St. Petersburg residents looking for a Halloween night out have a new option on Thursday, when Nova 535 at 535 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Street N. will host the Entrepreneurs Social Club’s “Novaween Lite” costume party. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is open to adults 21 and older, according to St. Pete Catalyst.
Michael S. Novilla, the venue’s founder and longtime Halloween ringmaster, said the party is a scaled‑back version of the elaborate “Novaween” productions he ran for 15 years. “It’ll be fun, which is the most important thing,” Novilla told the outlet, adding that the event will not feature the aerialists, fire acts, or giant robot that defined past shows. “We’re not charging admission. With Novaween, we always had a charge, for extra security,” he explained.
Despite the simpler format, the Thursday night celebration will still include many of the hallmarks that made the original parties popular. Attendees can expect a cash bar, a food truck, a 360‑degree photo booth, and a series of costume contests awarding prizes for Scariest, Sexiest, Most Creative, Funniest and Best Duo. The venue can accommodate up to 300 guests, and Novilla anticipates around 150 people will attend.
Novilla, who opened the space in 2008, runs the weekly Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC) gatherings, a network of local businesspeople who support one another’s ventures. The idea to combine the ESC with a Halloween party came from Christopher Tolisano of Best Day Fitness, who suggested a “brilliant” hybrid event. “It’s a Halloween party, but not to the level of what I used to produce with aerialists and the giant robot and all that crazy stuff,” Novilla said.
The venue’s history includes a lease to an organization that staged an elaborate Halloween event called The Devil’s Ball from 2022 through 2025. That production was set to mark its fifth year before the organizer decided to step back, leaving Novilla to reimagine the holiday celebration.
Beyond Halloween, Nova 535 serves a wide range of community needs, from weddings—accounting for roughly 40 percent of its business—to film shoots, fashion shows, fundraisers, mitzvahs and memorials. “You write me a check and I throw you a great party,” Novilla said, underscoring the venue’s role as a flexible event space for the city.
What’s next: The party begins at 6 p.m. this Thursday and runs until 10 p.m. No tickets are required, but guests must be 21 or older. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for the costume contests and to take advantage of the cash bar and food truck while space permits.
Sources: stpetecatalyst.com
