Vinoy Park

The park and the hotel

The park takes its name from the hotel next door, which was built in 1925 as the Vinoy Park Hotel. St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation runs the park, and it stays open all year. The address is 701 Bayshore Drive Northeast, at the north end of the downtown waterfront.

The big weekends

Vinoy Park is best known for multiday festivals rather than single concerts.

• Reggae Rise Up Florida comes to the park in March, from one of the biggest reggae festival brands in the country.
• The Tampa Bay Blues Festival fills three days in April.
• Ribfest, art festivals, triathlons and holiday displays round out the year.

What to bring

There is not much shade on an open waterfront lawn, so plan for sun even in spring.

• Sunscreen, a hat and a refillable bottle if the festival allows one
• A poncho for the afternoon storm that shows up on plenty of spring and summer days
• Shoes you do not mind getting muddy after a rain
• A low chair or blanket, only if your ticket says they are allowed

Festival rules on chairs, bags and coolers change from event to event, so read your ticket before you pack the car.

Getting in and out

Parking is spread across downtown garages, lots and streets, and on festival days it fills early. Arrive before the gates open, or take a rideshare and agree on a pickup spot a few blocks from the park, away from Bayshore Drive. Downtown St. Pete is very walkable, so parking near Central Avenue and strolling north along the water is a fine plan if you have the time.

Reggae lineups are on the reggae calendar, the blues weekend shows up on the jazz and blues calendar, and every downtown date is on the St. Pete page.