Winter Events & Festivals

November brings cooler, more comfortable outdoor weather to Florida, making it the perfect time to enjoy festivals and events. Sip on fine wine and feel the smooth rhythm and blues as you stroll around the Dunedin Wines the Blues festival. Tarpon Springs Seafood Festival hosts a weekend full of delicious bites, while the stunning waterfront of St. Pete provides the perfect backdrop for the sophisticated Savor St. Pete food and wine festival at Vinoy Park. If you’re looking for some fun on the sand, prepare to be amazed at Sanding Ovations. This event spans two weekends at the end of November, where you can admire world-class sand sculptures on the lovely beaches of Treasure Island.

Getting into the holiday spirit here is a breeze and you won’t want to miss the Florida Botanical Gardens when they magically transform for the Holidays Lights in the Gardens event, running from late November through the first week of January. Holiday boat parades are sort of a ritual here, too, with many of our waterfront communities hosting them in December. For sports fans longing for some game-time action, the ReliaQuest Bowl is a week-long schedule of events at the end of December, including Clearwater Beach Day and a college football game featuring teams from the SEC and Big Ten Conference.

January and early February bring a burst of creativity to the area with the Downtown Dunedin Art Festival, St. Petersburg Fine Art Festival and the Gulfport Fine Art Festival. In mid-February, celebrate love and inclusivity at Winter Pride St. Pete, a week-long festival filled with vibrant events and entertainment. Car aficionados can feast their eyes on the Festivals of Speed St. Petersburg which brings over 250 exotic, classic, muscle cars, motorcycles and luxury brands to Vinoy Park.

Immerse yourself in the local vibe of St. Pete at Localtopia, a community celebration showcasing over 300 independent businesses and organizations, held at the end of February. Race fans can witness the thrill of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as it transforms downtown streets into a high-speed race circuit, marking the exciting kickoff to the IndyCar series. This four-day event runs from the end of February through the first week of March. The stunning waterfront at Coachman Park is the perfect place to enjoy the Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival, a free music event featuring amazing blues performances and delicious seafood tastings. This three-day festival takes place from the last weekend of February into the beginning of March.