Home » Alternative tourism » Taste Of The North Festival Ignites Florida’s Waterfront With A Dazzling Holiday Beach Spectacle

Published on
December 11, 2025

This December, the beautiful waterfront of St. Petersburg will be changed into a festive scene as the first A Taste of the North Festival will take place at Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier on December 19-20, 2025, inviting tourists to enjoy the rare mixture of northern winter beauty and Florida’s beach warmth. Located in the center of the Pier District, which is twenty-six acres in size, the festival is expected to bring a whole weekend of live music, beachside fun, comfort food, craft cocktails and sand-sculpting artistry, all of which will take place around the shining waters of Tampa Bay.

What to Expect: Food, Fun, Music and Sand SculpturesComfort Food and Holiday Cocktails

More than 15 local vendors will serve up northern comfort foods, giving festival-goers a taste of cozy winter classics only a short walk from the Gulf shore. Alongside the food, there will be specialty holiday cocktails, local craft beers and a double-decker cocktail bar for VIP ticket-holders. Organisers have hinted that the drinks will evoke festive winter traditions, while guests take in the salty sea breeze.

Sand Sculpting and Beachside Creativity

A major draw will be the live sand-sculpting demonstrations by professional sculptors from Sandtastic, who will be at work all weekend transforming the beach into a winter-themed sand wonderland. Meanwhile, an amateur sand sculpture competition invites community teams to build their own festive creations with free registration (pre-registration ends 17 December). Local organisers have described it as holiday cheer meets beachside creativity.

Activities for All Ages

During the daytime, the festival will be family-friendly with an inflatable kids’ fun zone, seasonal games (including Grinch Games), live mural painting, and even photos with Santa dressed beach-style, of course. As evening falls, the vibe switches to festive celebration: lights, decorations, music, cocktails, and a charity toy drive to spread some holiday goodwill. The event will also be dog-friendly.

Live Music Lineup: Blues, Funk, Country and High-Energy Bands

Over the two days, the festival will host a dynamic mix of music styles:

Friday, 19 December (4 PM–10 PM):Displace — a saxophone-driven funk fusion ensemble (5:00–7:15 PM).Spazmatics — an energetic 1980s nerd-style cover band to get people dancing (8:00–10:00 PM).Saturday, 20 December (12 PM–9 PM):Trey Wanvig — a blues-rock guitarist and vocalist (12:45–2:00 PM).Mr. Whiskers — a lively band guaranteed to put smiles on faces (3:00–4:30 PM).Flo Raw — a high-energy family band rising fast in Florida’s music scene (5:00–6:45 PM).Crossfire Creek — a Top-40 country band from Tampa to wrap up the weekend (7:30–9:00 PM).

Organisers say the eclectic mix ensures there’s something for everyone from families with kids to night-owls looking for a party under the stars.

Why Spa Beach and St. Pete Pier are the Perfect Setting

Spa Beach Park part of the newly revitalised St. Pete Pier District offers a rare combination of waterfront charm, walkability and accessibility. The spa-style beachfront has been expanded in recent years to include a naturalised shoreline, picnic lawns, kayak and paddleboard launch points, and easy access from downtown.

The wider St. Pete Pier District, stretching across 26 acres combines green spaces, public art, a marketplace, family-friendly amenities, waterfront dining and more, making it one of the region’s top attractions for locals and visitors alike.

Because of this as well as the Pier’s frequent history of hosting community events and festivals, the new Taste of the North Festival feels like a natural yet refreshingly creative addition to the calendar of things to do around the bay.

Tickets, Logistics and Tips for Visitors

General admission to the festival is free, making it an appealing option for both residents and travellers alike. For those wanting a more elevated experience, the North Pole VIP Experience offers: front-row stage seating, access to a special holiday cocktail competition (with tastings and voting), premium lounge furniture, a double-decker cocktail bar, a private cigar area, and exclusive restroom trailers.

The festival is scheduled to happen rain or shine. Given the combination of beach, breeze, and holiday lights, organisers suggest bringing light layers, even in mid-December the waterfront can be breezy as evening sets in.

Given Spa Beach’s convenient address (615 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701) and central location, access is easy for anyone staying in downtown or the wider St. Pete area. Visitors are also encouraged to check the official waterfront Pier calendar for parking, tram schedules, vendor line-ups, and any last-minute updates or weather advisories.

A Local Holiday Celebration with Coastal Flair

The Taste of the North Festival, along with its sandy beachside location, is the exact opposite of a Florida Christmas for those who want to experience a different one—where northern festivities are truly mixed with southern beachside simplicity. The festival is likely to win over the locals, visitors, and kids just like that with its ambiance of sand underfoot, drinks of the holiday season, live music performing, and a gentle wind from the water.