Here is your South Pinellas Halloween Guide for 2025! Grand Central District’s Halloween on Central takes place Oct. 26 and has a new family-friendly Boo-levard of Play with face painting, balloon art, and a foam party.
Photo courtesy of the Grand Central District
Halloween lovers, it’s go time! The Gabber Newspaper curated a South Pinellas Halloween guide with all the fang-tastic fun of the season.
Haunted Houses, Frightening Festivals, and Alarming AttractionsIn Gulfport:
8th Annual Gulfport Witches Walk & Dance Get witchy and join the coven for this all day event meant to support local small businesses. It culminates in a parade and dance. The parade kicks off at 6:15 p.m. at Stella’s (2914 Beach Blvd. S.) and the dance starts at 6:30 p.m. at Neptune Grill (5501 Shore Blvd. S.). The party continues from 7-10 p.m. with live music at The North End Taphouse & Kitchen (2908 1/2 Beach Blvd. S.). At 8 p.m., there is a Halloween Drag Show at Alphabet Soup (2321 49th St. S.). Beach Boulevard, Gulfport. Oct. 25: 7 a.m.-midnight. facebook.com/events/1803527103596605.
In St. Pete/Largo:
Fearville Not for the faint of heart, this nighttime event transforms an otherwise peaceful farm in Largo into a waking nightmare. There are varying intensity levels at the three attractions, which include Eden’s Grove (3 skulls), the Hallows Hayride (2 skulls) and The Garden’s Grave (1 skull). Expect wandering scare actors, and a mechanical bull. Although all ages are welcome, Fearville is intended for mature audiences. DK Farms & Gardens, Lake Ave. SE, Largo. Oct. 17-18, 24-25, & 31: 7-10 p.m. $27-62. dkfarmsandgardens.com.
Halloween on Central Now in its fifth year, this massive street festival takes over the Edge and Grand Central Districts in downtown St. Petersburg. Folks dressed in costumes roam 22 car-free blocks to encounter live music and entertainment, haunted houses, and a car show at the Imagine Museum, because why not? New this year is the family-friendly Boo-levard of Play at 2801 Central Ave., with face painting, balloon art, a foam party and “kid entrepreneurs.” Central Avenue from 9th to 31st Streets, St. Petersburg. Oct. 26: 12-5 p.m. Free. grandcentraldistrict.org, 727-828-7006.
Halloween Mega Night Market This event by Friday Night Street Food Market brings all the yummy goodness of more than 80 street food vendors but with all the Halloween vibes. The three-day festival features a haunted house, live animatronics, rides, pumpkin painting, fire dancers, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest (top prize: $300) and a pumpkin pie-eating contest. Win! Derby Poker Room, 10490 Gandy Blvd., St. Petersburg. Oct. 24-26: Fri., 5-11 p.m.; Sat., 12-11 p.m.; Sun., 12-9 p.m. Free entry and parking. meganightmarket.com, 727-692-0289.
Worth the Drive:
An Eerie Evening at the Tampa Bay Hotel This worth-the drive event in Tampa turns the Henry B. Plant Museum into a Victorian-era Gilded Age hotel, replete with Halloween traditions of times past. Meet the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe, solve a mystery and view a collection of late 19th-century horror movies. Macabre items from both the museum’s collection and Ybor oddity shop, Dysfunctional Grace, will be on display. Inside the Cabinet of Curiosities, see items from the era like a mourning wreath, made from human hair. Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Oct. 24-29 & 29-31: 6-9 p.m. $25. plantmuseum.com, 813-254-1891.
Elizabeth Hendricks smiles for the camera while heading to Gulfport Beach as part of the Witches of Gulfport Walk in 2021.
Photo by Abby BakerLittle Creatures and Freaky Families
St. Pete Pier Pumpkin Patch Get into the fall spirit and pick a pumpkin amid displays of haystacks. St. Pete Pier’s Family Park, 600 2nd Ave. SE., St. Petersburg. Oct. 17-19: Fri., 5-9 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. stpetepier.org.
Haunted Swamp Hike Costumes are encouraged at this family-friendly event at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, presented by St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation. Expect “playful frights” and Halloween fun on the trail. Registration is required. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg. Oct. 24: 7:30, 8, & 8:30 p.m. $10. stpeteparksrec.org.
Dress up your pup and enter them in the St. Pete Pier’s pet costume contest on Oct. 25.
Photo by Abby Baker
Costumed Dog Parade Dress up your pup and enter the parade and costume contest on the St. Pete Pier. Bring pet food for the drive benefiting Friends of Strays. It’s $10 to enter your pet, but free to attend the event. St. Pete Pier’s Family Park, 600 2nd Ave. SE, St. Petersburg. Oct. 25: 2-7 p.m.; Parade begins at 4 p.m. stpetedogparade.com.
Field of Screams The City of Seminole’s Recreation Department hosts Field of Screams. This features trick-or-treating, a costume contest, pumpkin-carving contest, bounce house, knockerball, human foosball and food and tricks. Seminole Recreation Center 9100 113th St. N., Seminole. Oct. 24: 6-9 p.m. Free; $7 activity band. myseminole.com. 727-391-0204.
