Every single evening, rain or shine, Clearwater Beach throws a party for the sunset. Locals simply call it Pier 60, and if you only do one free thing on your trip, make it this one.
The nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival turns the foot of the pier into a small open-air fair, with local artisans, street performers, and live music rolling as the sky puts on the real show over the Gulf.
Staying nearby makes it easy. Browse our vacation rental properties in Clearwater Beach, many within an easy walk of the pier, and sunset can be your nightly routine instead of a one-time outing.
What Is Sunsets at Pier 60?
The festival runs nightly, gearing up roughly two hours before sunset and carrying on for a couple of hours after. Expect craft vendors, balloon artists, jugglers, fire performers, and buskers, all centered on the plaza at the entrance to the pier.
It is family-friendly, leashed-dog-friendly on the plaza, and completely free to wander. On weekend evenings, look for free movies on the big outdoor screen once the sky goes dark, a beloved tradition known as Sunset Cinema.
Walking the Pier Itself
Pier 60 is a working fishing pier stretching over a thousand feet into the Gulf. A small admission gets you out over the water, where anglers pull in snook, sheepshead, and the occasional shark, and the bait house at the entrance covers rods, tackle, and snacks.
Even if you never wet a line, the end of the pier is arguably the best sunset vantage point on the beach. Anglers can go deeper with our Clearwater Beach fishing guide
Making an Evening of It
- Arrive an hour before sunset. You will catch the performers at full swing and claim a good patch of sand.
- Bring a blanket or beach chairs. The sand west of the plaza is the classic viewing spot.
- Eat before or after. The surrounding blocks hold many of the beach’s best restaurants and bars for a post-sunset dinner or drink.
- Stay for the movie on weekend nights, or stroll the Beach Walk promenade south along the shore.
Parking fills fast near the pier at golden hour. If you are staying with us nearby, walk or ride the Jolley Trolley instead; our beach parking guide and getting around guide cover the details.
When Is Sunset?
Sunset shifts from about 5:40 PM in December to 8:30 PM at midsummer. Whatever week you visit, the festival tracks it automatically, so just check the evening sky. For bigger events that take over the pier area, from the Sugar Sand Festival each spring to holiday celebrations, see our events calendar
A Little History Under Your Feet
There has been a pier at this spot for over a century, and the current Pier 60 has anchored the beach since the early 1960s. The nightly festival tradition began in the 1990s, modeled loosely on Key West’s famous Mallory Square sunset celebration, and it has run virtually every evening since. Generations of local performers have cycled through the plaza, and a few of the artisans have held their same tables for decades.
That longevity is why the festival feels less like a tourist attraction and more like a small town gathering that happens to take place on one of the best beaches in America.
Beyond the Nightly Show: Pier 60 Through the Year
The plaza and the sand around the pier host bigger happenings all year long, so it is worth checking what falls inside your travel dates:
- Sugar Sand Festival (spring): master sand sculptors build a walk-through gallery of jaw-dropping sculptures beside the pier. Read our Sugar Sand Festival guide.
- Sunset Cinema (weekends): free family movies on the giant outdoor screen after dark.
- Holiday season: lighted boat parades and beach tree lightings light up the waterfront each December.
- Live music: pop-up concerts and buskers rotate through the plaza on no fixed schedule, which is part of the charm.
Our events calendar pulls the area’s full schedule together in one place, and it feeds the trip planner automatically.
Pier 60 FAQ
Does the sunset festival cost anything?
No. The plaza festival is free every night. Walking or fishing on the pier itself carries a small admission, and anglers pay a modest rod fee that includes the pier’s fishing license coverage.
What time should I arrive?
About an hour before sunset hits the sweet spot: performers at full swing, artisans still set up, and time to claim your spot on the sand before the colors start.
Is it worth going on a cloudy night?
Usually yes. Some of the most dramatic skies here come from clouds catching the last light, and the festival itself runs regardless. The only nights it thins out are genuine washouts.
Can I bring my dog?
Leashed dogs are welcome on the plaza and promenade, though not on the sand itself. Our pet-friendly guide maps out the closest legal pup beaches.
Your Sunset Routine Starts Here
There are famous piers all over Florida, but a nightly festival that has run for decades makes Pier 60 something different: a small-town tradition on a world-famous beach. Watch one sunset there and you will understand why guests come back every evening of their stay.
Make it your nightly routine. Browse our Clearwater Beach properties near the pier, and let the free trip planner build the rest of your days.