St. Pete/Clearwater in Florida has a great reputation for year-round sun holidays. But did you know it was also packed with family festivals all year too? If that’s news, here’s more for you.
Another sunny day on Clearwater Beach
Any time of year is the right time for sun holidays
Between its 35 miles of Gulf Coast and 361 days of sunshine every year St. Pete/Clearwater has a naturally beachy vibe. So even when festivals aren’t held directly on the sand here, they still feel like beach festivals: laid back, sunny, high-spirited and all welcome. But fun as festivities are, they’re far from the only reason to plan sun holidays in this part of Florida.
Splashing around at sunset, Pier 60
The perfect coast to add to Orlando’s theme parks
If you can’t contemplate a holiday in Florida without some theme parks in the mix, Orlando is only a 90-minute drive from St. Pete/Clearwater. And nobody can argue with the inspired combination of rollercoaster thrills and award-winning beaches.
Jolley Trolley, St. Pete/Clearwater
Start sun holidays with direct flights to Tampa
On the other hand, you might just want to get sand between your toes as soon as possible. In which case, there are direct UK flights to Tampa International Airport year round, and it’s only 30-minutes from St. Pete/Clearwater’s beaches.
Pier 60 Sunset Celebration: all welcome, every night
Come join locals and visitors alike to celebrate the end of every sunny day in St. Pete/Clearwater at the Pier 60 sunset celebration.
This isn’t just a chance to see the sun setting in spectacular style, it’s a full-on every night of the week festival. So forget bedtime, reset to holiday time and bring the kids too. As well as all the other sunset seekers, you’ll find the pier awash with street performers and street stalls for hours before and after the sun sets. And since Pier 60 has been holding nightly sunset celebrations for almost 28 years now, it’s had a lot of practice at throwing a party, you won’t be disappointed.
Sunny Localtopia, St. Pete/Clearwater
Localtopia: goes well with Florida winter sun holidays
A warm and friendly local vibe is one of many loveable things about St. Pete/Clearwater, and clearly the locals think that’s worth celebrating, because the colourful Localtopia festival is 11 years old in 2024.
It’s totally free and couldn’t be more right for kids. There’s even a Family Village packed with performers, creative play and fun family activities. The Park’s Bandstand is the place to hear popular local bands playing up a storm. Although it’s fair to say that everyone puts on a show for this event from craft breweries to local restaurants.
Speaking of which, come hungry. Teens will particularly like the food truck line up and younger ones will be pleased to hear Localtopia attracts amazing artisan ice cream makers.
Sugar Sand Festival: Florida’s #1 sand sculpting event
Need another reason for sun holidays in St. Pete/Clearwater?
The annual Sugar Sand Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024 with a ‘Sands of Time’ theme. This look back at the past 10 years is shaping up to be phenomenal, which is exactly what you’d expect from Florida’s best sand sculpting event.
Come to explore the 21,000ft² beach space dedicated to creating incredible works of art from the area’s famous sugar sand. You can see the professional sand sculptors in action and be truly amazed at their skill, and the fact that they’re working in what has to be the world’s most difficult medium.
Once you’ve done browsing head to Pier 60 Park where the festival is also in full swing with live music, fireworks, street food stalls, market stalls and even free sand sculpting lessons for all. You’ll never settle for mere sandcastles again!
