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Planners keep weekend clash-free

By MARY JANE PARK
Published April 9, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Hundreds of runners, the governor, 10 marching bands and various dignitaries will draw thousands of people to the St. Petersburg waterfront on Friday. A musical featuring carnivorous plants will attract even more.

The main events: a 5K race, the annual Festival of States Illuminated Night Parade and the opening gala for American Stage in the Park's production of Little Shop of Horrors.

A cultural smackdown on Friday the 13th?

"It's an embarrassment of riches," said Don Shea, president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

He said event planners aren't worried that the intersecting events will clash.

"This was all coordinated like a NASA space launch, all the way back to November," Shea said. "This sort of juxtaposition ... can be managed."

The gala will start a bit earlier than usual, and intermission should begin around the time parade participants make a northeast turn, away from Demens Landing, Shea said.

Festival fireworks should begin right around the final curtain for Horrors.

On Saturday, officials from Signature Place will entertain 170 condominium buyers at a VIP cocktail party in Demens Landing before the American Stage production. Foreigner will perform with opening guest Eddie Money in Vinoy Park, the Flaming Lips are the headliners at Jannus Landing downtown and the Florida Orchestra has a Masterworks concert at the Mahaffey Theater a little farther south.

Traffic will be a concern both nights, and there may be some spillover noise. Different routes can be taken to the parade staging area and Demens Landing, for example.

[Last modified April 9, 2007, 01:19:51]