History

Sunsets at Pier 60 debuted on March 17, 1995 as a year-round nightly sunset celebration on the iconic Pier 60. This 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serves as a free, family-friendly destination for tourists and locals to experience.

The purpose of Sunsets at Pier 60 is to promote Clearwater Beach and Pinellas County as a prime tourism destination. The festival strives to enhance the guest experience by encouraging longer stays while providing visitors and residents with additional evening entertainment options following their days spent enjoying the beach.

Sunsets at Pier 60 has produced numerous special events such as Beach Fest, Caribbean Christmas Art Show and FantaSea of Lights. In 2013, the nightly sunset celebration created a new destination event in partnership with the city of Clearwater called the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival.

For over 25 years, Sunsets at Pier 60 has provided the arts and busking community with a platform to showcase and express their authentic forms of art while encouraging the use of public lands for cultural and educational purposes. The year-round festival stimulates the economy by promoting Clearwater Beach and Pinellas County as a prime tourism destination, resulting in residual economic impact for the community. The nightly sunset celebration serves as a primary source of income for local and traveling artisans and professional entertainers.