Central Avenue closes to cars 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, for Halloween on Central, noon to 5 p.m. SunRunner rides are free and parking at the Trop is free.

Halloween on Central returns Sunday, turning 22 blocks of Central Avenue into a car-free street party from noon to 5 p.m.

The road closes to cars long before the party starts. Central Avenue will be shut between Dr. MLK Jr. Street and 31st Street from 6 a.m. Sunday and reopen by 7 p.m., the city said in its weekend guide on Thursday.

The free event is run by the EDGE and Grand Central business districts. This is its sixth year, and the organizers call it the largest street festival in St. Petersburg, according to the event’s own page.

What is on, block by block

The organizers list these areas:

  • Kooky Spooky, EDGE District: 9th Street to 16th Street, with shopping, games, music, dancing and candy
  • Voodoo Vendor Village: five blocks of local vendors from 16th Street to 21st Street
  • Boo-levard of Play family zone: the 2600 and 2700 blocks, with a children’s area sponsored by St. Petersburg Pediatrics
  • Car show: classic cars on the 3000 block
  • Sensory area: sensory tools, non-candy trick-or-treat goodies and a place to take a break

The full event map is on the Halloween on Central page. To ask for disability aids or services, the organizers list 727-828-7006, or the city’s Community Affairs Division at 727-893-7345 (TDD/TTY 727-892-5259).

Getting there and parking

Free SunRunner rides all day. PSTA’s SunRunner is free all day Sunday, the city said. For the event, get off at the 13th Street or 22nd Street stations. The organizers say PSTA’s other fixed-route buses are fare-free during the event too. Routes are on PSTA’s SunRunner page.

Free parking at Tropicana Field. The city says thousands of free spaces are available in several Tropicana Field lots, and asks people to try there first. If you park on a neighborhood street instead, the city asks you to be courteous to the people who live there.

Bikes, scooters and skateboards are welcome on the route, with a 5 mph limit inside the event zone. Lime and Spin parking will be at 19th Street, 23rd Street and 29th Street near Central Avenue.

What it means for you

  • Driving across town Sunday? Central Avenue is closed from Dr. MLK Jr. Street to 31st Street from 6 a.m. to about 7 p.m. Allow extra time on the cross streets and expect delays nearby, the city said.
  • Live or run a business on the route? Plan any car trips before 6 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
  • Coming with children? Head for the family zone on the 2600 and 2700 blocks, or the sensory area for a quieter break.
  • World Series week follows. The Rays host Games 3 and 4 at Tropicana Field on Monday and Tuesday nights, with stadium parking prepaid only. Our World Series getting-there guide has the shuttle stops and lots.

More Halloween events, including trick-or-treat hours and trunk-or-treats, are in our Halloween events guide and our things to do in St. Petersburg page.