ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Despite a windy and chilly Friday morning, businesses setting up in Vinoy Park hope Saturday will turn up the heat in more ways than one.
“Tomorrow afternoon around 11:00am, you won’t be able to see across the sidewalk,” said Susie Going.
Vendors spent the day preparing for a big weekend at Shopapalooza in St. Pete.
That’s where Tampa Bay 28 met Going, owner of “Oh 4 Succ’s Sake."
“We do succulent arrangements in unique containers,” she said.
Going explained just how important Small Business Saturday is to them.
"It’s not some big corporate company, mega millionaire that you’re supporting,” said Going. "You’re supporting your neighbors, your friends, all of your local people that you live and see every day.”
By the look of years past, Shopapalooza is sure to draw a big crowd.
"We have around 350 vendors, all local in the greater Tampa Bay area, and we expect to have a really beautiful weekend with up to 20,000 shoppers,” said Jamie McWade, the Event Coordinator for Shopapalooza.
McWade thinks now more than ever supporting local mom and pop shops is so important.
"I think supporting everyone that’s out here with all these unique goods is just a really great way to give back and also to find something fun and different than you would find in a big box store,” said McWade.
Just down the lawn, Tampa Bay 28 met local artist Alyssa Marie with Alyssa Marie Gallery.
"I will be selling my prints, my notecards, some stained glass, and I’ll also be facilitating a paint by number activity that everybody can participate in,” said Marie.
Businesses are encouraging the community to come out all weekend and shop small.
"We work so hard to make the products that we make and share them with our community, so to have an event that brings tens of thousands of people to come out and support these businesses, it keeps us alive. It keeps us going,” said Marie.
Shopapalooza is a two-day event from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, Nov. 30 at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Pete.
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