Registration opens for 44th St. Anthony’s Triathlon
ST. PETERSBURG — Registration is now open for the 44th St. Anthony’s Triathlon, powered by BayCare, the weekend of April 23-25, 2027.
Events for individual athletes and relay teams will include the Olympic, Sprint and Meek & Mighty triathlons. All who register by June 22 will receive the lowest price of the season.
“This is one of my favorite times of the year as both a participant and as part of organizing our weekend event,” said BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital President Scott Smith. “I look forward to registering and getting the race on my calendar. We welcome athletes in our community, from around the country and around the world to be a part of our 44th Triathlon.”
The three-day St. Anthony’s Triathlon weekend includes:
• The Olympic-Distance Triathlon, set for Sunday, April 25, is known for its talented professional field.
• The Sprint Triathlon, also on April 25, features shorter distances than the Olympic-distance race along the same course.
• The Meek & Mighty Triathlon, on Saturday, April 24, is a race for novice adults and children who are new to the sport of triathlon. The pool swim kicks off the race, which finishes with a bike ride and run around downtown St. Petersburg.
Sunday events are scheduled to feature a swim in Tampa Bay; a bike ride that takes athletes by high-rise buildings and into quiet neighborhoods that bustle with excitement as athletes whiz by; and a run through one of St. Petersburg’s oldest neighborhoods.
The weekend also includes the St. Anthony’s Triathlon Sports & Fitness Expo, a showcase of the latest equipment for multisport athletes, workshops for athletes to prepare for the events and information tables featuring various St. Anthony’s Hospital and BayCare services.
For more information about the events, visit SATriathlon.com. Athletes and fans can be a part of the conversation on social media at the St. Anthony’s Triathlon Facebook page and Instagram page using #StAnthonysTri and #FindYourFinishLine.
Backyard Boogie on the Deuces to mark Juneteenth
ST PETERSBURG — The community is invited to celebrate Juneteenth at the Juneteenth Backyard Boogie on the Deuces, a free family-friendly event taking place on Friday, June 19, from 4-10 p.m. in the heart of the historic Deuces District.
Hosted by Saturday Shoppes, Inc., the celebration will honor the rich history and cultural significance of Juneteenth while bringing together residents, families, visitors, and local businesses for an evening of entertainment, fellowship, and fun. Among a variety of activities, attendees can enjoy live entertainment and performances, Spades tournaments, music and dancing, and local vendors and exhibitors
Admission is free, and free parking will be available for all attendees. Organizers encourage everyone to bring their lawn chairs, invite their friends and family, and enjoy an unforgettable evening on the historic Deuces.
The event will take place at 2184 Ninth Ave. S.
Housing agency lauds Lowe’s for revitalizing garden
ST. PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg Housing Authority says it is grateful for the support of Lowe’s Home Improvement in helping revitalize the Jordan Park Community Garden.
Working with SPHA, the team from the St. Petersburg Lowe’s store, located at 2365 25th St. N, is contributing time, materials, and expertise to improve the community garden for families and seniors living in Jordan Park. SPHA would like to recognize Anthony Ziller, department manager at Lowe’s, for his leadership and assistance with the project.
As part of the garden revitalization effort, Lowe’s is helping to:
• Repair garden beds
• Restore water irrigation systems
• Donate soil and mulch
• Sponsor new plants for the garden
• Remove weeds throughout the garden
• Install new solar-powered lighting
These improvements are enhancing the functionality of the Jordan Park Community Garden and helping create a more welcoming space for residents to gather, garden, and enjoy the outdoors, SPHA said.
The Housing Authority said it is also exploring future gardening workshops for Jordan Park family and senior residents to encourage continued engagement, gardening education, and long-term stewardship of the community garden.
“Lowe’s continues to demonstrate its commitment to community engagement through this revitalization effort at the Jordan Park Community Garden,” said Michael Lundy, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. “We are grateful for their partnership and for the dedication of the Lowe’s team members who are helping enhance this community resource for our residents.”
PGA TOUR Superstore to open St. Pete store this week
ST. PETERSBURG — PGA TOUR Superstore, a Florida destination for golf equipment, apparel and accessories, will open its new St. Petersburg location June 13 in the former Bealls space in Crosswinds Shopping Center, 2020 66th St.
