About Pied Piper Productions: Tampa's party people since 2004

For more than twenty years we've thrown Tampa Bay's big nights, from New Year's Eve countdowns and pool parties to headline DJs and the Halloween parties that grew into a carnival.

Our story

It started with a party

Pied Piper Productions has been throwing some of Tampa's biggest parties since 2004, combining fun people with the atmosphere, events and experiences they enjoy.

Our Halloween and New Year's Eve parties at Jackson's on Harbour Island became Tampa traditions. By 2014 the New Year's Eve countdown was in its tenth year, and a year later more than 4,000 people rang in 2016 with us. Mario Lopez hosted two years running, and the fireworks kept getting bigger.

The pandemic put everything on hold in 2020. When Tampa was ready to come back together, we built something bigger. Pied Piper's Haunted Carnival opened at Armature Works in 2021 as our first large-scale event since the shutdown, with rides and a Kid Zone by day and headline DJs after dark.

From there the calendar kept growing, with headline shows at the historic Cuban Club in Ybor City, pool parties at WTR, the XOXO Art & Music Fest and New Year's Eve on the pier at Armature Works. We're a Tampa team led by owner Mike Piper, and we sweat every detail, from the venue and the lineup to how you feel walking out at the end of the night.

Founded in Tampa
2004
Guests at our New Year's Eve countdown to 2016
4,000+
Years of Halloween parties in Tampa
20+
Artists at XOXO Art & Music Fest 2024
80+

2004 to today

How we got here

From a countdown on Harbour Island to a four-day carnival by the river. Scroll, swipe or pick a year.

  1. Day one

    2004: It starts in Tampa

    Pied Piper Productions is born in Tampa, throwing Halloween and New Year's Eve parties that become local traditions.

  2. Three guests in Happy New Year tiaras on the waterfront deck at Pied Piper's New Year's Eve at Jackson's on Harbour Island, Tampa

    2014: Ten years of countdowns

    New Year's Eve at Jackson's on Harbour Island reaches its tenth year, with DJ Magic Mike. A year later, more than 4,000 people ring in 2016 with us.

  3. Mario Lopez points to the sky on stage at Pied Piper's New Year's Eve at WTR at The Godfrey, Tampa

    2017: Mario Lopez hosts

    Mario Lopez hosts our New Year's Eve, then comes back in 2018 for a party at WTR at The Godfrey with the city's only dual-barge fireworks display.

  4. 2020: The pause

    The pandemic stops live events across Tampa Bay, ours included. We'd been planning six months to a year out.

    “We went from that to not knowing what's happening next weekend.”

    Mike Piper, to Bay News 9
  5. CO2 jets fire over the main stage on Duke Dumont's night at the first Pied Piper's Haunted Carnival, Armature Works, October 2021

    2021: The first Haunted Carnival

    Four days of rides, costumes and headline DJs on the field at Armature Works, and our first large-scale event after the pandemic.

    “Is it a carnival? Is it a DJ thing? Is it a Halloween party? Well, it's really all of those, and it's all ages.”

    Mike Piper
  6. Rainbow-lit Ferris wheel towers over a packed crowd at night during XOXO Carnival with DJ Snake, May 2022

    2022: Two carnivals in one year

    XOXO Carnival brings DJ Snake, deadmau5, Lil Jon and Shaggy to Armature Works in May. In October the Haunted Carnival returns with Steve Aoki and DJ Diesel.

  7. A packed crowd at the main stage during Diplo's set, Pied Piper's Haunted Carnival 2023

    2023: Diplo, Quavo and Marshmello

    Diplo, Quavo and Above & Beyond headline the third Haunted Carnival, and Marshmello closes the year on the pier at Armature Works.

  8. Orange plumes tower over a silhouetted crowd on Two Friends' night at XOXO Art & Music Fest, Armature Works, March 2024

    2024: A festival, a pool season and a storm

    XOXO comes back as an art and music festival with more than 80 artists. Pool season heats up at WTR, hurricane damage cancels the carnival, and Shaq's DJ Diesel headlines New Year's Eve.

  9. A packed crowd at the main stage of Pied Piper's Haunted Carnival 2025, with a Ferris wheel and rides lit up behind, Armature Works, Tampa

    2025: The carnival comes back

    Steve Aoki, Rick Ross and Galantis headline the fourth Haunted Carnival, with part of the proceeds going to ForHearts Worldwide. Sofi Tukker and Austin Millz ring in 2026 with AW Live.

  10. Today

    A packed crowd under the lit downtown Tampa skyline at Together As One with Bob Moses, Curtis Hixon Park, January 2026

    2026: And counting

    Bob Moses plays Together As One at Curtis Hixon Park with One Of Us Events, and headline DJs keep filling The Cuban Club.

    Next up

    · JAMES HYPE w/ Tita Lau LIVE

    See upcoming events

What drives us

“This event has always been about evolution and community.”

Mike PiperOwner, Pied Piper Productions, on the 2025 Haunted Carnival
  1. Evolution

    Halloween parties grew into a four-day carnival, and XOXO went from a carnival to an art and music festival. We keep changing the format so no night feels like a rerun.

  2. Community

    We're a Tampa team working with Tampa partners, from Armature Works and The Cuban Club to AW Live and One Of Us Events. And we give back. Part of the 2025 carnival's proceeds went to ForHearts Worldwide.

  3. The details

    The venue, the lineup, the production and how you feel walking out the gate. More than twenty years in, we still sweat every one of them.

Join the list

Hear about it first

Get texts and emails about upcoming Pied Piper events.

  • New events as soon as they're announced
  • Tell us your sign for a chance to win a free birthday party