FALL'S COLORS, FLAVORS ON TAP THIS WEEKEND IN ST. PETERSBURG
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (November 1, 2012) - Fall in St. Petersburg is officially underway as two favorites, PurpleStride Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg's International Folk Festival, get underway this weekend, along with a brand-new event celebrating America's favorite beverage. Motorists should plan for possible road closures or delays associated with the events.
The city turns a shade of purple this Saturday, November 3, as pancreatic cancer supporters take to the streets for the annual PurpleStride Tampa Bay 5K run/walk. The Albert Whitted Park event features kids' activities and live entertainment, along with the 5K run, one mile family walk and kids' races. Onsite registrations will be accepted beginning at 6:30 a.m. Saturday or donations may be made at www.purplestride.org. The event is expected to wrap up around noon.
Motorists can expect traffic delays, including possible road closures, along Bayshore Dr. SE and Bayshore Dr. NE from Albert Whitted Park to Fifth Ave. N.E., including along The Pier Approach. While access to The Pier approach will be restricted from 8:30 to approximately 9:15 a.m., there will be no access restrictions to Demen's Landing. West marina residents will be allowed to leave vehicles parked on Bayshore Dr. during the event, however, the vehicles will not be accessible from 6 to 10 a.m.
Bayshore Dr. and The Pier will be cleared of vehicles beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday. No Parking signs will be posted and meters bagged to warn motorists, including those with residential parking permits, to relocate vehicles prior to the event. Residential parking permits do not exempt on-street parkers from citations or towing during special events. Vehicles parked in designated event No Parking' zones will be relocated to spaces off the race course and may incur a citation.
While overall traffic impact for the event should be minimal, congestion may occur around Vinoy Park around 10 a.m. for the start of St. Petersburg's International Folk Festival (SPIFFS). This annual celebration of cultures features a Music Around the World'-theme with ethnic food, live music, dancing, and cultural exhibits from more than 30 countries, as well as the Parade of Nations. Tickets are available at the gate, located at Fifth Ave. NE and Bayshore Blvd. For information and a festival map, visit www.spiffs.org.
SPIFFS attendees are encouraged to park in the BayWalk garage, 117 Second St. N., and ride the trolley to Vinoy Park for only .50 per person. Disabled event parking will be available to the west of the SPIFFS main stage area, directly across from the softball field. Guests with accessibility issues may enter at the volunteer entrance at Seventh Ave. NE and Bayshore Blvd; however, tickets are not available at this entrance.
Suds, crazy costumes and camaraderie take center stage Saturday afternoon when the inaugural Tap N Run 5K pours through St. Petersburg. Participants depart from First Ave. N. and First St. N. at 5 p.m. for a 4K jaunt through downtown and twice around Mirror Lake before heading for the finish line. The event features four strategically-placed beer chug' stations, where participants receive a 3-4 ounce on-course sampling and a live band. All finishers receive a medal which doubles as a bottle-opener and a full pint to quench any residual thirst at a post-event awards party.
The following roads will be closed during the event:
* the northbound lane (east side) of First St. N;
* the eastbound lane (south side) of Third Ave. N;
* the southbound lane of Fifth St. N. at Fourth Ave. N., including the Mirror Lake Library parking lot;
* both lanes of Mirror Lake Dr;
* the eastbound lane (south side) of Third Ave. N;
* the northbound lane of Second St. N; * Second St. N. at First Ave. N.
Uniformed officers will pulse traffic and pedestrians through intersections, the BayWalk garage exit, and Hotel Indigo when it is safe to do so. Event organizers expect all affected roads to reopen to traffic by approximately 7:30 p.m. For more information or to register, visit www.tapnrun.com/stpete.