Get your Halloween costumes and walkin’ boots ready – St. Pete’s biggest street party is ready to take over the town. Halloween on Central is back in St. Pete for 2025, filling up Central Avenue with a gigantic street carnival on Sunday, October 26, from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.
The sprawling celebration, which has become the city’s biggest single-day event, will shut down nearly two miles of Central Avenue to traffic, creating a candy-filled oasis for pedestrians running through the heart of St. Pete. Central Avenue will be closed to cars from MLK Jr Street (9th Street) to 31st Street, transforming the thoroughfare into a massive showcase of all things St. Pete. The streets and sidewalks will be filled with food trucks, performers, artists, local makers and vendors, and neighborhood bars, restaurants and shops showcasing their wares.
St. Pete’s biggest Halloween celebration
Halloween on Central is a family-friendly event and is completely free to attend. PSTA is offering free rides on the SunRunner all day, with multiple stops on 1st Avenue North and South offering easy access to the festivities no matter where you park. Metered parking will also be available at Tropicana Field.
Attendees may use scooters, bikes, and skateboards to commute to this event and along the event route, but are asked to observe a 5 MPH speed limit inside the event.
The streets will be lined with fun from one end to the other, but there are a few areas in particular to keep an eye out for:
Boo-Levard of Play Family Zone: Kid-friendly fun, trick-or-treating, games, entertainment. 2900 Block
Sensory Area: Neurodivergent and stimuli sensitive area with activities, toys, break areas, more. 3000 Central Ave
Kooky Spooky EDGE District – Shopping, entertainment, fun, games, dancing, music. 8th St – 16th St
Voodoo Vendor Village – Sprawling local vendor market (100+ makers) curated by LocalShops1. 1600-2100 Central Ave
Gal-O-Ween: A full block of women-owned businesses, showcasing the best of independent shops and makers. 2500 Block
Of course, half the fun is just strolling through and visiting the booths and shops along the way. It’s a great way to check out all the new shops and restaurants that have opened along Central in the last year, and it’s also an excuse to visit some of your old favorites.
One of our favorite new spots to open on Central this summer is Boujee Pet Boutique, 1626 Central Avenue, which will have its superb array of dog fashion, toys and accessories available to browse. Then, on the west end, we recommend grabbing a little shade courtesy of Par Bar, who will have a tent and chairs with refreshments available on the 2300 Block. Stop by Par Bar proper on 1st Avenue for games, drinks, and NFL action.
All the stores, restaurants and bars along the way go all out for the occasion, so be sure to check in with your favorites to see what fun they have planned. From sales and specials to costume contests and pet-themed activities, there’s something for everyone.
For the businesses involved, Halloween On Central presents an opportunity for EDGE and Grand Central shops and restaurants to welcome people who might not otherwise find their way through the door, providing tremendous exposure to the 125,000+ locals who attend annually.
More information, as well as a full event map, can be found at halloweenoncentral.com.