Halloween in St Pete 2026: Pier, Central Ave and More
Halloween in St Pete does not wait for October 31. It starts on October 8, when the Pier opens a pumpkin patch, and it does not finish until the Haunted Fest crowd clears out on the 31st. That is more than three weeks, and most of it is free.
Here is the run in order, with the dates, the costs, and where a golf cart helps and where it does not.
The pumpkin patch and the pumpkin mini-golf (October 8 to 25)
The St. Pete Pier runs a free pumpkin patch from Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 25. Walking in costs nothing, and pumpkins are for sale. Hours are 5 to 9pm Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10pm Fridays, 11am to 10pm Saturdays and 11am to 9pm Sundays, with the last day closing at 6pm.
Next to it, Putt the Pier turns into a fall edition with pumpkin-themed obstacles, hay bales and decorations. It is $10 Monday through Thursday and $13 Friday through Sunday (plus taxes and fees), and children 3 and under are free with a paying adult. Tee times are limited, so reserve on eventliveus.com and show up within 15 minutes of your slot.
This is the easiest evening in the whole list. The Pier is a short ride from almost anywhere downtown.
Fall Festival weekend (October 10 and 11)
The Pier's St Pete Fall Festival fills Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, from 11am to 7pm, with live music, food vendors, bounce zones and a kids zone around the pumpkin patch. It is free. If you have children in the group, this is the weekend to pick.
Costumed dogs at Family Park (October 24)
The Pier's Costumed Dog Parade is Saturday, October 24, from 4 to 8pm, with the parade itself starting at 6pm at Family Park. Registering a dog costs $20 plus taxes and fees, and registered dogs get a free Pier bandana. Prizes go to Best Human & Pet Duo, Most Original and People's Choice.
Halloween on Central (Sunday, October 25)
This is the big one. Halloween on Central takes over Central Avenue from Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Street to 31st Street, about 22 blocks, on Sunday from noon to 5pm. It is free and car-free, now in its sixth year. Expect trick-or-treating, costume contests, a dog costume contest, wiener dog races, a Voodoo Vendor Village with more than 100 vendors, a classic car show and a sensory area for guests who need a quieter space. PSTA's fixed-route buses are fare-free that day.
Central is closed to traffic, so the cart gets you to the edge of the event, not through it. Park legally on a side street and walk in. The organizer publishes a parking map on its site, and it is worth opening before you leave.
Costume weekend at Cocktail (October 25 to 31)
Cocktail St Pete, at 2355 Central Avenue, sits inside the Halloween on Central footprint and runs its own programming. Its page lists a show on the main stage on the 25th with Rockell, EMM and Saint Micah, then Halloweenie Weekend on Thursday the 29th (headliner Willam), Friday the 30th and Saturday the 31st, which has a pool show and a costume contest. VIP packages are available, but the page does not list times or prices, so check with the venue first.
Haunted Fest at the Pier (October 30 and 31)
Haunted Fest St. Pete returns to the Pier on Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, 5 to 10pm both nights. It is an electronic music festival, 18 and over (some VIP options are 21 and over), with general admission starting at $60. The posted lineup includes Hugel, Eli Brown, Gordo and AMÉMÉ.
Plan around the rules. Outside food and drink are not allowed, bags over 12 by 12 inches are not allowed, there is no re-entry, and the event runs rain or shine. Since the Pier is home turf for a downtown cart, this one is easy to reach, though the cart stays outside the gate.
The bar crawl, and the bar that closed
The St Pete Official Halloween Bar Crawl runs Friday, October 30, from 6pm to 1am, 21 and over. One wristband gets you into a lineup of Central Avenue bars, with the list emailed to ticket holders, and wristband pickup is mandatory during the check-in window. Tickets are sold through Eventbrite as Bar Crawl LIVE, and refunds are not offered.
One catch: the listing's address line names Thirsty First, 515 Central Avenue, which closed permanently on July 26, 2026. Do not go there. Follow the check-in instructions in your ticket email. We wrote about how closed bars keep showing up in current-looking listings in our guide to watching football downtown.
How to do it by cart
Our six passenger golf cart rental is $99 for eight hours or per consecutive day, with free delivery, and it is street legal wherever the posted limit is 35 mph or lower. That covers the Pier, the downtown core and most of the approach to Central Avenue. Use it for the daytime and early-evening items: the pumpkin patch, mini-golf, the Fall Festival and the dog parade.
For the nights built around a bar crawl or a festival, the rule is simple. If anyone in the group is drinking, somebody sober drives, or the cart stays parked and you walk or ride the bus.
Frequently asked questions
When does Halloween in St Pete start?
The Pier pumpkin patch and fall mini-golf open October 8 and run through October 25.
Is Halloween on Central free?
Yes. It is a free, car-free street festival on Sunday, October 25, from noon to 5pm.
Is Haunted Fest family-friendly?
No. It is 18 and over, with some VIP options 21 and over.
Can I bring my dog?
The Pier's Costumed Dog Parade on October 24 and the dog costume contest at Halloween on Central are both built for dogs. Check each event's rules before you go.
BOOK YOUR ST. PETE GOLF CART RENTAL AND MAKE HALLOWEEN IN ST PETE SIMPLE.
