Top Clearwater Pop Culture in 2026

2026 Besties Award-winning original Tarpon Springs ghost tour. So good it was copied. Led by Ace Chapman — and long story short, it never is. Now in its fourth year, this is the original Tarpon Springs ghost tour, led by screenwriter and longtime local guide Ace Chapman. The history is real, researched, and specific — never borrowed, embellished, or sold as a paid upgrade. The tour covers downtown Tarpon Springs after dark, including the story of Marshal Ruben Jones, a lawman whose career and mysterious 1921 death remain part of local legend. The route passes the Cheney House, the Old Dry Goods Store, and the Old Saloon Building, home to a 1953 film's famous fight scene. Guests use dowsing rods at the Train Depot and a spirit box along the way. There's also Mary, a spirit documented turning her streetlight on and off on demand. No fake equipment. No scripted theatrics. No paid upgrades. 2026 Besties Award winner, Best Tour. Still the best one.

2026 Besties Award-winning original Safety Harbor ghost tour, running since 2021. Led by certified guide Cynthia Dominick. Real history. No theatrics. Safety Harbor is a small coastal town on Tampa Bay. After dark, it tells a different story. This is Safety Harbor's only ghost tour and the longest running — founded in 2021 by Cynthia Dominick. With a 4.9-star Google rating and the 2026 Besties Award for Best Tour, Silent Slayer has built its reputation on real experiences, not theatrical ones. This 90-minute walking tour covers documented history and paranormal activity downtown, including a hanging tree, a devastating fire, and a bank robbery, with stops at the historic Safety Harbor Resort and Spa lobby. The tour begins near City Hall, where since 2021 Silent Slayer has documented a firetruck phenomenon with no explanation. Guests finish with a ghost hunting sampler at the Elf Tree and a stop at the ancient Baranoff Oak. No costumes. No actors. No scripted jump scares.