Long weekend incoming! I know it’s only been a couple weeks since the holidays, but boy am I ready. We’ve got some great events to fill up the weekend: taco festivals, kite festivals, boat shows, and the MLK weekend and parade events!

Let’s dive in.

The votes are in, and it looks like we’ve got a pretty clear consensus! 95% of responders said “Count me in” on the dinner club idea. That’s clear enough to me—I’ll be getting to work on this right away!

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback—here’s some high-level answers to your questions.

More details to come once we have a date and sign-ups open! If you have any questions before then, feel free to reply to this email!

I shared about this hidden gem back when it reopened for the season, but here’s your reminder to go check out TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center now that we’re in peak season!

Because of the warm water circulated into the bay by the power plant, the manatees congregate outside in the colder months to keep warm. You can see hundreds to THOUSANDS of them hanging out at the state and federally designated sanctuary. There are also other activities like a ray touch tank, walking trails, and education building.

It’s free to visit daily from 10am-5pm starting November 1 through April 15 at 6990 Dickman Rd., Apollo Beach, FL 33572.

See the manatees.

Mama Duck, the world’s largest rubber duck, has made her way to Coachman Park in Clearwater. She is a six-story tall inflatable duck, and her 10ft tall baby Timmy made the trek with her.

Along with the public art piece, there are various events happening throughout the rest of the month including a duck birthday bash, movie night, and Jeep Festival.

If you’re a lover of gigantic art and/or rubber ducks, be sure to head up to check it out. The specific events are in the events section below or you can learn more here.

This year is St. Pete’s 39th Annual MLK parade to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. The MLK Power of a Dream Parade is on Monday the 19th at 11am and will feature bands from across the nation!

To see the parade route and learn more about the events happening throughout the weekend, click here.

In case you need to get around downtown, here’s a heads up on the road closures happening Monday.

Starting Monday at 8am for parade setup:
🚧 Central Ave., from Bayshore Dr. to Beach Dr.
🚧 1st Ave. S, from 3rd St. S to Bayshore Dr. SE
🚧 Bayshore Dr. SE, from Central Ave. to 5th Ave. S
🚧 1st St. from 1st Ave. S to 4th Ave. S

Starting Monday at 10:30am for the parade route:
🚧 1st Ave. S, from 3rd St. S to 16th St. S
🚧 16th St. S, from Central Ave. to 5th Ave. S
🚧 1st Ave. S, from 16th St. S to 20th St. S
🚧 3rd Ave. S, from 16th St. S to 19th St. S

Looking to hit your 2026 reading goals and make some new friends? The St. Pete Library system has some great free book clubs for tons of different genres. Here’s what’s on calendar for February.

You can find these and more library events here: keep reading.

Want to spread the word about your business, a project you’re working on, an exciting event, a hiring opportunity, or just want to say hi to thousands of neighbors?

DOODLE TEE: Hand drawn and screen printed right here in St. Pete in collaboration with local print company Sick Dope Fresh. Available as both a crop top and t-shirt. Get yours before they’re gone.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Adopt Pete the dog or Hobo the cat.

FLIGHT DEAL: Fly out of St. Pete direct Key West from Jan 25-31. Only $86 round trip for an hour flight. You deserve this—treat yourself to a trip and avoid that drive!

‘BURG ABODES: 1920s Spanish Architecture. $500,000 | 3bd 2ba | 1,411 sqft. Beautiful tile, open layout, courtyard, covered porch, and rooftop terrace.

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE - Painting

St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show | Albert Whitted Park | Jan 15-18 | hours vary | $24 🎟️

Whether you’re in the market for a sleek new cruiser, a classic sailboat, or just want to daydream about that yacht life, check out the largest boat show on the Gulf Coast.

See hundreds of boats, a massive 40,000-square-foot tent packed with marine gear and gadgets, free Kids Fishing Clinics with Captain Don Dingman (Hook the Future) on Saturday and Sunday, and on-water training courses for the grown-ups who want to brush up on their skills.

Pro Tip: There’s no box office on-site, so be sure to snag your digital tickets before you head down to the waterfront!

Treasure Island Kite Festival | Treasure Island Beach | Jan 16-19 | 10am-5pm | Free

Get ready to look up! Head to the beach behind the Thunderbird Resort on Treasure Island to see giant marine life kites and gravity-defying sport demos. It’s completely free, so pack a cooler, grab a spot on the sand, and enjoy the show.

Pro Tip: Parking on TI gets tight! We recommend hopping on the SunRunner or arriving early to snag a spot. Don't forget your shades—you'll be looking up a lot!

St. Pete Tacos & Tequila Fest | Vinoy Park | Jan 17-18 | 12-8pm | $0-$39

This two-day waterfront fiesta features over 30 food vendors dishing out 100+ types of tacos, from authentic street style to wild fusion creations.

You can sip on craft margaritas and palomas while catching live music from headliners like Phillip Phillips (Saturday) and local favorites The Ries Brothers (Sunday). Plus, where else can you watch Lucha Libre wrestling while standing on the waterfront?

Pro Tip: Want to save your cash for more tacos? General Admission is FREE if you enter before 2pm—you just have to RSVP online first! If you're arriving later, grab your tickets in advance to save a few bucks off the gate price.

Napa to Napoli Antinori Wine Dinner | Birch & Vine | Jan 15, 6-9pm | $128 🎟️

The Coral Reefer Band at The Mahaffey | Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater | Jan 15, 8pm | $100+ 🎟️

MANIA: The ABBA Tribute | Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater | Jan 16, 7:30pm | $30+ 🎟️

Movies on the Pier: How to Train Your Dragon | St. Pete Pier | Jan 16, 6:30pm | Free - $30

Rubber Ducky's Birthday Bash Concert | Coachman Park | Jan 17, 10am-2pm | Free

Mezzo Market | Intermezzo | Jan 17, 11a-4p | Free

Meet a Mangrove Walk | Fort De Soto Park (Shelter 1 on North Beach) | Jan 18, 1-1:45pm | Free

MAACM Sunday Film Series: The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing | Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement | Jan 18, 2-4pm | Free with Admission 🎟️

39th Annual St. Pete MLK Parade | 1st Ave S | Jan 19, 11am-2pm | Free

Lunar Market | Golden Isles Brewing Co | Jan 19, 5-9pm | Free

Dance Social with Pankaj Gupta | Imagine Museum | Jan 20, 5:30-7:30pm | Free - $10 🎟️

Beer Garden Movie Night: The Goonies | Green Bench Brewing | Jan 21, 7-10pm | Free

Movie Night: The Replacements & Varsity Blues | Lost & Found | Jan 21, 7pm | Free

Want to see events beyond the next week? Use the guide below.

Looking for details on markets this week?

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Thanks so much for reading! As always, you can reply directly to this email with any feedback.

Stay Sunny,
Josh