ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Hundreds of local businesses across St. Petersburg participated in Localtopia 2025.

Some business owners said they have been waiting for this day since the hurricanes hit because, for some of them, it is their biggest sales day of the year.

Businesses hoped this year’s Localtopia would be their saving grace following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“The hurricanes were really rough for us, our busy season is in October and November, so most of the events then got canceled. We’re usually doing 30 to 40 events during those months, but we were down to one or two. So, Localtopia is our hope to kind of bring everything back,” said Justin Ruzinok.

Justin Ruzinok, his wife, and their children have had their business, “Munchies Kettle Korn,” for three years. He said their home and neighborhood were flooded, and now everyone is trying to put the pieces back together.

“Disparity is kind of all over the place. So, we have other small businesses that are inside the market, and vendors, we are all just trying to help each other out at the moment. It’s week by week,” Ruzinok said.

Organizers said the theme for this year is to let local thrive in 2025.

“For many of them, they’re telling us whether we stay in business or not depends on how we do today,” said Les Lloyd, the manager for the event.

“Save your faves this year, because we may lose them. If you don’t buy local, it’s bye-bye local this year,” said Olga Bof, Founder of Keep St. Petersburg Local.

Those who showed up Saturday to support said the time is now to come out and spend your dollars helping a local business.

“If we don’t come out and we don’t support our community, if we don’t continue to pour into these businesses, then essentially they won’t be able to thrive and won’t be around for long,” customer Justin Miller said. “With everything that’s going on in St. Petersburg right now, it’s really important that we come out and support each other.”

“The fabric of our community is local businesses, entrepreneurship. I grew up in a local business, so I understand that without a local business, the community crumbles,” customer Derek Cooper added.

Whether visitors purchased items or spent time talking to a business owner, they said it all goes a long way. Organizers want to emphasize the importance of supporting local every day, not just at Localtopia.