The Sunshine in the Shadows walking ghost tour is conducted by paranormalist and professor, Dr. Brandy Stark, a resident of St Petersburg since 1992. In 1997, she founded the SPIRITS of St Petersburg, the longest running paranormal investigation team in the Tampa Bay area.
These tours are set up by request and can be scheduled through email contact, listed at the bottom of the page. Tours typically start between 6:00 and 6:30 and take approximately one and a half to two hours to complete. To schedule a tour, a minimum of two people is required. The tour can be closed to small groups or offered to the public and capped at 13 participants.
The tour consists of History, touches on the local art scene, and includes interactive stops at locations where the SPIRITS of St Petersburg have investigated urban legends and hauntings.
The tour begins in front of 501 Central Avenue, the Florida CraftArt building, and will end at ArtLofts, the artist studios at the back of the building. Ticket pre-purchase is required and the tour goes rain or shine. A modified tour may be offered in cases of rain.
The tour is typically a minimum of 4,000 steps so please wear comfortable walking shoes. Handheld equipment is welcome if participants have any that they would like to bring with. We usually stop at two different buildings to walk through as well. The final stop is at ArtLofts where participants will learn the history of the building, have a private viewing of the current art exhibits within, and perhaps meet a few specters of the past.
Parking downtown can be tricky. It is advised to pay attention to the parking meters. The meter is on Central avenue are usually active 24 hours 7 days a week, but there are locations on 1st Avenues North and South and 5th Streets North and South where meters shut down at 6:00 p.m. or there is an allowed two hour parking. Metered parking is $1 per hour, silver coins and credit cards accepted by the devices.
You can identify your tour guide a roundish blue-haired woman who wears a SPIRITS t-shirt.
Books are available for purchase at the end of the tour for $10, which includes a $5 discounted price for participants.
For any questions or to set up a tour please email brandybstark13@gmail.com gmail.com.