Halloween is arriving early in St. Petersburg as Sunshine City Scare returns August 15-16 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront.
Billed as a Halloween prequel, Sunshine City Scare gives horror fans, cosplayers, collectors, and pop culture fans a chance to get into the spooky spirit before October arrives. The 2026 event is built around a Five Nights at Freddy’s theme, with the convention transforming the hotel into a weekend of horror-inspired entertainment.
Saturday runs from 10am to 10pm, followed by another day of programming Sunday from 11am to 5pm. The schedule includes cosplay contests, panels, vendors, artists, and other activities throughout the weekend.
Cosplay is a major part of Sunshine City Scare, with craftsmanship, runway, and lip-sync competitions planned for 2026. There are also horror costume inspiration panels for anyone looking to improve their Halloween look.
The event’s vendor area will feature artists, retailers, collectibles, artwork, merchandise, costumes, accessories, and other items aimed at horror and fandom audiences. More than half of the available vendor spaces are reserved for artists.
For those sticking around after the daytime activities, Sunshine City Scare also has its Fandom After Dark programming, including a spooky poolside party with a DJ, guest cosplayers, and additional entertainment.
Sunshine City Scare 2026 takes place August 15-16 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront. With horror, cosplay, shopping, and plenty of Halloween inspiration packed into one weekend, it’s a chance to start celebrating the spooky season a little early.
Beam Me Up Scotty
Old punk rocker from Miami who still smells faintly like comic shops and poor financial decisions.
