City of St. Pete Beach Freebee Rideshare Registration
The City of St. Pete Beach has begun accepting resident registration for the Freebee ride service. As of 8/6/25 they have registered 159 residents for the service. To continue receiving the service free of charge, residents must pre-register in person at the Community Center. Residents can register at the St. Pete Beach Community Center year-round, so long as they register prior to taking their first FreeBee ride to avoid the $3.00 charge.
Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/st-pete-beach-freebee-faq/.
25th I Like It HOT! Festival Set for Sept 13-14th
Get ready to feel the heat as the 25th Annual I Like It HOT! Festival spices up Largo on September 13 and 14. This two-day family friendly event is going to be hotter than ever before. The festival is Saturday, September 13 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, September 14 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Largo Event Center (6264 126th Ave N, Largo). Event admission and parking are free. This hot n’ spicy food show which is the longest running in Florida is painfully delicious, big on flavor and cooked up to be one of the hottest events of the season. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/25th-i-like-it-hot-fest/.
Voodoo Vendor Village Expands to Five Blocks
LocalShops1 is offering more opportunities for businesses to be a part of this year’s Halloween on Central festival taking place Sunday, October 26 from noon to 5pm. The Voodoo Vendor Village is expanding from four blocks to five blocks which means more opportunities for creativity, shopping and for local businesses to take part in this spooky celebration. The Voodoo Vendor Village will cover Central Avenue between 16th and 21st streets, featuring local makers and small businesses, food trucks, candy stations and more. Festival goers are encouraged to come in costume and stroll the village and beyond. Halloween on Central extends nearly two miles of the city on Central Avenue from 31st St to Dr. MLK Jr. (9th) St. Free event.
Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/voodoo-vendor-village-expands/.
Madeira Beach’s Conversations with the Mayor
Join the City of Madeira Beach for a special Happy Hour edition of Conversations with Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks at the beautiful Cambria Hotel! This is your opportunity to connect directly with the Mayor, ask questions, share ideas, or simply listen in on what’s happening in our city.
DETAILS: Wednesday, August 20th 5pm Cambria Hotel
Let’s connect, collaborate, and build a stronger Madeira Beach together!
Next Conversation: September 18, Location TBD
Reach Locals and Visitors with a Print Ad in Paradise News
Paradise News will print & distribute 30,000 copies monthly this winter, mailing 20,000 to some of the most affected homeowners & businesses In the Tampa Bay Area. Email Peter Roos at sales@paradisenewsfl.com about placing an ad in Paradise News this summer. Learn more about the benefits of placing an ad in Paradise News in print or online at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/reach-pinellas-county-locals-this-november/.
- The August/September Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
- Find the tidbits from our August/September issue at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/tidbits-as-2025/.
- The City of St. Pete Beach is conducting a survey to gather information and feedback regarding possible changes and improvements to their parking program. Please CLICK HERE to view an initial summary of the City of St. Pete Beach’s plan. The survey includes additional optional questions at the end. All responses are anonymous and confidential. This survey will close on Wednesday, August 20 at 11:59pm. Take their survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y57KVL5
- Want to see what really happens behind the scenes in local government? Applications are now OPEN for the City of Madeira Beach’s Citizens’ Academy, a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn how Madeira Beach’s city/county works! Get an insider look at public safety, public works, planning & zoning, and more. Meet the people who serve your community. No experience needed. Space is limited. Click here to sign up now!
- Vendors can sign up now for Skyway Marina District’s Halloween Arts & Crafts Fest on October 25th at 2200 31st St. S., St. Petersburg FL. CLICK HERE to sign up.
- Savor St. Pete is coming back to Vinoy Park this fall! Join Savor St. Pete November 1 & 2 a gourmet experience where flavor, fun, and the Florida sunshine come together on the waterfront. Use Access Code: EARLYBIRD20 for $100 General Admission tickets (retail value of $120) in August. Get tickets now at https://savortheburg.com/tickets-2/.
- Gulfport’s 25th annual GECKOFEST promises a full day of family-friendly fun on Saturday, August 30th 10am-8pm. The streets of the waterfront village will be filled with live music, food & beverage vendors, art and craft vendors, and up close and personal street theater performances. Learn more at www.paradisenewsfl.com/geckofest-2025/.
- Tarpon Springs Hippie Fest is back on Saturday, August 16th from 2–9PM at the iconic Sponge Docks (735 Dodecanese Blvd.)! Step into the spirit of the ’60s and ’70s with live music, tie-dye vendors, retro art, incense, groovy eats, and more. Dress in your funkiest hippie threads and enjoy family-friendly vibes, community fun, and the fan-favorite VW Bug & Van Show. Learn more on their Facebook Event page.
- Step back in time for a night of dazzling entertainment at Vintage Variety – A Vaudeville-Inspired Stage Extravaganza, Saturday, August 16th at the Catherine Hickman Theater. This one-night-only event brings the golden age of Vaudeville to life with a lively mix of comedy, acrobatics, magic, burlesque, dance, and live music. Every act is packed with talent, style, and vintage flair. Tickets are just $30 and include a free beverage and light appetizers. Whether you’re craving laughter, spectacle, or old-school charm, this show has it all. Get your tickets now: vintagevariety2025.eventbrite.com
- Paradise News will print & distribute 30,000 copies monthly this winter, mailing 20,000 to some of the most affected homeowners & businesses In the Tampa Bay Area. Email Peter Roos at sales@paradisenewsfl.com about placing an ad in Paradise News this summer. Learn more about the benefits of placing an ad in Paradise News in print or online at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/reach-pinellas-county-locals-this-november/.
- Let us know what you are thinking about what is happening on our local beaches and St. Petersburg by submitting a Letter to the Editor at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/letter/. Letters will be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue of Paradise News.
