Corey Avenue is the center of the week on St. Pete Beach. On Friday night, November 13, Motel Funk plays live on Corey Avenue, and on Saturday, November 14, two blocks of the street close to cars for the Corey Avenue Veterans Day Celebration. Just up Gulf Boulevard, Sanding Ovations opens on Treasure Island Beach on Thursday, November 19, and back in town the St. Pete Beach Public Library hosts a hands-on Kinusaiga craft hour on Friday, November 20. Between November 12 and November 20, here are four picks for St. Pete Beach and the nearby beach towns.
Motel Funk
Why It Stands Out
Friday, November 13, from six until ten in the evening, Chill Restaurant & Bar at 357 Corey Avenue hosts Motel Funk, a local soul, R&B, funk and classic rock cover and variety band. It is an easy way to start the weekend on Corey Avenue, with dinner and live music in one stop.
Best For
Couples planning a casual date night, friends meeting up after work, and anyone who likes a dance-friendly mix of soul and classic rock.
Timing and Planning
No price, cover charge or age policy is listed, and the venue page does not say whether the music is indoors or outdoors. Call 727-360-2445 before you go if any of that matters for your plans.
Corey Avenue Veterans Day Celebration
Why It Stands Out
Saturday, November 14, from noon until nine in the evening, the Corey Avenue Business Association closes two blocks of Corey Avenue to vehicle traffic for the Corey Avenue Veterans Day Celebration. Live music runs from one until four in the afternoon and again from six until nine in the evening, and the street's locally owned boutiques, galleries, specialty shops and restaurants plan patriotic storefront decorations and military appreciation specials. From one until four, a family-friendly firetruck display lets kids see a truck up close.
Best For
Veterans and their families, neighbors who want to say thank you, and families looking for a free afternoon on a walkable street.
Neighborhood Angle
The celebration is free. The association's page also points to a city Veterans Day gathering at Horan Park, across from Corey Avenue, from ten in the morning until noon, so you can make a full day of it. With the street closed to cars, check the Corey Avenue parking page before you drive, or call the association at 727-363-0772.
Sanding Ovations
Why It Stands Out
Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20, Sanding Ovations takes over Treasure Island Beach at 10400 Gulf Boulevard with a master sand sculpting exhibition and competition. Organized by Treasure Island sand sculptors Dan and Meredith Doubleday, the event also has sponsor sculptures, a beach food court, a beer garden, an arts and crafts marketplace, kites with night flying, and live music from local, regional and national touring bands. Hours are from ten in the morning until nine in the evening on Thursday and from ten in the morning until ten at night on Friday.
Best For
Families with kids who love the beach, anyone who enjoys photographing big outdoor art, and couples looking for an evening walk on the sand.
Insider Tip
Admission is free. Thursday night's Silent Dance Party runs from six until nine in front of the stage, with ten dollar tickets. People's Choice voting is open Friday from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, at one dollar per ticket or five dollars for seven. Event bars, merchandise and parking are cashless, so bring a card.
Crafterhour: Kinusaiga
Why It Stands Out
Friday, November 20, from 3:30 until five in the afternoon, the St. Pete Beach Public Library at 365 73rd Avenue hosts Crafterhour: Kinusaiga. Kinusaiga is a traditional Japanese craft where you fold and tuck small pieces of fabric into a pattern to make a textured fabric art piece, with no sewing required.
Best For
People who love making things by hand, beginners who want to try a new craft without a sewing machine, and anyone looking for a quiet, creative Friday afternoon.
Timing and Planning
No price, registration or age guidance is listed. Call the library at 727-363-9238 to ask before you go.
Event Q&A
Which event is best for families?
Sanding Ovations on Treasure Island Beach. Admission is free, the sculptures and kites are fun for every age, and the beach food court makes it easy to stay a while. The firetruck display at the Corey Avenue Veterans Day Celebration on Saturday, November 14, from one until four, is another good stop with kids.
Which event feels most on-brand for a date night?
Motel Funk on Friday, November 13, from six until ten in the evening on Corey Avenue. Dinner, soul and funk covers, and a stroll down Corey Avenue afterward make for an easy night out. For something different, try the Silent Dance Party at Sanding Ovations on Thursday, November 19.
Which event is worth planning ahead for?
Sanding Ovations. Event bars, merchandise and parking are all cashless, and the Silent Dance Party and People's Choice votes are ticketed, so bring a card and check the event's parking page before you head up Gulf Boulevard.
Which event gives the best sense of local community?
The Corey Avenue Veterans Day Celebration on Saturday, November 14. Local shop owners decorate their storefronts and plan military appreciation specials, and two blocks of the street close to cars for a day built around saying thank you.
What else is happening in St. Pete Beach?
The Corey Avenue Sunday Market runs Sunday, November 15, from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon. On Wednesday, November 18, from five until six in the evening, the St. Pete Beach Public Library hosts the Elizabeth Britt 75 Years Presentation & Friends Annual Meeting, with a program on the history of St. Pete Beach in honor of the library's 75th anniversary.
What is coming right after the window?
Sanding Ovations continues Saturday, November 21, with awards at six in the evening and fireworks at ten, and Sunday, November 22, from ten until six. Both days have free kids' lessons at 11 in the morning and two in the afternoon, meeting at the merchandise tent. Back on Corey Avenue, the Corey Ave Sip & Stroll is Friday, November 27, from five until eight in the evening.
