Clearwater Residents Face Packed Halloween Weekend Across Tampa Bay

Clearwater residents have a crowded schedule of events across the Tampa Bay area this Halloween weekend, spanning Friday through Sunday. The lineup includes major sports games, musical tributes, and large festivals that draw crowds to venues in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Local news readers can plan their outings with specific start times and venue details available for each event.

Football fans in the region have two major opportunities to watch home teams this weekend. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. The team enters the game following a victory last week, which has built momentum for the NFC South showdown. On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rowdies play Miami FC at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg at 7:30 p.m. for a USL Championship Eastern Quarterfinals match.

Music lovers can attend a special tribute to composer John Williams, who recently turned 95. The Florida Orchestra performs film scores from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter at the Straz Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m. A second performance takes place on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Mahaffey Theater. Other musical acts include Chayanne at Benchmark International Arena on Friday at 8 p.m. and the Charleston duo Little Stranger at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg for two nights starting Friday at 8 p.m.

Oktoberfest Tampa occupies Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park from Friday through Sunday. The festival runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, with full-day programming on Saturday and Sunday. Attendees can find German food, live entertainment, and craft beer along the Riverwalk. The event concludes on Sunday, offering a final day for families to enjoy the seasonal festivities before the celebration ends.

St. Petersburg hosts Haunted Fest, a two-night electronic music event at Breakaway. The festival features artists such as Eli Brown, Gordo, and HUGEL. Friday’s lineup includes a silent disco and immersive experiences, with the second night taking place on Saturday. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Sun FC women’s soccer team plays DC Power FC on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Suncoast Credit Union Field. The match includes a Día de los Muertos Night celebration with cultural festivities.

Local community events also mark the weekend. WMNF holds its first Halloween Pot Luck Open House on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The station invites families and supporters for tours, activities, and a community dinner. The historic Cuban Club hosts 13 Ugly Men, a Halloween party themed after The Hollywood Undead, running from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday. Nick Shoulders performs at The Orpheum on Sunday at 7 p.m., bringing his country-folk style to the stage.