USFSP to offer post-storm trick-or-treat experience

In the wake of recent hurricane damage, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) campus is offering a safe alternative for trick-or-treating this Halloween season.

USFSP’s annual Halloween Fest, hosted in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, is scheduled for Wednesday (Oct. 30) from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at 140 7th Ave S., along the HarborWalk. 

Caryn Nesmith, Director of Community Relations at USF SP and the event organizer, said this is the third year the school has hosted Halloween Fest, which continues to grow each year.

“This was actually a student-led initiative in the first year,” Nesmith said. “We have two historic Victorian buildings on our campus, and the Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council wanted to have a haunted house event with about 50 youth. They got 250 the first year.”

Last year, the event drew about 750 participants, and Nesmith said over 900 are expected this year. Halloween Fest features an array of activities, including trick-or-treating, games, a DJ, dancing, a costume parade, therapy dogs and a “not-so-spooky” haunted house that’s suitable for all ages.

About three dozen community organizations will be at Halloween Fest, hosting activities and passing out candy. The St. Petersburg Police Department is also participating, bringing SWAT vehicles like its Hellcat, and the St. Petersburg Fire Department will be on-site with a fire truck.

“As people started to hear about this, they wanted to join in,” Nesmith explained. “The Albert Whitted Airport brings over a small plane and we have groups like the Junior League that do youth activities, like a craft activity and a book giveaway.”

Families are encouraged to come in costume and participate in the festivities. The event is open to the entire community, with a focus on providing a memorable Halloween experience for younger children. In addition to the community organizations participating, more than 100 volunteers will be on hand to ensure the event goes smoothly.

Nesmith said as the City is still working to clean up the massive amounts of debris left in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many neighborhoods that would usually welcome trick-or-treaters may be too damaged to participate this year. She hopes USFSP’s Halloween Fest will lift spirits and be a safe haven for families to celebrate the holiday.

“Our campus took a hit [after the hurricanes]. We received damage and we’re still recuperating, as are a lot of people,” Nesmith said. “We canceled or postponed a lot of events in October because we are dealing with issues on multiple fronts, but we just felt that this was one we really wanted to go ahead with. It’s something that brings our USF community and the community at large together.”

The event is free and open to the public, and those interested in attending are asked to register online ahead of time at this link: https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/events/halloween-fest/index.aspx.

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