The 29,600-square-foot facility will offer interactive simulators, giving visitors the chance practice their game and test out the latest gear. Golfers of all skill levels can also take advantage of lessons from certified teaching professionals, alongside comprehensive club fitting and repair services.
Beyond equipment, the retailer says it brings an extensive selection of apparel that capture high-performance needs, sun protection and resort-style living. Featuring trusted golf brands and new modern classics, the store offers versatile styles designed to move seamlessly from the fairways to downtown Central Avenue.
“At our new PGA TOUR Superstore St. Petersburg and all of our locations, the difference is our team of knowledgeable professionals providing an unmatched in-store experience,” said Troy Rice, CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore. “From lessons and club fittings to repairs and state-of-the-art simulators, we offer golfers access to top-tier expertise, equipment and apparel with the goal of helping golfers of all skill levels improve their game and enjoy the sport even more.”
St. Pete picks students for Takamatsu ambassadors, marks 38-year cultural exchange
ST. PETERSBURG — The city of St. Petersburg and its sister city, Takamatsu, Japan, have announced this year’s Takamatsu Student Ambassadors. Continuing a tradition that began in 1988, three pairs of students will swap cities, countries, and families, living in each other’s homes this summer.
Rising seniors Ella Brittingham (Northeast High School), Elise Chandler (St. Petersburg High School), and Cole Landers (St. Petersburg High School) were selected to represent St. Petersburg in Takamatsu this summer.
Selected students will travel from St. Petersburg to Takamatsu in early July and attend high school classes for two days while staying with their host families. Students traveling from Takamatsu to St. Petersburg in early August will also live with the families of the students they host. The students will spend nearly two weeks together in Japan and nearly 10 days together in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg’s student ambassadors will make a presentation about St. Petersburg to Takamatsu Mayor Hideto Onishi and the City Council. The students will visit temples and other important sites and learn about Japanese culture and family life. Japanese students will deliver presentations to St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch, St. Petersburg City Council, and St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce during their stay. They will visit St. Petersburg’s museums and cultural institutions and explore the differences and similarities between the two cultures.
In 1961, St. Petersburg and Takamatsu were among the first pairs of cities in Florida and Japan to form a sister city relationship. Sending rising high school seniors to Takamatsu has been a popular, long-running program. All high school juniors who live in St. Petersburg are eligible to apply.
Vertical Ventures climbing team marks championship season, national qualifiers
ST. PETERSBURG — Vertical Ventures’ youth climbing team, the Vanguards, is concluding one of the strongest seasons in program history, highlighted by a regional champion, a divisional champion, and two national championship qualifiers.
Among this season’s standout performances:
• Annabelle Ciubotaru (U13) earned first place at USA Climbing Rope Divisionals.
• Roman Poulos (U11) captured first place at both Rope and Boulder Regionals.
Because of USA Climbing age eligibility rules, both athletes are too young to advance to National Championships.
The Vanguards will also send two athletes to the 2026 USA Climbing National Championships:
• Ryan Parilla (U20) qualified for Nationals during his final youth competition season after nearly a decade climbing at Vertical Ventures.
• Abigail Angell (U15) qualified for Nationals in both Rope and Boulder disciplines following an exceptional season across multiple competition formats.
Rowdies v Louisville to air on ESPN2
ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Aug. 1 home match against Louisville City FC will now air exclusively on ESPN2 as part of the USL Championship’s slate of nationally broadcast matches, the club has announced.
To accommodate the move to ESPN2, the kickoff time for the match at Al Lang Stadium has been moved to 8 p.m. ET.
The Aug. 1 contest will be the second regular season meeting between the Rowdies and Louisville. The Rowdies recently defeated Louisville 2-0 at Lynn Family Stadium to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference standings as the only undefeated team left in the USL Championship.
The Rowdies will also celebrate the club’s first Halfway to Gasparilla Night on Aug. 1. To mark the occasion, the club will give away free Rowdies Gasparilla beads to all fans in attendance and invite fans onto the field following the final whistle to view a post-match fireworks show. Fans can also secure a ticket for the match and an exclusive Rowdies bandana with a Halfway to Gasparilla ticket package. Fans can purchase a Halfway to Gasparilla ticket package by visiting rowdiessoccer.com/theme-nights.