Big hammock hangout returns to St. Pete Pier in June

A local hammock company that broke the record for “world’s largest hammock hangout” at the St. Pete Pier is returning with another Hammock Festival next month.

Coast to Coast Hammock Co., founded by a pair of college students, will have food trucks, vendors, live music and plenty of hammock stands set up on the lawn of the Pier approach from 6 to 10 p.m. June 10.

In October, the company launched its Dynamic Hammock by setting a record, previously 125 at one place. They set up 130 hammock stands and also invited partygoers to bring their own.

Tickets are $15 at eventbrite.com, $25 the day of the event, and include six beer samples, hammock seating, music and an after-party at the Floridian Social Club. Food vendors will be there. VIP tickets are $50 and include two additional drinks, an exclusive hammock stand location near the stage and a VIP lounge at the after-party.

The company was started by two University of Tampa students, Sophie Dickerman and Haley Tisone, who met in business class and came up with the idea. They created a 3-in-1 hammock system with a snap-on blanket and an inflatable pillow that transforms into a backpack for easy toting. Their Kickstarter campaign caught on, and they launched it with the Hammock Festival last October.