Happy Chanukah to all those celebrating! Have some latkes (with applesauce, never sour cream) for me. We’re in full holiday swing and in case you need to do some last minute gift shopping, we have plenty of markets this weekend. Plus, supporting local means you don’t need to worry about packages getting stuck in the mail.
Fun historical fact: mid-December in St. Pete was the height of of the winter season rush for the “Tin Can Tourists.” These early RV travelers would flock to Florida for the weather in their Ford Model Ts and set up tent camps in St. Pete parks, which caused quite a controversy.
Anyway, enough history, let’s get into this week’s newsletter!
P.S. I’ll be featuring NYE events in next week’s newsletter, but if you want to plan ahead, you can already find a list of events in the St. Pete Events link in the On the Horizon section of the newsletter.
SEEK THE LIGHTS
You can find plenty of beautiful lights displays just driving around town, but if you want to have a plan, check out the Holiday Atlas, which is a community-sourced map of lights displays in the area. You can preview different displays and set up your optimal route. Plus, if you happen to see well decorated houses that aren’t already included, be sure to submit them for all to enjoy!
One stop you’ll definitely want to make is at 2719 Oakdale St S, St. Petersburg. This his house started displaying lights in 1977 (this is officially year 49) and has grown to over 600,000 lights, 700 moving objects, and a light tree that is over 70 feet tall.
If planning and driving isn’t your speed, check out this week’s Bulletin below for details on Star Trolley’s Holiday Lights tour.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
GULFCOAST GROOVES
Two big music festivals were recently announced and early bird tickets are now on sale. The Country Thunder festival is going to be held at the Tradewinds on St. Pete Beach from May 8-10, and the Gasparilla Music Fest is going to be at Meridian Fields in Tampa from April 10-12 (the lineup for this one hasn’t been released yet).
JOIN THE MATCHA CULT
I met up with Jonathan and Ian from Ritual Grounds Matcha Cafe last weekend to learn more about them and their business. These two are such a joy to be around, and their matcha is next level. Whether you’re a matcha lover or want to try it for the first time, I highly recommend coming out to their next event (or check out them out at the Blizzard Bazaar. Details in the events section below)!
CIVIC SURF
The City of St. Petersburg is launching a citywide Seawall Master Plan to inspect municipal seawalls and identify critical improvements to protect our neighborhoods from coastal flooding and sea-level rise. You can get involved by attending virtual public meetings on February 10 or 17, 2026, or by taking the online survey to share your concerns.
St. Pete just green-lit another $1 million for the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project. This funding will secure a permanent pump station and an emergency generator to ensure essential drainage operations continue even during power outages.
The Level Up Arts Grant is back to support small non-profits with annual budgets of $50,000 or less with a $5,000 funding boost. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through April 2026. Apply here.
BAYFRONT BULLETIN
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?
Blizzard Bazaar - The chillest winter holiday market featuring 50+ vendors, Florida snow, Santa, gift wrapping, food, drinks, and event exclusives. This Friday, 5-9pm.
Sunny St. Pete Apparel - Shop the Fall collection of St. Pete inspired apparel. You can come see us and shop in person at the Blizzard Bazaar this Friday as well!
Star Trolley’s Holiday Lights Tour - In case you want to let someone else handle mapping the route and just want to enjoy seeing the lights.
Look Alive Coffee - Our favorite coffee! Roasted locally here in St. Pete so you can get it at peak freshness. We have a monthly subscription to keep us caffeinated. Try out their limited-time Holiday Blend for a festive treat.
Last week’s scramble - Flamingo
LOGBOOK
CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 7:16am ↑ |
SUNSET 5:39pm ↓ |
MOONRISE 6:08am ↑ |
MOONSET 4:23pm ↓ |
MOON Waning crescent |
LOW TIDE 7:33am |
HIGH TIDE 11:43pm |
‘BURG ABODES: 1920s Craftsman Estate in Crescent Lake. $1,295,000 | 5bd 4ba | 3,664 sqft. Beautiful 1920s architecture with preserved original features and a guesthouse.
