St. Petersburg residents can expect a city‑wide art experience this weekend as the inaugural Booker Creek Arts Festival opens in the EDGE District from November 12 through November 15, according to St. Pete Catalyst. The four‑day event features 127 original works by Florida artists displayed inside roughly 40 participating venues—including hotels, boutiques, breweries, salons, restaurants and even the St. Petersburg Police Department—creating a self‑guided walking tour of the district.
Festival organizer Leslie Curran, owner of ARTicles Art Gallery & Custom Framing and former city council member, curated the exhibition to match each piece with the aesthetic of its host business. While most works are hung on walls, the police department is the only location allowing easels, and no heavy sculptures were included to avoid logistical challenges.
Artists are competing for up to $50,000 in jury‑awarded prizes, and visitors can vote for a People’s Choice Award. The juried selection process involved a panel of five arts professionals who reviewed three submissions from each Florida‑based artist before narrowing the field to one piece per artist.
In addition to the visual displays, the festival offers daily activities. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, a 3D‑printed illuminated visual display called “An Evening Illuminated” will be projected outdoors at 1301 Central Ave., viewable from nearby Ferg’s. Saturday’s schedule includes glass‑blowing demonstrations by Duncan McClellan near 1201 Central, a mural paint‑off by No Good Deeds at Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, and a pop‑up art show titled “Go With the Flow” at Green Bench Brewing.
Interactive elements feature the NOMAD Art Bus at Cappa Law, a Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation mural painted by Carrie Jadus at Green Bench Brewing, and a Plein Air Painting Competition hosted by Richard Seidel at Mint House. The festival also hosts teen performances, a postcard‑making project, and a community chalk‑drawing activity called the Global Love Project.
Winners for the juried awards will be announced Saturday night at Green Bench Brewing, with People’s Choice voting closing at 8 p.m. The final People’s Choice and Plein Air Competition winners will be revealed on Sunday at Green Bench Brewing.
What’s next: After the festival concludes on Sunday, November 15, the EDGE District will return to its regular programming, but organizers hope the event will spur ongoing partnerships between local businesses and artists, reinforcing St. Petersburg’s reputation as a “City of the Arts.” Residents interested in future festivals should follow announcements from the EDGE District nonprofit.
Sources: stpetecatalyst.com
