SHINE Festival partners with St. Pete Pride
Two of St. Petersburg’s best events, St. Pete Pride and The SHINE Mural Festival have come together to produce Once Upon A Shine: A Gay Mural Scavenger Hunt as part of this year’s Pride festivities. The event features freeFall Theatre’s award-winning actor and drag performer, Matthew McGee, as a fairy godmother providing clues to the whereabouts of Cinderella’s lost stiletto. Retrace her steps from mural to mural while deciphering clues using the free PixelStix app.
“After performing for Pride and St Pete audiences for over a decade, Once Upon A Shine is truly one of the most unique and fun experiences I’ve ever been a part of,” said McGee. “Imagine my guiding you through the streets of our beloved city and its unique mural art scene as your very own Fairy Dragmother. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Pride as we continue to get back to normal after this unprecedented and somewhat joyless time. Bringing people joy is no easy task. Happy to wrap myself in sequins and support garments for this exciting and creative endeavor.”
The scavenger hunt can be completed anytime during Pride’s Arts & Music week, starting Saturday June 12th and ending Saturday June 19th. Plan for 2-3 hours of mural hunting and social media challenges. Individuals or teams (up to 6 people) can compete to find the lost stiletto and be entered to win the grand prize, a 2 night stay at the new Tru by Hilton on Central Avenue.
Every person that completes the scavenger hunt is eligible to receive $1 off a beer at Grand Central Brewhouse (21+) and a free yoga class at The Body Electric Yoga Company. Plus, SHINE is giving away other great prizes for the best photos and videos posted on social media with the hashtag #OnceUponAShine. Visit the website to see a full list of prizes, details and to register: www.stpeteartsalliance.org/PRIDE.
Participants must download the free PixelStix app on iPhone or Android phone to play. “We are thrilled to be working alongside SHINE to celebrate Pride in St Petersburg this year,” said PixelStix Founder & CEO Matthew Walker. “Not only does it allow us to serve our community but we feel it takes our technology somewhere exciting by using it to activate murals in a fun, new way. We look forward to so many more events like this in the future!”
This event is sponsored by Artistry St. Pete Apartments & Regions Bank. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, this event is free to the public but donations are encouraged to support the creation of more murals during this year’s SHINE Mural Festival, October 15-24, 2021. Donations can be made online at www.stpeteartsalliance.org/donate.