Who puts on Treasure Island's holidays once the seafood festival tents come down at John's Pass? Mostly it's the island's own neighborhoods. Between Friday night's Halloween Spooktacular and the lighted boats on Boca Ciega Bay on December 19, the city's event calendar names the civic associations for Isle of Capri, Paradise Island, Isle of Palms and Sunset Beach again and again. They host their own nights, and then they co-sign the big shared one.
That changes how the season works. Each association hosts at a single address on its own residential island, while the citywide gatherings happen at the Treasure Island Community Center, 1 Park Place, or out on the water. Once you see which is which, the two months ahead are easy to plan.
Deck the Palms shows how the calendar is built
The best example is in December. When the city announced Deck the Palms last year, its December 3, 2025 newsletter listed the hosts as the City of Treasure Island, the Treasure Islettes, and the neighborhood civic associations of Isle of Palms, Isle of Capri, Sunset Beach and Paradise Island. Those are the same four groups whose names show up on their own events throughout the rest of the season.
The 2025 program gives a sense of what that partnership puts together:
- Bounce houses and train rides
- A visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus
- Balloon twisters, face painters and holiday entertainers
- Holiday vendors
- Food concessions cooked by Treasure Island Fire Rescue and the Treasure Island Police Department
- Sweet treats from Curious Soul Bakery
- A DJ playing holiday music all evening
Guests were also asked to bring an ornament that means something to them and hang it on the Community Christmas Tree inside the Community Center. That list describes last year's event. The city has scheduled the 2026 edition but hasn't published its program yet.
The 2026 date has moved. Deck the Palms was on December 12 in 2025, and this year the city events page lists it for Friday, December 4, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Community Center. That earlier date opens the first weekend of December, and the neighborhood events follow right after it.
Halloween comes in both sizes
The season starts the night after this post goes up. The city's Halloween Spooktacular runs Friday, October 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Community Center, 1 Park Place, with trick-or-treating, interactive games, bounce houses and food trucks. The costume contest starts at 7 p.m. This is the citywide version, run by the city and held at the address most shared events use.
The neighborhood version comes eight days later. The Isle of Capri Civic Association has its Halloween Block Party and Trick-or-Treat Trail on Saturday, October 31, starting at 6 p.m. at 685 Capri Blvd. It promises hot dogs, putt-putt and a costume contest. The listing doesn't say whether the party is open to everyone or only to Isle of Capri residents and members. If you live elsewhere on the island, ask the association before you bring the kids.
Halloween morning has one more event. The Treasure Island Police Department holds Coffee With a Cop, Halloween Edition on Saturday, October 31, from 9 to 11 a.m. at The Escape Room, 10681 Gulf Blvd. The coffee is free, and officers will be there to take questions and ideas. That makes a full day: coffee on Gulf Boulevard in the morning and the Capri trail in the evening.
November has one big event, and it uses the island's streets
Treasure Island's November calendar is short, and its one big event uses the streets as its route. The 8th annual Veterans Day Parade, put on with American Legion Post 158, steps off Sunday, November 8, at 11 a.m. The route, as the city describes it:
- Lineup begins at 10 a.m. at Treasure Bay, 10315 Paradise Blvd.
- The parade heads west along 107th.
- It turns onto 104th.
- It finishes at the Community Center and Treasure Island Park, 1 Park Place.
The parade starts on Paradise Island and ends at 1 Park Place, the same place the Spooktacular and Deck the Palms use. Anyone with a USA-themed vehicle can apply to join. The application goes to [email protected], and the city has a route map PDF for anyone picking a spot to watch along 107th or 104th.
December 4 to 12: each neighborhood gets a turn
After Deck the Palms opens December, something happens every day of that first weekend, and the following Saturday has two more events. Each one is tied to a particular neighborhood or group:
| Date | Event | Host | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 4, 6–8 p.m. | Deck the Palms | City, Treasure Islettes and the four civic associations | Community Center, 1 Park Place |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 6–9 p.m. | Holiday Party | Paradise Island Civic Association | Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis, 10315 Paradise Blvd. |
| Sat., Dec. 5, time TBA | Tree Lighting Ceremony | Isle of Palms Civic Association | Announced via the association |
| Sun., Dec. 6, 8 a.m.–noon | Pancake Breakfast | Gulf Beaches Rotary | Community Center, 1 Park Place |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 8 a.m. | Run for the Beaches 5K | 6th annual race | Gulf Front Park, 10400 Gulf Blvd. |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 4–8 p.m. | Santa Stroll | Sunset Beach Community Association | Sunset Beach Pavilion, 8000 W. Gulf Blvd. |
December 5 is the busiest night. Paradise Island's party at Treasure Bay and the Isle of Palms tree lighting are on the same Saturday. The city lists the tree lighting time as still to be determined and points to the Isle of Palms Civic Association's Facebook page for updates. Neither association's city listing says who can attend, so the same advice from Halloween applies here. The Gulf Beaches Rotary breakfast the next morning goes back to the Community Center, and registration for the 5K on the 12th is through Run for the Beaches.
The Santa Stroll is back at its rebuilt pavilion
Of all the neighborhood events, the Sunset Beach Santa Stroll depends most on its venue being back. Hurricanes Helene and Milton badly damaged the Sunset Beach Pavilion. After the city worked through FEMA and insurance, restoration started January 20, 2026. The pavilion was rebuilt to its original condition with updated restrooms and officially reopened June 4, 2026. Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Treasure Island Adopt a Beach planned native-plant landscaping there for June 20.
So December 12 is the first holiday season with the stroll's pavilion rebuilt. The most detailed description of the event on the Sunset Beach Community Association site is from 2023. That year it was a walk led by Santa, with holiday outfits, music, treats from neighbors and sponsors, beer and wine for donations, and a band at the end. The association says member donations help pay for the stroll every year. That's one more sign that these events depend on neighborhood dues and volunteers more than city budgets.
The season ends on Boca Ciega Bay, on a shorter route
The last event is out on the bay. The city has the Treasure Island Holiday Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 19, at 6 p.m., through Boca Ciega Bay with a finale at John's Pass. The listing highlights a new, shorter route. Vessel registration opens in November, and questions go to Parks and Recreation at 727-547-4575, ext. 246.
The parade has had a rough couple of years. It was canceled in 2024 because of hurricane debris in the water. Bay News 9 reported that the 2025 parade came back with a 5:45 p.m. start and was expected to finish around 9 p.m. The traditional Treasure Bay watch party and Santa appearance were dropped that year because of construction and the living shoreline project. Last year Bay News 9 pointed viewers to friends' waterfront docks and the John's Pass boardwalk. The city's 2026 parade page mentions the shorter route but doesn't include a map or viewing guidance, so the boardwalk is last year's advice until the new route comes out.
If your house or condo is on one of the Boca Ciega inlets, the shorter route could change what you see from your own dock. It's worth checking the city page once registration opens in November.
The calendar also says something about Treasure Island beyond the dates. The block parties, the stroll at the rebuilt pavilion and the tree lighting are all run by the island's neighborhood associations. If you're new to the island or thinking about moving to another part of it, I'm glad to talk through how each neighborhood's association and calendar work. Casey Franks is always happy to hear from you. Let's Connect.
