Mainsail Art Festival celebrates 50 years this weekend with 250+ artists and live music
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One of St. Petersburg’s premier cultural events, the Mainsail Art Festival, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend, drawing over 100,000 visitors and showcasing the city's diverse creative community and passion for the arts.
The 50th Annual Mainsail Art Festival will take place at Vinoy Park on the St. Petersburg waterfront, running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 5th and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 6th.
Each year, a dedicated team of Mainsail volunteers organizes this free-admission event, welcoming thousands of residents and tourists to explore high-quality artwork, participate in family-friendly activities, and enjoy live music and local food vendors.
This year’s festival will feature its largest lineup ever, with over 250 artists showcasing work across 13 mediums: ceramics, digital art, fiber, glass, graphics, jewelry, metal, mixed media, oil/acrylic painting, photography, sculpture, watercolor, and wood.
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For years, The Joint’s patio had the bones of a great outdoor hangout: space to sit, a neighborhood crowd, and the kind of laid-back setting that feels made for a cold beer and a game on TV.
What it did not have was much protection from Florida’s sun and rain.
That is about to change. The Joint, the longtime Jungle Terrace tavern at 7630 34th Avenue North, has added a covered patio, an outdoor bar, fans, and seven TVs.
Owners Ben Scherlis and Francesco “Fran” Balzano expect to welcome customers into the new space later this month, although an opening date has not yet been finalized.
“We just wanted to open this space up and make it a whole new outdoor concept where people can sit outside, order food and drinks, and watch TV, same as you could inside,” Scherlis said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “It’s just giving people another option.”