Pumpkins are rolling back into Family Park at the St. Pete Pier, bringing free admission, a sprawling patch ready for picking and purchase, and a brand-new mini-golf twist to downtown St. Petersburg's waterfront this fall. The seasonal favorite returns for another run along Tampa Bay, giving locals and visitors an easy excuse for a waterfront day trip.
According to the St. Pete Pier, the pumpkin patch is back at Family Park in downtown St. Petersburg, offering a field of pumpkins for picking and purchase along with festive photo spots scattered throughout the grounds. The official St. Pete Pier event listing describes a sprawling field of vibrant, plump pumpkins ready for picking and purchase, and confirms the patch is open to everyone at no admission fee. That listing schedules the main run from October 9 at 5 p.m. through October 25 at 6 p.m.
A separate tourism listing from Visit St. Pete/Clearwater tells a slightly different story, describing a soft opening on October 8 from 5 to 9 p.m., a grand opening the next night, and a last day on October 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The two sources don't fully agree on when the patch actually opens its gates, so pumpkin hunters may want to check both before planning their visit.
A New Way to Putt Through the Patch
Beyond the pumpkins themselves, this year's patch debuts a new activity called Putt the Pier – Fall Pumpkin Edition, per the pier's own listing. It's a seasonal spin on mini-golf woven into the pumpkin-patch grounds, giving families another reason to linger at Family Park beyond snapping photos among the gourds.
Fall Festival Takes Over Spa Beach
Just steps away, the free St. Pete Fall Festival is set to take over Spa Beach October 10 and 11, running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The festival's official page promises live music, food and family-friendly entertainment, along with bounce zones, a dedicated Kids Zone, magicians, kids' bands and what organizers are billing as their first-ever Kids Rave. Admission to the festival is free, matching the no-cost policy at the pumpkin patch itself.
A Costumed Dog Parade Takes Place October 24
October's lineup at the pier includes a costumed dog parade, reported for October 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. by Wild 94.1. Spectators can watch for free, while owners hoping to parade their own costumed pups will need to register for $20 plus taxes and fees. Between the pumpkins, the putting green, the Fall Festival stage at Spa Beach and the dog parade, St. Pete Pier's October calendar gives downtown St. Petersburg a full month of free, family-friendly reasons to head to the waterfront.
