St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market Temporarily Moves to Tropicana Field

The St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market will relocate to the Tropicana Field parking lot on Feb. 21 to give construction crews space to set up the Firestone Grand Prix. Vendors will gather in Lot 1, situated west of the stadium along 16th Street South.

Free parking awaits shoppers in Lot 2. Every vendor who participates in the weekly gathering will make the move for this single week.

According to I Love the Burg, the market won't operate on Feb. 28 because of Grand Prix activities. By March 7, the weekly gathering returns to its usual spot by Al Lang Stadium.

Since 2002, the Saturday Morning Market has drawn crowds, becoming one of the largest in the nation. Each week, more than 10,000 people show up to browse and buy.

The winter season stretches from October through May. Hours run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week, with about 100 rotating vendors setting up their stalls.

Shoppers find local farmers selling produce, ready-to-eat goods from more than 15 countries, fresh seafood caught nearby, baked goods still warm from ovens, and other items. Selected local artists and craftsmen display their work while live music plays.

When temperatures climb, the Summer Market moves to Williams Park downtown. This smaller version operates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. between June and September.

The Saturday Morning Market operates as an independent nonprofit. No outside organizations or municipalities sponsor it. Local and national nonprofits receive free booths to share information with the community.