Last Rites of Summer

As you spend the last days of summer at the beach, be sure to check out some of these free, family-friendly St. Petersburg/Clearwater area celebrations over Labor Day weekend:

• The small town of Oldsmar wins the apple pie for having the most traditional Labor Day celebration. Each year (this year it falls on Saturday, Aug. 30) families gather at Celebrate Oldsmar at the waterfront R.E. Olds Park for hot dogs, inflatable games, pony rides and oldies rock. The event begins at noon and features an appearance by Arthur, the 8-year-old PBS cartoon character from "Arthur's™ World.” The highlight comes at dark, when fireworks explode over Tampa Bay.

• Make summer last all year long by buying a seashell nightlight, caricature or other craft from artisans at the Sunsets at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. Kids love the buskers, who make balloon animals, walk on stilts and swallow flames. Parents love the Gulf sunsets (and that the whole thing is free!). This nightly festival begins two hours before sunset. Pier 60 Park also has playground equipment. The more daring can bounce and flip on a bungee swing. The festival is easily reached on foot by Clearwater's new Beach Walk, a lighted, palm-lined promenade that stretches along the beachfront.

• There aren't many times you can walk down the street wearing a lizard hat and not draw suspicious stares. At the Gulfport Gecko Festival's whimsical street parade, it can make you new friends. The laid-back waterfront community kicks off its annual festival on Friday, Aug. 29, with a restaurant and pub crawl in its historic downtown. On Saturday, live music flows, and street performers stroll through the crowd. You can pick up a hat for the evening parade and other unusual items from street vendors. The festivities culminate with a street dance.

If you go:

Celebrate Oldsmar, 813-749-1100, website

Sunsets at Pier 60, 727-434-6060, website

Gecko Fest, 727-322-5217, website