Sunshine, palm trees and Halloween might sound like an unusual combination, but St. Petersburg knows how to do spooky season.
October brings pumpkins to the waterfront, costumes to Central Avenue and plenty of reasons to swap the beachwear for something a little more frightening. Families can fill their buckets with candy, film fans can settle in for a night of local horror and grown-ups can take Halloween well into the evening.
Planning an October trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast? Here are some of the best Halloween events in St. Petersburg, Florida, to add to your 2026 calendar.
Halloween on Central
When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 12pm–5pm
Where: Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
Best for: Families, costumes, food and a full afternoon out
Halloween on Central is back for 2026, taking over 22 blocks of Central Avenue for one huge, car-free Halloween party.
Running between Dr. MLK Jr. Street and 31st Street, the festival packs nearly two miles with costumes, trick-or-treating, entertainment, local businesses, food, music and plenty of Halloween surprises.
It’s free to attend and designed for all ages, so it’s a strong pick if you’re visiting St. Pete with the kids. Four-legged family members can get involved too, with a dog costume contest giving pups their chance to steal the show.
The Voodoo Vendor Village will also return, bringing more than 150 local makers, artists and small businesses to the stretch of Central Avenue between 16th and 21st Streets.
Costumes are very much encouraged. Subtlety? Less so.
St. Pete Fall Festival
When: Saturday, October 10 – Sunday, October 11, 2026
Where: St. Pete Pier
Best for: Families and younger children
Florida’s version of fall looks a little different. Forget the scarves and grey skies. St. Pete does pumpkin season by the water.
The St. Pete Fall Festival takes over the Pier for a weekend of live music, food and family entertainment. There’ll be a huge Pumpkin Patch packed with autumn photo spots and pumpkins to buy, plus a Kids Zone, bounce areas, magicians, children’s bands and even a Kids Rave.
It’s an easy way to get into the Halloween spirit earlier in October, particularly if you’ve got younger children who might prefer pumpkins and games over anything genuinely scary.
And really, a pumpkin patch next to the Florida waterfront is hard to beat.
Putt the Pier: Fall Pumpkin Edition
When: October 8–25, 2026
Where: St. Pete Pier
Best for: Families, couples and competitive friends
Want to add a little competition to your Halloween plans?
Putt the Pier gets an autumn makeover throughout October, turning St. Pete Pier into a pumpkin-themed mini-golf course complete with hay bales, seasonal decorations, music and waterfront views.
The course runs on selected times between October 8 and 25, with tickets starting at $10 plus taxes and fees on weekdays and $13 plus taxes and fees Friday through Sunday. Children aged three and under can play free with a paying adult.
You can also wander through the Pier’s Pumpkin Patch before or after your round. Entry to the patch is free, so there’s no need to pick up a putter if you’re only there for the pumpkins and photos.
Competitive Halloween costumes during mini-golf are optional. We’d still strongly recommend them.
Monsters & Makers Market
When: Friday, October 9, 2026, 5pm–9pm
Where: Imagine Museum
Best for: Art lovers and anyone who likes their Halloween a little weird
St. Pete’s art scene doesn’t take October off.
Imagine Museum’s Monsters & Makers Market brings Halloween into the galleries with an immersive indoor market filled with artists, makers, costumes and spooky seasonal experiences.
It’s a fun alternative to the bigger outdoor festivals, particularly if your ideal Halloween involves discovering something unusual to take home.
There’s also a Harry Potter Book Day event at Imagine Museum the evening before, on October 8, featuring wizarding activities, trivia, live animals and glass art. Better still, visitors in costume get free admission.
Wand at the ready.
STrange Petersburg Horror Film Fest
When: Friday, October 30, 2026, from 7:30pm
Where: ArtsXchange, 515 22nd Street South
Best for: Horror fans, film lovers and something properly St. Pete
Fancy something a little stranger the night before Halloween?
STrange Petersburg Horror Film Fest brings locally produced horror, sci-fi and experimental short films to the ArtsXchange for an evening of independent cinema, costumes, art, food and suitably spooky atmosphere.
The 2026 event features 15 locally produced short films, alongside artist installations and a costume contest. Family-friendly films will screen first, followed by unrated films later in the evening.
There’s also a Q&A and meet-and-greet with filmmakers and artists after the screenings.
Advance general admission is $15, rising to $20 at the box office on the day, subject to availability.
Haunted Music Festival at St. Pete Pier
When: Friday, October 30 – Saturday, October 31, 2026
Where: St. Pete Pier
Best for: Adults, electronic music fans and Halloween night itself
Once the kids have collected their candy, St. Pete’s Halloween celebrations certainly don’t stop.
Haunted Fest returns to St. Pete Pier across October 30 and 31 for two nights of electronic music right on the waterfront. Expect international headline artists, curated line-ups, a silent disco and a crowd fully committed to Halloween weekend.
Doors open at 5pm on both nights and the event is 18+. Tickets start at $125.
Halloween lands on a Saturday in 2026, so if you’re planning a grown-up weekend in St. Petersburg, this is one to get in the diary early.
AMPED Halloween Costume Party
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6pm–10pm
Where: FloridaRAMA Gallery
Best for: Music lovers and anyone planning a great costume
Got a costume idea that deserves an audience?
FloridaRAMA is closing its AMPED exhibition with a Halloween costume party on October 31, and there’s a musical twist. Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed as their favourite artist, music video or album cover, with group costumes welcome too.
A costume contest will run across several categories, giving you a little extra motivation to go beyond the emergency pair of cat ears.
It’s another option for Halloween night if you fancy art, music and costumes rather than a huge festival.
Is October a Good Time to Visit St. Petersburg, Florida?
We might be biased, but October has plenty going for it. You can still make the most of St. Petersburg’s beaches and outdoor lifestyle, then add pumpkin patches, Halloween festivals, local markets, costumes and late-night events into the mix.
It also gives you the chance to see another side of the city. Central Avenue fills with Halloween celebrations, the Pier gets its autumn makeover and St. Pete’s famously creative side gets suitably spooky.
Pack the sunscreen. Pack the costume. You’ll probably need both.
Make a Halloween Trip of It with Florida Stays
One Halloween event is good. A few days of beaches, pumpkins, great food, St. Pete’s beach sunsets and spooky season plans sound even better.
At our luxury apartment to rent in Florida, we offer a comfortable base for exploring the Gulf Coast so you can spend the day by the water, head into the city for the Halloween action and come back somewhere that feels like your own slice of Florida.
October dates can disappear quickly around popular events and Halloween weekend, so it pays to get your plans sorted early.
Get your Halloween stay locked in and contact our team today.
