The St. Petersburg Science Festival (SPSF) is a free, public celebration offering a wide range of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math-related activities. They include creative and compelling exhibits, demonstrations, tours, discussions and performances.   SPSF is offered in conjunction with Florida Fish and Wildlife’s MarineQuest.

The SPSF also offers a Sneak Peek for schools on the Friday before the public festival to provide local schools and students a sneak peek. Students in grades 4 and 5 will spend time experiencing hands-on science activities in a variety of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics discipline.

The Festival is held on the grounds of the Poynter Park and University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus –  250 5th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL, 33701.

From Sixth Avenue South at the USF Bull statue walk along Harborwalk (find the tall, flag signs).  The festival extends from here to the grassy area on the waterfront behind Davis Hall. Look for the many tents. You can’t miss it!

The City of St. Petersburg is home to many festivals; our community proudly celebrates our local art, sports, and music. These festivals showcase the amazing array of assets the Tampa Bay area has to offer and the community loves them.

St. Petersburg has numerous academic institutions, corporations and government agencies that are heavily invested in science, technology, engineering and math. It is also home to the Tampa Bay Ocean Team, a marine science research community of more than 1,600 working scientists and researchers.

This festival highlights St. Petersburg and our region’s hidden science treasures, engages the community, and inspires young minds to become tomorrow’s innovators.

The St. Petersburg Science Festival is a grassroots community volunteer effort and the collaborators are a “who’s who” of science and technology organizations in St. Petersburg and their friends. They include people from major academic centers to leading research organizations, cutting edge high technology corporations, museums, environmental outreach organizations, volunteer student interns who are planning, organizing and executing all the functions that go into putting on a public science event.

Sponsors from throughout the community, many of them collaborators, have provided funding for the science festival.

The 2026 Festival had a selection of food and beverage vendors:

At Poynter Park:

• Korean Kitchen
• Mz Sno Biz Kielbasa Bus
• St. Pete Concessions
• The Black Cat Cafe

At USF Campus:

• Chartwells (USF Dining)
• Kahwa
• The Tavern

At Florida Fish and Wildlife:

• Cole’s Snow Kone Factory
• The Dude and His Food

The 2026 Festival stage shows included:

10:00-10:45am Stage Opening featuring WMNF 88.5FM

10:45-11:45pm funky49’s Nerdcore Hip-Hop

12:00-12:30pm Festival Opening Ceremony featuring Challenge Island

12:30-12:45pm SeaUsRise

12:45-2:00pm WMNF 88.5FM

2:00-4:00pm DJ Set with Electric Mirage

We ask that you do not bring the following items to the Festival:

• Dogs – while we are huge fans of our furry friends this event can be crowded with lots of small humans and loud noises. Service dogs, of course, are welcome.
• Weapons of any kinds or items that present a clear and present danger (no firearms, knives, chemical sprays).
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Drugs of controlled substances.
• Fireworks or other explosives.
• Lighters, open flames (unless part of an approved exhibit), or vape pens (no smoking or vaping).
• Megaphones or sound amplification devices or loud noisemakers (unless part of an approved exhibit).
• Anything that can obstruct the view of other participants.
• Any items that could pose risk to the health or safety of others or property.