New Year’s Eve Fireworks in St. Pete-Clearwater

Looking for fireworks on New Year's Eve? We’re here for you with all the information you need. For a full list of New Year's Eve events, check out this page with more New Year's Eve Celebrations.

Welcome 2027 with a waterfront celebration at the St. Pete Pier! The free party at Spa Beach runs from 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2026, to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2027.

With its restaurants, green spaces, public art and fabulous views of Tampa Bay, the St. Pete Pier is great fun any time of year—but on New Year’s Eve it goes from fun to amazing. Enjoy high-energy DJs on a main stage featuring an LED wall and colorful lights, plus food vendors, games and bars serving cocktails and bubbly. At midnight, fireworks light up the sky to welcome the new year.

Guests can purchase reserved-area tickets for prime fireworks views, an exclusive bar, dedicated portable restrooms and one complimentary bubbly toast or nonalcoholic beverage.

New this year: Little ones can join the countdown, too! From 8-9 p.m., the Kids Rave brings DJ beats, dancing and family fun to Spa Beach. At 9 p.m., an early countdown and fireworks show over the water give families a chance to celebrate before bedtime.

Best viewing locations: Watch fireworks from the St. Pete Pier or anywhere else along the downtown St. Pete waterfront. Note that in previous years, booms and sparkles have been launched from Vinoy Park, on the waterfront just north of the St. Pete Pier.

Parking: Find helpful information about parking near the St. Pete Pier.

Time: Main celebration, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; Kids Rave, 8-9 p.m.; fireworks shows at 9 p.m. and midnight.

What to Do in St. Pete Before the Fireworks:

• Browse the indie shops, restaurants and other businesses on Central Ave., St. Pete's coolest street.
• Expand your mind during a visit to The Dalí Museum. Buying timed tickets is recommended (on NYE, the museum closes at 6 p.m.).
• Discover art from around the world at the Museum of Fine Arts. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on NYE.
• At the St. Pete Pier, enjoy dinner at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille or the elevated-casual Teak, or head to any number of restaurants within walking distance. Note: If you decide to eat dinner out before the fireworks, be sure to call for reservations as far ahead as possible.

Read more about St. Pete Pier Fireworks

Clearwater Beach is all about sun and fun – but it also happens to be one of the best places in the area to watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Bring a lawn chair or beach towel, settle into the soft sand and welcome the new year at Light It Up Clearwater, presented by Shephard’s Beach Resort. The celebration is complimentary, thanks to AMPLIFY Clearwater and its sponsors.

Best Viewing Locations: 

• Watch from all along Clearwater Beach, especially near the southern end. Note that the fireworks will be set off from the north end of Sand Key, across the bridge from Clearwater Beach. Sand Key Park will be closed to the public.
• Another spot to consider is Shephard’s Beach Resort, which has hosted New Year’s Eve parties with fireworks views in the past. Check this year’s event details and admission requirements before heading over. 
• One viewing location with several advantages isn’t actually in Clearwater Beach. Coachman Park is on the mainland in Clearwater near the bridge to the beach. The fireworks should be easily visible over that bridge and, if you're not staying beachside, viewing fireworks from the mainland could help avoid some of the traffic to and from the beach. 

Parking: Find information about parking options, the Jolley Trolley and the Clearwater Ferry.

Time: Midnight

What to Do Before the Fireworks:

• Celebrate before midnight at Sunset to Sparkle, a free New Year’s Eve event at Pier 60 park. On Dec. 31, 2026, from 3-9 p.m., enjoy live entertainment, an artisan and vendor market, street performers, face painting, kite flying, an interactive bubble show and a DJ glow party. Add your hopes for the year ahead to the New Year’s resolution wishing wall, then join Chick-fil-A’s family toasting station with lemonade and a visit from the Chick-fil-A Cow. This inaugural celebration wraps up at 9 p.m. with a festive beach ball toss and bedtime-friendly fireworks, viewable from the public beach both north and south of Pier 60.
• Meet new finned and furry friends at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, open until 3 p.m. on Dec. 31.
• Have dinner out at a Clearwater Beach restaurant such as Marina Cantina (with its great water views), Bob Heilman's Beachcomber Restaurant (a beloved landmark restaurant), Caretta on the Gulf, or Jimmy's Crow's Nest.

Read more about Clearwater Beach Fireworks

Ring in 2027 on Treasure Island, one of America’s favorite beaches. Find a spot on the soft sand, and get ready to ooh and aah at the fireworks display and celebrate the start of a new year.

Best Viewing Locations: On the beach near Gulf Front Park, 10400 Gulf Blvd., just south of the Treasure Island Causeway. Fireworks will launch from the public beach behind the park. 

Parking: Find city-owned parking lots near the fireworks.

Time: Midnight

What to Do Before the Fireworks: 

• Try your hand catching grouper and other prized local species on a fishing charter.
• Dine on fresh Gulf seafood (of course!) and have a refreshing cocktail with Gulf views at Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach.

Read more about Treasure Island Fireworks

About Our Writer:

Terry Galvin's ties to St. Pete tourism run deep and decades-long. His grandfather was a photographer who would roam the streets of St. Pete with a big camera around his neck, taking black-and-white photos of tourists, printing them overnight with “St. Petersburg, Florida” in the margin, and delivering them next morning to their hotels. His grandparents also managed the Alexander Hotel in the 500 block of Central Avenue in the 1960s. Terry grew up on the water in Largo, where he learned to love sailing. He has worked as a writer, designer and editor for the Virgin Islands Daily News and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. A resident of Sarasota with his wife and son, Terry enjoys sailing, rowing and bicycling.