22 blocks of Central Avenue to close for 4th annual Halloween on Central street festival
/Thousand of people attend the annual halloween on central event and this year’s event may be bigger than ever | photo provided
As the community recovers from the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Halloween on Central, one of St. Pete’s largest events of the year, will proceed as planned.
The family-friendly open-air street festival will take place on Sunday October 27th from noon to 5:00pm.
Vampires, werewolves, and other spooky creatures of the night will take over 22 blocks of Central Avenue between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 31st Street, which will be closed off to vehicular traffic and be filled with costumes, candy, and entertainment.
The event will also showcase nearly 600 local businesses.
“As we continue to heal from unprecedented back-to-back hurricanes, we hope to offer a day of reprieve and fun in support of our local businesses and residents,” Grand Central District Association Executive Director Chris Arnold said in a statement.
“We are excited to have you join us on October 27th as we come together to celebrate our community’s resilience and everything that makes our city so special.”
The event includes costume contests, trick-or-treating, and live entertainment | photo provided
“We've been planning for this event since February. Last year, over 100,000 people attended and expect this year's festival to draw a similar crowd,” Arnold said to St. Pete Rising.
“However, this year, we will have even more activation on the street, vendors, and different tier-level sponsors.”
Events are planned down the entire two-mile stretch.
In the EDGE District, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street to 16th Street, festival goers can enjoy The Kooky Spooky, a celebration with DJs, dance contests, costume contests, Candyland stops, and pop-up shopping.
Moving west down Central Avenue, the Voodoo Vendor Village, put on by LocalShops1, will feature over 100 vendors and food trucks from 16th Street to 20th Street.
St. pete residents join in on the fun | photo provided
The Dog Bar, at 2300 Central Avenue, will host Howl-o-ween with the popular wiener dog races, a dog costume parade, and more.
FrankenPride, sponsored by St. Pete Pride, will take place between 28th Street and 30th Street and will include a trick or treat station, performances by local entertainers, interactive art, and more.
The Imagine Museum, at 1901 Central Avenue, will host a ton of indoor and outdoor activities, such as face painting, a scavenger hunt, a puppet show, and a trunk-or-treat-themed car show with the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum.
But wait, there’s more! Beach Town Yoga will host yoga classes on the street throughout the festival and will perform a choreographed "Thriller" dance.
Also along the two-mile stretch will be a "Galloween" block dedicated to women-owned businesses and another block reserved for veteran-owned companies.
“With the businesses in the Voodoo Village, Grand Central District, and EDGE District, there will be close to 600 businesses engaging with the community,” said EDGE District Executive Director Roger Curlin.
“We are elevating everything this year. Most attendees go to their favorite watering hole and stay within a few blocks of that site.”
The festival is an alcohol-free event where open carry is prohibited, but patrons can still enjoy adult beverages inside restaurants and bars.
Attendees can also ride bikes and scooters throughout the 22 blocks.
The types of creatures that take over the 22 blocks of downtown st. pete | photo provided
However, those looking to move along the route faster can hop on the SunRunner, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's bus rapid transit line, which runs along 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South between downtown St. Pete and St. Pete Beach.
The SunRunner will be fare-free during the festival.
Free public parking will also be available all day at Tropicana Field at Lots 5, 6, and 7, courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays.
For more information on vendors, street performers, and events at Halloween on Central, visit the event’s website.
