August/September 2025 Tidbits
Pinellas County buzzes with activity this season! Catch Vintage Variety and Casino Night on August 16th, and don’t miss Taste of the Beaches (October 3–12) and Tampa Bay Watch’s Sea Star Soirée (November 1). Madeira Beach rebuilt 22 shoreline-saving groins, and the Pinellas Trail Loop is now 65 miles. St. Pete Beach proposes updated beach ordinances. CASA celebrates 10 years of expanded shelter services, and Helen French takes the helm at SPAA. St. Pete ranks top 20 for recreation. The Wharf reopens with new space, menu, and music.
Read all of our August/September Tidbits at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/tidbits-as-2025/.
City of St. Pete Beach Parking Survey
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.
CLICK THIS LINK TO TAKE THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y57KVL5
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
Get Your Local Business Noticed in Paradise News!
Reach snowbirds and locals in Paradise News this fall! Snowbird season & holiday issues of Paradise NEWS are read by 100,000 locals and visitors online and in print. Deadline for ads & advertorials in our October issue is September 10th. To place your ad, contact PETER ROOS by email at sales@ParadiseNewsFL.com or call 727.363.6888!
NEW TIDBITS:
- 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/.
- 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Gulfport Night Market- First Friday & Third Saturday Every Month INFO
- Gulfport Fire Department: Push-In Ceremony- August 8 INFO
- Sand Key Park & Beach Cleanup- August 10 (To participate, contact Jake Hornstein at JakeHornstein@OurChildrenHaveRights.com)
- Lost 80’s Live at The Mahaffey- August 12 TICKETS
- Madeira Beach Burger Week- August 15-24 INFO
- Madeira Beach Conversations with the Mayor- August 20 INFO
- 2025 Annual Gecko Ball: “25 Years & Still Weird”- August 23 INFO
- Wearable Art Fashion Show- August 23 INFO
- Monster Energy St. Pete Powerboat P1 Grand Prix- September 5-7 INFO
- Flavors of Spain Dinner featuring Wild Child at The Dalí- September 9 INFO
- 25th Annual I Like It HOT! Festival- September 13-14 INFO
- St. Pete Beach October Concert Series- Fridays in October INFO
- Sueños de Dalí- October 25 INFO
REMINDERS
- The August/September Issue is NOW online. Read it here.
- Reach snowbirds, locals & tourists in 2025 with a print ad in Paradise News! Email Peter Roos at sales@ParadiseNewsFL.com to place your ads in Paradise News in Print.
- Pinellas County Sheriffs Offices wants you to please lock your car doors and stow valuables out of sight.
- CLICK HERE to signup for ALERT PINELLAS to get vital updates during hurricane season.
- Coyotes call Pinellas County home too! CLICK HERE for safety tips for you & your pets.
- The Fresh Market offers visitors the opportunity for a relaxing day trip in a small town full of “Old Florida” charms every Tuesday this summer 9am-2pm. The Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market is open year-round. Parking in the village is free. Learn more at https://visitgulfportflorida.com/event/gulfport-fresh-market-2/.
- Summer rains can sweep lawn and landscape fertilizer right into our waterways, causing algae blooms and killing marine life. That’s why Pinellas County Ordinance prohibits purchase or use of fertilizers with nitrogen or phosphorous from June through September. Do your part to protect our environment. Learn more at https://pinellas.gov/fertilizer-landscape-information/.
- More than 350 local makers and small businesses are coming together at St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park on Thanksgiving Weekend for LocalShops1’s Shopapalooza Festival. The 2-day extravaganza celebrates local businesses, local arts, local tastes, local music, and the local vibe that makes Tampa Bay such a special place. Learn more at https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/15th-annual-shopapalooza/.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest Pinellas County news by signing up for their new monthly newsletter- The Wave. From beach restoration to countywide road construction, The Wave will the most important news from Pinellas County Government to your inbox each month. Sign up now at https://pinellas.gov/the-wave.
- The Madeira beach social club is an active senior group located in Madeira Beach, Florida. Their club provides a wonderful opportunity for seniors to socialize, participate in various activities, and build lasting friendships within our community. Click here to learn more.
- The City of Gulfport Senior Center’s Telephone Reassurance Program is a free service for Gulfport Residents 50 years of age or older. Volunteers provide daily phone calls to registered members and provide comfort, security, and peace of mind to members and families. Registration is simple and free. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service during this difficult time, please call (727) 893-2237 and register today.
- Reminder to our residents and visitors. No Dogs On The Beach! If you see something, say something. Contact Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Line at 727-582-6200.
- Connect with the City of Gulfport through their app! CLICK HERE to learn more and download it.
- The City of St. Pete Beach is now using See Click Fix for residents to submit issues to the city. Click here to learn more.
Aug/Sept Issue
