Happy New Year! Our first newsletter of 2026 is hot off the press. I hope everyone had a great New Year’s Eve, whether you went out to watch fireworks, partied the night away, or stayed in to watch the ball drop (or the Stranger Things finale). Hopefully, you’re reading this while enjoying a well-deserved day off!

P.S. For any Stranger Things fans out there, here’s some fun I had with AI turning St. Pete into the upside down. I’ll be watching the finale later today, so no spoilers!

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for everyone who has tuned in over the past year. Whether you’ve attended events, written in to share your feedback, or just read the Sunny Scoop each week, I’m truly honored!

I welcome you to share what you’ve enjoyed, what you’d like to see more of in the new year, and anything else you’d like to send my way.

I have a ton of ideas in the works for 2026, but my mission with Sunny St. Pete is to be the best possible resource to help you find community and celebrate living in St. Pete. So, your voice really matters in helping me shape the future.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year, and I look forward to many more sunny days to come in 2026.

Getting fit and staying active tops the list of many folks’ New Year’s resolutions. There’s no better way to stick to those resolutions than finding a community and having accountability to keep showing up.

St. Pete has a ton of fitness activities you can take advantage of, from run clubs, to social walking groups, to kayaking or pickleball lessons. Plus, so many of these options are completely free. Check out the free fitness guide below and find your fitness tribe for 2026!

This week, we went by to check out the St. Pete Running Company’s new location on MLK—St. Pete Running and Coffee. I’ve been to St. Pete Running’s other location over by Tyrone Mall, and it’s a wonderful shop. Owners Cody and Janna are so friendly and helpful, and they do great weekly runs out of that location.

The new location has a twist though, with an espresso bar in the shop open daily from 8am-3pm. We ordered a few hot lattes because the weather was getting chilly, but they also sell Look Alive cold brew.

The new shop soft-opened just before the holidays, and is now open for its normal hours. They told us they hope to do some kind of weekly runs from the shop down around Crescent Lake Park. Pair that with a coffee from the shop, and you’ve got yourself a perfect Saturday morning!

The new address is 2601 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N. Run over to get your coffee.

On December 31st, 1925, The Vinoy opened for dinner at 7:00pm, with a New Year’s Eve celebration following. Workers were still painting, laying rugs, and wiring lighting at 5:30pm that day, miraculously finishing the rush 10-month construction just in the nick of time.

I’m sure glad they did, and that this beautiful pink lady has made it 100 years adorning downtown St. Pete.

🎄 Christmas Tree Disposal: Just one more reminder that St. Pete residents can request a free special pickup for live trees through the SeeClickFix app or by calling 727-893-7398, but remember to remove all decorations first! There are also options for artificial trees if you prefer. Instructions here.

Want to spread the word about your business, a project you’re working on, an exciting event, a hiring opportunity, or just want to say hi to thousands of neighbors?

SUNNY ST. PETE SHOP - Shop the collection of St. Pete inspired apparel.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Adopt Coco the dog or Frank the cat.

FLIGHT DEAL: Fly out of PIE direct to Colorado Springs for in March. Only $114 round trip, which is 38% less than the usual prices.

‘BURG ABODES: Secluded 1937 Retreat in Snell Isle. $1,795,000 | 4bd 3ba | 2,698 sqft. 1937 architecture, modern updates, courtyard entry, and a pool oasis.

LAST WEEK’S SCRAMBLE - Fireplace

Come out to the first First Friday of 2026. St. Pete’s biggest block party is kicking off the new year right, turning the block between 2nd and 3rd Streets into a pedestrian playground. Expect live entertainment, plenty of food and drink options from your favorite local spots, and a big crowd ready to welcome 2026. Don't miss the first big night out of the year!

Friday, Jan 2, 6 - 10 PM @ Central Ave between 2nd & 3rd Streets.

Free to attend!

New year, new finds! The St. Pete Indie Flea is back at Campbell Park this Sunday to start 2026 off right. It’s the perfect spot to soak up some sunshine, grab a bite from local food trucks, and browse an amazing lineup of vintage finds, handmade goods, and art from our talented neighbors. Whether you’re hunting for unique decor or just vibing with the community, it’ll be a great time!

Sunday, Jan 4, 12-4pm @ Campbell Park

Free to attend!

In The Mood for New Year's Day with The Glenn Miller Orchestra | Mahaffey Theater | Jan 1, 3pm | $108+ 🎟️
New year's big band nostalgia.

Sun Bash Tampa Bay | Northside Christian School | Jan 1-3, all-day | pay at door 🎟️
Top high school basketball tournament.

Hot Tonic Live Music | Cage Brewing | Jan 2, 8-11pm | Free
Free jazz blues Latin fusion

First Friday St. Pete | Central Avenue | Jan 2, 6-10pm | Free
Monthly street party with live music.

Susan Livingston: A Creative Journey in Review | Brenda McMahon Gallery | Jan 2, 6-9pm | Free
Ceramic sculptor exhibition opening reception.

Pee Pa's Open Mic Night | Pee-Pa's Garage Craft Brewery | Jan 2, 7-10pm | Free
Weekly open mic by local artists.

Swan Lake by International Ballet Stars | Mahaffey Theater | Jan 3, 7pm | $63+ 🎟️
Love, magic, and triumph through dance.

High & Dry Festival | The Coliseum | Jan 3, 1-5pm | $0-$60 🎟️
Functional beverage tasting and wellness event.

Florida Heat: Wood Fire Workshop | Morean Arts Center for Clay | Jan 3-18, hours vary | $895 🎟️
Explore artistic wood fire techniques.

Lunar New Year Market | England Brother's Park | Jan 3-4, Hours vary | $5
Asian cultural shows, food, music.

Exploration Hike | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Jan 3, 1-2:30pm | $5 🎟️
Guided daytime hike for nature lovers.

Bird Walks | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Jan 3, 8-9:30am | Free
Guided hike, learning about birds.

Astronomy Night | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Jan 3, 7-9pm | $5
Explore night sky via telescopes.

Naturalist Guided Tour | Weedon Island Preserve | Jan 3, 9:30am | Free 🎟️
Explore island habitats and history.

29th Annual Downtown Dunedin Art Festival | Downtown Dunedin | Jan 3-4, 10am-5pm | Free
Outdoor fine art festival featuring sculpture.

St. Pete Indie Flea Market | Campbell Park | Jan 4, 12-4pm | Free
Locally sourced hand-crafted goods shopping.

3 Daughters Brewing Trivia Night | 3 Daughters Brewing | Jan 5, 7-9pm | Free
Team trivia night, prizes given.

Frank Lloyd Wright Water Lily Glass Class | Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement | Jan 6, 10am-1pm | $125 🎟️
Stained glass copper foil workshop.

Fresh Rec Stop | Enoch Davis Center | Jan 7, 4-5pm | Free
Healthy cooking demonstration, fresh ingredients.

Want to see events beyond the next week? Use the guide below.

Looking for details on markets this week?

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Thanks so much for reading! As always, you can reply directly to this email with any feedback.

Stay Sunny,
Josh