FLIGHT DEAL: Fly out of PIE direct to Asheville to experience a week of winter weather in January. Only $78 round trip, which is 28% less than the usual prices.
WHAT’S AFLOAT
FRESH CAUGHT FEATURES
The Blizzard Bazaar is tomorrow! 50+ vendors, Florida snow, photo ops, Santa, Christmas lights, gift wrapping, food trucks, espresso martini bar, iced matcha luge, and more! Brought to you by Ritual Grounds Matcha Cafe.
Friday, Dec 19, 5-9pm @ St. Pete Calisthenics
🎟️ GA tickets are $5
A Taste of the North is a two-day Christmas-themed food and music festival bringing the flavors and traditions of the northern U.S. to sunny St Pete. Enjoy iconic comfort foods from northern cities, festive holiday cocktails, and live entertainment, all surrounded by holiday décor and activities.
Friday, December 19th | 4pm - 10pm
Saturday, December 20th | 12pm - 9pm
@ St. Pete Pier
🎟️ GA is free, with VIP tickets available for $39
THURSDAY 18
Beer Garden Movie Night: Nightmare Before Christmas | Grand Central Brewhouse | Dec 18, 7pm | Free
FRIDAY 19
Blizzard Bazaar | 1960 5th Avenue S, St. Pete | Dec 19, 5-9pm | $5-$35, kids free 🎟️
Holiday Track Meet | Northside Christian School | Dec 19, 6:30pm | $20 🎟️
Kid's Holiday Rave | Jannus Live | Dec 19, 7pm | $20 🎟️
A Taste of the North | Spa Beach Park | Dec 19-20, hours vary | Free
SATURDAY 20
Chimney in the Trunk | Thomas "Jet" Jackson Recreation Center | Dec 20, 1-4pm | Free
Cocoa Night Hike | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve | Dec 20, 7-9pm | $5 🎟️
Movie in the Park: A Miser Brothers' Christmas | Huggins-Stengel Field | Dec 20, 6:30pm | Free
Treasure Island Holiday Lighted Boat Parade | Treasure Island | Dec 20, 5:45pm | Free
Christmas Market | Outcast Brewing | Dec 20, 2-6pm | Free
Mezzo Market | Intermezzo | Dec 20, 11am-4p | Free
Saturday Morning Market | Al Lang Stadium | 9a-2p | Free
SUNDAY 21
A Very Broadway Christmas at The Mahaffey | Mahaffey Theater | Dec 21, 3 & 7pm | $50+ 🎟️
St. Pete Indie Flea Holiday Festival | Albert Whitted Park | Dec 21, 12-4p | Free
Boy Band XMas Karaoke Party | Potion Portal | Dec 21, 6pm | Free
Whiskey Dickens' A Christmas Carol | Grand Central Brewhouse | Dec 21, 4pm | Free
Kenwood Sunday Market | St. Pete High School | 10a-2p | Free
MONDAY 22
A Drag Queen Christmas | Mahaffey Theater | Dec 22, 7:30pm | $49+ 🎟️
Lunar Market | Golden Isles Brewing Co | Dec 22, 5-9pm | Free
WEDNESDAY 24
Twas the Night Before Christmas at The Vinoy | The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club | Dec 24, 7pm | Free
ON THE HORIZON
Want to see events beyond the next week? Use the guide below.
MARKETS
Looking for details on markets this week?
SCOOP SAVINGS
$250 to use your PTO: Book a stay through VisitSPC and get $50 in Visa gift cards for every night booked (up to 5 nights). This deal has been extended, so you just need to book by Dec 31 and travel by Feb 28.
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Thanks so much for reading! As always, you can reply directly to this email with any feedback.
Stay Sunny,
Josh & the Sunny St. Pete team
