St. Petersburg moves from Halloween week into the first weekend of November with a mix of museum nights, morning walks, and family art. On Thursday the Museum of Fine Arts invites guests in costume for its Halloween Edition of Art After Dark. On Saturday Florida CraftArt leads another walk past the murals of the Central Arts District, and on Sunday morning neighbors gather with sidewalk chalk on Central Avenue while the Dalí Museum hosts a tour for young art lovers. Between October 29 and November 6, here are four picks, two downtown and two on the Central Avenue corridor.
Art After Dark: Halloween Edition
Why It Stands Out
Thursday, October 29, from five until eight in the evening, the Museum of Fine Arts at 255 Beach Drive NE invites guests to come dressed in their favorite Halloween look. The Hot Tonic Orchestra, a jazz, Latin, funk, and soul trio, provides live music. Docents lead tours of the New African Masquerades exhibition, and young visitors can join a Masquerade Mystery Hunt. Café Clementine's L'Apéro hours include a wine tasting, local Green Bench beer, and bites.
Best For
Families with older kids, couples, and anyone who likes a museum night with a little music and a lot of costumes.
Timing and Planning
Admission is free for MFA members and for youth seventeen and under, and sixteen dollars for non-members. Tickets are sold through the Get Tickets link on the museum's event page. Plan on street or garage parking along Beach Drive.
Walking Mural Tour with Florida CraftArt
Why It Stands Out
Saturday, October 31, from ten until 11:30 in the morning, Florida CraftArt at 501 Central Avenue leads its guided walk through the Central Arts District, billed as the original St. Pete mural tour. The route covers more than thirty murals in a four block area, and the guides share the stories behind the artwork.
Best For
New residents who want to learn the neighborhood on foot, visitors staying for the weekend, and anyone who would rather spend Halloween morning outdoors.
Insider Tip
Reservations are required and the tour is limited to twenty five people. Tickets are twenty five dollars for adults and fifteen dollars for children, with the youngest walkers free. Book online, or call 727-821-7391 for groups. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and tips for the guide are welcome.
Sunday Morning Chalk Collective
Why It Stands Out
Sunday, November 1, from nine until eleven in the morning, The Global Love Project hosts its weekly Sunday Morning Chalk Collective at the Sun Burst roundabout, 1111 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. Guests draw with sidewalk chalk, write messages on the pavement, or simply sit and enjoy the colors. It is free, family friendly, and open to everyone, and no artistic skill is needed.
Best For
Families, neighbors out for a morning stroll, and anyone who wants a gentle, creative start to a Sunday. Come and go as you like.
Neighborhood Angle
The roundabout sits on Central Avenue in the EDGE District, a short walk from the neighborhood's coffee shops and breakfast spots. The host posts weather updates on Instagram at thegloballoveproject, since an outdoor art session depends on the sky.
Little Surrealist Tour at The Dalí Museum
Why It Stands Out
Sunday, November 1, from 10:15 until 10:45 in the morning, The Dalí Museum at One Dalí Boulevard hosts its Little Surrealist Tour on the first Sunday of each month. It is a family tour of the permanent collection for children ages four to eleven, and the museum promises awesome art and family fun. The tour meets at the Third Floor Overlook.
Best For
Families with children between four and eleven, and grandparents looking for a morning outing that keeps little ones curious.
Timing and Planning
No separate tour fee is listed, but Gallery Admission is required. Reserve through the museum's ticket page, and members can reserve a free member ticket. Pair it with a walk along the waterfront afterward.
Event Q&A
Which event is best for families?
The Little Surrealist Tour at the Dalí and the Sunday Morning Chalk Collective, both on Sunday morning, are made for kids. The Halloween Edition at the MFA also welcomes youth seventeen and under for free.
Which event feels most on-brand for a date night?
Art After Dark on Thursday, October 29, with live jazz and a glass of wine at Café Clementine. A week later, Art After Dark returns on Thursday, November 5 as a trivia night with Max Blowers, with trivia starting at six, five dollars per player, and gallery admission as usual.
Which event is worth planning ahead for?
The Walking Mural Tour, which is limited to twenty five people and requires a reservation. Book it early in the week.
Which event gives the best sense of local community?
The Sunday Morning Chalk Collective. It is weekly, free, and open to everyone, and the neighbors who show up make the roundabout look like a different place every Sunday.
What else is happening in St. Petersburg?
First Friday St. Pete, billed as the city's biggest block party, takes over Central Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Friday, November 6 from six to ten with live music, local merchants, and food trucks. The host does not state an age policy, so check its website before bringing children.
What is coming right after the window?
Second Saturday ArtWalk returns on Saturday, November 14, and the Walking Mural Tour continues on Saturdays.
