Another week dedicated to eating and drinking locally will take over St. Petersburg Oct. 16 to 25, courtesy of Keep Saint Petersburg Local's second annual Localicious. This year's installment of Localicious will feature a new bill of events that unite restaurants, markets, community gardens and more.
Throughout the week's run, Tropicool and local breweries will carry the exclusive Localicious offerings they've created at their establishments, as happenings like the 3rd Friday Food Truck Rally, an autumn party at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement and a food-themed Movies in the Park are hosted.
A ticketed St. Petersburg Distillery-driven speakeasy is replacing last year's Local Meltdown competition at NOVA 535. Instead of serving up grilled cheese sandwiches, downtown St. Pete bartenders will mix classic cocktails using the distillery's spirits from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 20. Entertainment, including gaming tables and live jazz, will be showcased, too.
KSPL's Olga Bof says she hopes to highlight bartenders from hotspots like The Mill, Station House, Cask & Ale and The Mandarin Hide throughout the night, as well as small bites.
"In the Dip," a free eating and drinking festival held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 24 on National Food Day, is one of the events that Bof is especially excited about. She says she's looking forward to the large pop-up festival's earth-friendly aspects — workshops on sustainable grubbing and chugging — and location along 22nd Street South, or The Deuces, which is experiencing what Bof calls a renaissance.
Hosted in the field that will become St. Petersburg Commerce Park, across from the historic Manhattan Casino, the fest will offer fare from artisanal food and drink vendors, craft beer, a bounce castle, free books from the Bluebird Books Bus and live entertainment.
Folks may enjoy Royal Theater screenings of the film Fresh, an open house at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, and an 11 a.m. tour of the African American Heritage Trail, led by St. Petersburg Preservation, too. Also at 11, a soul food luncheon in the museum's Legacy Garden will be provided by Heavy's Family Catering.
Stay updated on Localicious through KSPL's Facebook event.
Editor's note: This story has been updated since its original publication.
