Gay bars st petersburg florida

The cultural stuff, though, is on the Tampa Bay side. The most accessible and busiest is St. Pete Beach. The district hosts Mardi Gras (February 18, 2025), Winter Pride (February 16 to 23, 2025), Pride (see details above) and a Halloween street party.

Imagine Museum (1901 Central Ave., St.

Petersburg). But considering the drag shows, live performances, special events and boisterous community-spirit vibe, we’re declaring it a party place. Florida has a reputation for wackiness, and there’s nothing wackier than a motel-themed funhouse designed by 75 artists, who use a variety of media such as video, sound, light, sculpture and painting to delight, tickle and befuddle visitors.

The white sand beaches are perfect for wiling away an afternoon swimming, tanning or otherwise frolicking on the shoreline. There’s hurricane season, of course, which can whip the peninsula quite harshly. Housed since 2011 in a quirky concrete-and-glass space on the waterfront, it’s a comprehensive journey inside the brain of the mustachioed eccentric.

1) This is St. Pete. You get beaches nearby, walkable neighborhoods, and plenty of spots where you won’t feel like the odd one out. The current incarnation of the event started in 2003, after legislators effectively shut down the original parade, demonstrating how locals are able to make lemonade out of lemons.

Beaches. At this marine-inspired spot, which feels like a boat house or cabana, you head to the counter to order one of the fresh daily catches, customize your seasonings and add a couple of sides like pineapple cabbage slaw or blackened fries.

The Wet Spot is where you can enjoy the sun, lay by the pool, go for a swim, have lunch and cocktails, or just enjoy the “scenery” and a beverage delivered by speedo-clad servers.

Planning to continue the party once you get home? The burgers are pretty good, too.

Cocktail, The Wet Spot (2355 Central Ave., St.

Petersburg) and The Saint (49 24th St. N., St. Petersburg). Pass-a-Grille is less developed, more residential and is known for its lesbian community. The plan is to continue this momentum by holding LoveHer Lounge Events bi-monthly, catering to the spectrum of queer female identities. Its gay bars are a nice mix of high-energy clubs and no-frills lounges.

The Dog Bar is where pet lovers can enjoy a drink while their furry friends play. Next is The Edge District, which boasts great street art and nightlife, including one of the bigger gay bars, Enigma (more on that later). Here, drag shows, gay sing-alongs, leather nights, and all sorts of fun are always on the menu. Complete with pool tables, a dart board, and an outdoor seating for smokers, check out Enigma next time you’re in the area.

The Garage On Central

2729 Central Avenue, St.

Petersburg

The Garage on Central, right in the heart of the Grand Central District, is where you want to stop for a cold one or two. Decorated with most things you find in a garage like diecast cars and license plates, it’s where you can go to shoot pool, throw darts, watch a game, or just hang out with your friends. In fact, bourbon is an ingredient in many of their recipes, elevating traditional meals of steak, lamb chops and pork chops.

More than any other U.S. state, Florida is the most whimsical—in more than one sense of the word. This well-designed 26-acre linear park, which points out into Tampa Bay, is the city’s favourite playground.

Considering the drag queens that feature in some of St. Pete’s best street art—the annual Shine Mural Festival is a great source of civic pride—it’s hard to imagine possible restrictions on drag being enforced here.