St. Pete Zine Fest 2025
my experience vending and my haul with links
Last week I went to St. Pete Zine Fest for the second year1 in a row and the first time as a vendor. It was SPZF 2024 that inspired me to get back into zine making, so it felt like a full-circle moment for me. I met a ton of amazing people and zinesters and had an absolutely wonderful time.
Some things that worked well:
greeting card display for zines worked just fine
having one table copy of each zine for people to flip through on the front of the table and then nice copies in the display was great
people like zines with cats on them
Some notes to self for next time:
bring more stickers (and get a sticker display/rack)
bring more postcards
bring a freebie zine/swap bin
make discounted zine bundles
advertise being open to swaps!
have some sort of cute freebie everyone can take
Zine Haul
Below are the zines I picked up from St. Pete Zine Fest 2025 either through swaps or by purchasing them. Some are available online but some can only be procured in person. Whatever information was in the zine I provided below.
Welcome to the Zine Zone by al
Zine by al who works at the Jacksonville Public Library on their zine collection and made a zine about zines, and many of the zines in this zines are about zines. Zines all the way down!
email welcometothezinezone@gmail.com
Time Should Wait by Abby Kauff
A full color zine printed in cream and two shades of blue featuring illustrations of everyday scenes such as a window, flower, cat, desk, etc.
Contact via their Etsy
Tampa Bay Shelling Guide by Sara Rocks
A riso printed zine about collecting shells in the Tampa Bay area complete with beachcombing bingo on the back. Riso print and available in several colors though I got the pink ink on cream version.
Instagram @shangrila.shell $7 via DM
Sketchbook Zine and Sketchbook Zine 3 by Anahi
I swapped for these two full color sketchbook zines and they’ve just chaotic fun.
Available Online $15 and $12 respectively
Sapphic Wisdoms from the Sea: An Oracle Zine by Sara Rocks
This zine is riso printed and has a lovely pink and blue whale design on the covers. Inside you pick and number and find out your fortune!
Instagram @sara_the_sprout
Rape Diary by Buddy Ulargkaya
A collection of calligraphic poetry, writing, and art about sexual assault. A deeply personal and striking zine.
Instagram @kibetine
Punk Bubblegum: a Riot Grrrl Zine Volume 2 by Paige Daniel
This zine is a collection on contributions from non-conforming artists who each submitted one page as well as an interview with Bratakus. Eclectic with an old school, 90s zine feel.
Love Will Break Your Art by Cymone Lachelle
Cymone was my table neighbor at the event and I picked up a copy of her poetry zine. It’s described as “Exploring family and love unveils a profound connection between these foundational aspects of our lives and how we perceive ourselves and express through art.”
Advice for My Younger Self by Kaitlin Crockett
Riso zine featuring text illustrations and photos of the author. Kaitlin runs Print St. Pete but I can’t find a place where she sells her zines online.
Third year if you count the St. Pete Zine Fest I went to 20 years ago that seems to have disappeared from the historical record.