ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - s4story -- Hundreds of Tampa Bay residents are invited to join No Kings: Vote Early, a voter engagement event on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier.

Beginning at 10 a.m., participants will gather on the beach to form giant human letters spelling "VOTE EARLY," creating a dramatic aerial image and video to encourage eligible voters to plan to participate in the 2026 midterm election.

The St. Petersburg gathering is part of No Kings: Vote Early, a nationwide day of voter participation focused on helping eligible voters understand when, where, and how they can cast their ballots.

Community organizations will be on-site to provide information about early voting, vote-by-mail, and other voting options. Nonpartisan voter guides will also be available to help attendees learn more about the candidates and races on the ballot.

"We want to make sure people understand how important it is to participate in this election and know their options for voting early," said Kelly Harter, event organizer. "Midterm elections are historically ignored. We cannot afford to stay home anymore. When we surrender our vote, we surrender our power.  We want people to come out, get informed, and be part of this important community event. Everyone is welcome."

More on S For Story

• Great Dane Children's Trilogy Comes to an End
• RAS AP Consulting Issues National Compliance Alert and Launches Q4 2026 AP Readiness Program Ahead of IRS FIRE → IRIS Cutover
• Bewitching Book Tours Conjures the Second Annual Spooktastic Haunted Book Fair
• Claude Zdanow named Managing Director in Miami, Florida
• Birch Tree Publishing Launches as Independent Publishing Imprint

Early voting in Pinellas County begins Monday, Oct. 19, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

A Visual Call to Vote
Unlike a traditional march or rally, the Spa Beach event will center on creating the large-scale "VOTE EARLY" formation.

Participants will be assigned to individual letters and seated on the sand for approximately 30 minutes while aerial photographs and video are captured. Attendees are asked to wear dark blue or black shirts and hats and bring a dark beach towel, sunglasses, and water. Signs are discouraged because they could interfere with the aerial image.

Parking is available at the St. Pete Pier and in the surrounding areas, but it is limited. Carpooling and rideshare services are encouraged.

EVENT DETAILS
WHAT: No Kings: Vote Early
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier, 615 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
VISUAL: Hundreds of participants forming the words "VOTE EARLY" on Spa Beach for aerial photography and video
ATTIRE: Dark blue or black shirts and hats; participants should bring a dark beach towel, sunglasses, and water.
AFTER PARTY: Attendees are encouraged to stay after the visual event to enjoy a beach day community picnic on the grassy area and beach. (BYOC - bring your own cooler.)

More on S For Story

• Pharmacist Flo Launches New Children's Book, "Pharmacist Flo's Halloween Adventure"
• Pregis Launches Sharp InfinX: On-Demand Rightsized Mailing System Delivering a Precision-Sized Mailer for Every Order
• New Book Release - The Legend in the Stone
• netElastic Announces vBNG And CGNAT 2.0 General Availability
• Shadow of a Survivor: This Astonishing Memoir - From One of the World's Longest Cancer Survivors

Participants should arrive by 10 a.m. to be organized into the human formation.

FOR REGISTRATION: Participants can register in advance through the No Kings event page on Mobilize:
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/1026318/

The event is supported by the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, Indivisible St. Pete, ACLU, Common Cause, Gulfport for democracy, Allendale United Methodist Church, UU St. Pete, and the National Organization for Women.

About No Kings: Vote Early
No Kings: Vote Early events are nonpartisan and are designed to increase participation from all eligible voters. A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including legally permitted ones, should not be brought to events. No Kings: Vote Early is a nationwide day of voter participation taking place on Oct. 17, 2026. Events are designed to help eligible voters understand their voting options and make a plan to participate in upcoming elections.