The Festivals of Speed will return to St. Petersburg March 30th through April 1st marking their 9th year of bringing the world’s most exotic automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, watercraft, and the best in luxury lifestyle to the Tampa Bay area. Throughout this anticipated weekend, a rare showcase of vintage and contemporary automotive design, custom-created motorcycles, and high performance boats and yachts will be set amongst lavish receptions, fine wine and spirits tastings, world class entertainment, and more leading up to the large-scale main event on the beautiful St. Petersburg waterfront Sunday.

The weekend will commence with the Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port Reception set for March 30th. Guests enjoy vibrant cocktails from a premium brands open bar and indulge in sumptuous, themed food displays while experiencing the world’s most exotic vehicles in an actual aircraft hangar at Tampa International Airport. As for entertainment, a one-of-a kind, high-energy jazz orchestra will perform featuring some of the best entertainers and musicians the industry has to offer. A live and silent auction will benefit charity.

Continuing to Saturday, March 31st the Florida Powerboat Club will hold their annual Tampa Bay Poker Run in conjunction with the Festivals of Speed St. Petersburg. As members embark from the Renaissance Vinoy Marina, spectators can expect to see a display of several dozen sleek high-performance watercrafts. This multimillion dollar display will include several boats with capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph. Also on Saturday, the Festivals of Speed will be operating VIP Ride and Drives, specialty vehicle displays, and an exclusive Wine Connoisseur’s reception featuring the signature wines of the weekend which include Adobe Road, Opus One, Cakebread, and Meiomi.
The main event sponsored by Bert Smith Porsche on

Sunday, April 1st will be held in Downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront and The Renaissance Vinoy Marina. Among many other unique vehicles, attendees will experience automotive designs by Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, Aston-Martin, BMW, Mercedes, McLaren, and more and while encountering fine wines, exciting culinary offerings, robust cigars, smooth jazz, and luxury lifestyle displays featuring fine jewelry and timepieces. Guests who appreciate the VIP lifestyle can purchase tickets to a beautiful pavilion lounge to indulge in an array of fine foods and premium alcohol. In past years, the Festivals of Speed has drawn numbers of well over 10,000 attendees and 300 collector vehicles to St. Petersburg. For the 2012 return, organizers have promised an even larger and more exciting display.

Tickets for the Festivals of Speed St. Petersburg receptions and Sunday main event VIP Pavilion can be purchased in advance at www.festivalsofspeed.com or by calling 352-385-9450. Sunday main event general admission tickets, are available either online or onsite April 1st. Festivals of Speed has a room block set up at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, which can reserved by calling Marriott reservations at 1 (800) HOTELS-1.
About