Sanctuary
This Saturday's a great day to check out St Pete's new fitness center, The Movement Sanctuary. On the first Saturday of each month, The Movement Sanctuary has an open house during the afternoon, followed by a warehouse party at night. Read Resie Waechter's review here.
15. Learn about fashion at the Dalí
Dali & Schiaparelli combines the work of Salvador Dalí with those of renowned fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli. The museum will host a series of fashion documentaries in conjunction with the exhibit. This Saturday afternoon they'll show Bill Cunningham New York, which chronicles the life and work of New York fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham.
1,000,000. Have a beer and go shopping at this year's Crafts & Drafts
This article appears in Nov 2-9, 2017.