Downtown Tampa’s Sail Plaza has gone all-in on Halloween this year, transforming its section of the Tampa Riverwalk into a waterfront haunt that would make even Gasparilla’s pirates proud. Nearly five dozen animatronics fill the space—from cackling clowns to ghostly mariners—but the standout is Captain Cuts, a skeletal pirate perfectly suited to life by the bay, or even this author's front porch!

As one staff member joked, “We start ordering in February.” And it shows. Every inch of the plaza is decked out with motion-sensing monsters, eerie lighting, and fog that rolls off the water like something out of a movie.

The first cool night of the season, a Saturday with temps in the low 70s, made it all the more magical. Guests grabbed seasonal drinks, snapped selfies, and lingered for the soulful sounds of Paisley Howell, whose acoustic guitar set the perfect tone for a night that blended spooky and serene.

The Sail Plaza Spooktacular proves that Halloween hits differently on Tampa’s waterfront—equal parts fright and Florida charm.

if you go, don’t miss out on Gaspar’s Last Smoke Unisex™ Long Sleeve Tee. Dark enough to wear to the Castle. Bold enough to fly down Bayshore without a second look.

-HI.TPA.-