Celebrating St Petersburg’s Mural Culture
March 13, 2025
The Vibrant Mural Culture of Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida
Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is a city that wears its creativity on its walls—literally. Over the past decade, the city has transformed into an open-air gallery, where vibrant murals bring life to buildings, alleyways, and public spaces. St. Pete’s mural culture is a testament to its thriving arts scene, from large-scale masterpieces covering entire facades to hidden gems tucked into side streets.
The Rise of St. Pete’s Mural Movement
St. Petersburg’s mural movement gained momentum with the launch of the Shine Mural Festival in 2015. Organized by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, this annual event brings together local, national, and international artists to create large-scale works throughout the city.
Each year, new murals emerge, telling stories that reflect St. Pete’s history, culture, and social issues. Many pieces highlight themes of diversity, environmental awareness, and local heritage, making the city’s walls not just visually striking but deeply meaningful. This is the view from my balcony window from this year’s festival.
If you’re strolling through downtown, you don’t have to look far to find stunning street art. This is one of my favorites. The pelican in this mural makes me smile.
Each piece contributes to the city’s ever-evolving visual landscape, turning downtown into a living, breathing art exhibit.
Murals and Community Engagement
St. Pete’s mural culture isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about connection. Local businesses commission murals to add character to their storefronts, and artists collaborate with community groups to create pieces that reflect the city’s identity. The murals have also inspired walking tours, scavenger hunts, and interactive experiences, encouraging both residents and visitors to engage with the city in new ways. Even the city’s bus stops are decorated with glass murals.
The latest book in Webb’s Glass Shop Mysteries, Down in Flames, offers a glimpse into the lives of these unique artists who use a city as their canvas.
Does your city have a unique vibe that pleases both visitors and residents? Stop by and leave a comment to win a paperback copy of Down in Flames (US only).
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The Webb’s Glass Shop Mysteries are set in the bustling city of St. Petersburg, FL. The characters spend considerable time sampling the culinary delights of the `growing, foody landscape of the downtown waterfront. Please consider buying locally. Independent bookstores need your help.
Want to learn more about our author Cheryl Hollon? Visit her WEBSITE.
While you’re here, enter our Booklover’s Bench contest. We’re collecting entries for TWO free books to one lucky winner. It runs from March 1-22. Click HERE to enter.
Posted in 4-Cheryl Hollon, with Cheryl Hollon • | 29 Comments
I live in Boise, Idaho and I feel that it does have a unique vibe that pleases residents and visitors. Boise is the City of Trees and there are a lot of parks to encourage outdoor activities. We have a beautiful capitol building in the heart of downtown and areas built to encourage gathering. We also have a greenbelt that connects throughout the town for bikers and walkers to enjoy the green scenery.
Hi Hillary, You must feel fortunate to live in such a town. It sounds like a place I would enjoy.
I live in a suburb of Buffalo, NY and I don’t actually think it has a specific vibe that appeals to residents and/or visitors 😳 I mean, I guess there’s a “small town” feel that is nice for a lot of people…. and we are close to the Niagara River (thus, not too far from Niagara Falls) which is very cool. That’s probably the best I can think of for the area.
Hi Maria, I think living so close to the Niagara River is a great advantage.
The city where I live now, Apopka, FL is a sprawling mess. It stretches from Altamonte Springs west to Rt 429. There’s little character that I can discern. Even the historic downtown isn’t appealing. Other Orlando suburbs have a much more distinctive flavor, such as Winter Park, Maitland, College Park and Winter Garden. Nice that St. Pete appreciates art and history.
Hi Nancy, I am quite appreciative of St. Pete, but another favorite of mine is Winter Park. Lovely vibe.
What a cool thing for a city to encourage (especially with those themes!). Much like where Nancy lives, here in North San Diego County, everything pretty much blends together—think more, hot mess and less, yum-yum, good combo. We originally visited the town where we live thirty or more years ago and it had this very cool, funky little downtown area. When we moved here in 2010, that had been absorbed into another sprawling mess. Only a few years ago did the city realize the value of a nice downtown. They’re trying to bring back some character, but there’s only so much they can do when the two halves of what would be considered the downtown is are split by a major throughfare.
Hi Terry, That’s a good realization by your city, but I agree that a major thoroughfare is going to make it difficult. Maybe a walking corridor could join the two halves.
I live in a very small town in a very rural area, definitely not a tourist destination, so we don’t have anything fancy. Just a bar, a church, a park, and a little gas station. Not even a grocery store after the owner decided to retire in her 80s (now that was the hub of my town!) But there’s food neighbors and it’s nice and quiet- except once a year for our summer festival, Bratwurst Days (yes, lots of German ancestry).
The views of Lake Superior. Hiking trails, bike trails,mountain biking, skiing, lots of activities always going on.
Hi Christa! Wow! You are lucky to have such a great vibe.
Hi Alicia! I grew up in the German neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio. It was a close-knit, friendly, it-takes-a-village type of vibe. I loved it.
Nashville certainly has a vibe, and it also has murals on walls throughout the city and in many of the suburbs.
Hi Lois! Nashville certainly has its vibe — I enjoy walking downtown and listening to the musicians playing in the bars and restaurants. Enjoy!
I live in Redding (northern Ca) and when I moved here (30 yrs. ago) there was a rule of no murals! They have changed that and now we have beautiful murals all over the city! We even have a huge mural saying “Sunniest city in California) and everyone in town loves our murals.
Wow, that is such a cool transformation! From no murals to a city full of them—what a fantastic way to bring color and personality to Redding! I love that the community has embraced public art so wholeheartedly.
I live in Holland, Michigan part of the year and it’s a beautiful small town located on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. It’s known for the Dutch culture and the annual Tulip Festival that takes place in early May. There are tulips everywhere along with tourists. It also has a great beach and a lighthouse called Big Red.
Hi Dianne! Holland, Michigan sounds charming! A town bursting with tulips in the spring? That must be a breathtaking sight! And with a beautiful beach and a lighthouse—Big Red sounds like a must-see—it’s got everything for the perfect lakeside getaway. I can imagine strolling through town, soaking in the Dutch culture, and enjoying the festival vibes.
All those pictures of the lovely murals in St. Petersburg make me want to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Laura! Thanks – we really enjoy it.
I live in Pensacola, FL which has a rich history. Pensacola also has a great artistic vibe. Downtown also has monthly gallery nights. I have been to St. Pete a number of times and it does have a wonderful vibe as well just like Pensacola.
Hi! Pensacola is fabulous! I’m glad you are enjoying it.
In Denver we have the Cherry Creek Art Festival I went to it one year and it was a lot of fun. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
Denver has a great art scene they have a Cherry Creek Art Festival that I have been to. Deborah dortega229@gmail.com
Hi Deborah! I love Denver so much — with very little enticement, we would move there.
I grew up in San Diego, CA and still live there. There is a lot to see here in San Diego.
Hi Diana, I’ve been to San Diego many times and I love it’s unique vibe.
Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing these beautiful murals or street arts of your city! I’m blessed to be living in Monterey Bay which is famously known for its deep connection to the ocean, from whale watching to its Monterey Bay Aquarium. In addition, the city of Monterey was California’s first capital, and its historic sites, like Cannery Row and Old Fisherman’s Wharf, still retain the spirit of its fishing and sardine-canning past. – Emily cwkuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
Monterey Bay is such a gem! The ocean connection there is truly special—whale watching, the incredible aquarium, and that salty sea breeze that just makes everything better! And I love how the city embraces its history—there’s something so magical about strolling down Cannery Row and imagining the bustling fishing days of the past.