Halloween in Treasure Island Little ghouls and goblins are invited to dress up and enter the costume contest at 7 p.m., interactive entertainers, a bounce house and trick-or-treating. Treasure Island Community Center, 154 106th Ave., Treasure Island. Oct. 24: 6-9 p.m. Free. mytreasureisland.org, 727-547-4575.
[Read more below]A South Pinellas Halloween Guide for 2025Looking for more things to do in St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and the beaches? Check out The Gabber Newspaper’s full calendar of events.
Pumpkin Fest 2025 Head to the Florida Botanical Gardens’ Majeed Discovery Garden for pumpkin carving and painting, a scavenger hunt, cake walk, games, and a scarecrow contest. Food trucks serving fall treats will be on site. Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. Oct. 25: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; pumpkins are $10. flbgfoundation.org, 727-753-7840.
Barktoberfest Celebrate your four-legged friends with a costume contest, adoptable pets, live music, food and drinks and local vendors. John Morroni Memorial Dog Park, 11650 Capri Circle S., Treasure Island. Oct. 26: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. mytreasureisland.org.
Halloween Trunk or Treat This event on Corey Avenue is on Halloween night. From 5-6:30 p.m., characters lining the block will hand out candy to trick-or-treaters of all ages. Things take a turn to the more adult side from 6-9 p.m. with a performance by local band Stormbringer and a costume contest. Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach. Oct. 31: 5-9 p.m. coreyave.com.
Halloween Bash On Halloween night, the City of Gulfport is hosting a Halloween Bash. There will be trunk-or-treating, games, music, and a costume contest. Gulfport Recreation Center, 5730 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport. Oct. 31: 7-9 p.m. Free. mygulfport.us, 727-893-1068.
Head to the Florida Botanical Gardens’ Majeed Discovery Garden for pumpkin carving on Oct. 25.
Photo courtesy of Florida Botanical GardensParties and Bar Crawls
Slay the Sunset This pop-up Halloween event with St. Pete Pride at Hotel Zamora’s rooftop space offers killer views, photo ops, a themed menu, one free glass of house wine, and free valet parking. Arrive from 4-6 p.m. for happy hour with $6 Titos. 21 and older only. The Hotel Zamora, 3701 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Oct. 21: 6-8 p.m. Free. thehotelzamora.com, 727-456-8900.
Boos and Booze Halloween Bar Crawl Don your costume and crawl through six spots in downtown St. Pete, including Dublin Drop, Pelican Pub, and Thirsty First (where the afterparty happens). Enter the costume contest for cash prizes. Tickets include two free shots and drink specials. Downtown St. Petersburg. Oct. 25: 4-10 p.m. $19.99; deal breaks on groups. barcrawlusa.com.
[Read more below]Arts All Around!
The Gabber Newspaper covers live theater and art across South Pinellas. And, when we find something worth the drive, we cover art in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas.
Macabre Movies
October Movies at The Beach Theatre The recently reopened theater has a full lineup of Halloween-y movies this month. Even though the month’s halfway done, the $30 October movie pass is still a good deal if you want to have a mini Halloween film festival. Here’s the lineup: Nosferatu (Oct. 16-17); The Goonies (Oct. 18-19); Night of the Living Dead (Oct. 23); The Substance (Oct. 24-25); D(e)AD (Oct. 26); Lisa Frankenstein (Oct. 28); Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Oct. 29); Psycho (Oct. 29); and Ghostbusters (Oct. 30). The Beach Theatre, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach. thebeachtheatre.org, 727-340-2866.
Rocky Horror Picture Show in Largo It’s the 50th anniversary of the cult classic, and it’s being celebrated at several venues in South Pinellas. There will be a screening and live shadow cast performance in Largo. The audience is encouraged to dress up and expect to participate. Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Dr., Largo. Oct. 26: 7-9 p.m. $20. largoarts.com, 727-587-6793.
Rocky Horror Picture Show in Pinellas Park It’s the 50th anniversary of the cult classic, and it’s being celebrated at several venues in South Pinellas. The German-American Friendship Society of Pinellas County is screening it on its outdoor 24-foot screen for some post-Halloween fun. German-American Society, 8098 66th St. N., Pinellas Park. Nov. 1: 6-10 p.m. Free. germantampabay.com, 727-350-6520.
Thrilling Theater and Chilling Concerts
Deathtrap Opening Oct. 24, freeFall Theatre’s production of Ira Levin’s (author of Rosemary’s Baby) is sure to cause some thrills. Artistic director Eric Davis plays a successful writer of Broadway thrillers who’s grappling with writer’s block, until a young student’s script lands on his desk. freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Through Dec 7: $55. freefalltheatre.com, 727-498-5205.
Haunted Halls The Florida Orchestra’s Halloween concert sees musicians in full costumes performing music from Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” and more. Guests are encouraged to dress up, arrive early for music games and try out some wicked tunes on eerie instruments. Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg. Oct. 26: 2 p.m. $20-30. floridaorchestra.org, 727-892-3331.
A Little Hocus Pocus This drag tribute show features the Tampa Bay Sanderson Sisters as they present songs and scenes to the popular films, Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2. The event includes a costume contest and trivia with the sisters. The show is intended for mature audiences. freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Oct. 29: 7 p.m. freefalltheatre.com, 727-498-5205.
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