Last year’s inaugural Halloween on Central event was a massive success. Thousands of people descended onto Central Avenue to promote car-free culture by walking, biking, rollerblading, skating, or scooting along downtown St. Pete’s most popular retail corridor.

This year, Halloween on Central is back and better than ever. In collaboration with the Grand Central District, EDGE District, St. Pete Pride, and PSTA, the City of St. Petersburg is kicking off the second annual Halloween on Central on Sunday, October 30th from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Just like last year, the free event will span nearly two miles of Central Avenue, from Dr. MLK Jr. Street (9th Street) to 31st Street, through the EDGE District and Grand Central District of downtown St. Pete.

Halloween on Central will once again showcase a vision of what a car-free Central Avenue could look like for locals, businesses, and visitors. 

"The Central Avenue Trolley is one of the busiest forms of public transportation we have in St. Pete. Hopefully, on days like today, everyone is reminded that we have those options,” said St. Petersburg City Council Chair Gina Driscoll during last year’s event.

Along the way, attendees can enjoy music, performers, food trucks, costume contests, haunted houses, flash mobs, mummy dancers, and other activities. There will also be trick-or-treating for kids and special Halloween festivities for all.

Upon arrival, attendees can park for free in nearby neighborhoods or use the ParkMobile app to park in Tropicana Lot 6.

The brand new SunRunner, which officially launches on October 22nd, will also be operational. The SunRunner is PSTA’s new Bus Rapid Transit service – the first of its kind in Tampa Bay. Cruising past traffic in its own lane on 1st Avenue North and South, the SunRunner will get you to Halloween on Central with no parking hassles.

The new BRT line runs every 15 minutes and is free to ride until April 2023. The SunRunner will serve three stops within the Halloween on Central event—31st Street, 22nd Street, and 13th Street.

So, get ready to throw on a costume, collect some candy, and enjoy spooky Central Avenue in an all-new way—from the street!

Although going completely car-free may not be possible for everyone, there are so many benefits to occasionally ditching your car. Choosing a car-free lifestyle can improve your health, save you money, benefit the community, and help us build a sustainable future.

For more information on vendors, street performers, and events taking place at Halloween on Central, stay tuned to the event’s website.