Gulfport To Celebrate New Year's With 'IMAGINE' Art Walk Event

GULFPORT, FL — The Gulfport Merchants Chamber welcomes arts lovers of all ages to ring in New Year’s night with some of the Tampa area’s most innovative artists at "IMAGINE: Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk," a themed outdoor celebration of imagination and art on Friday, Jan. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Gulfport.

IMAGINE is the second in a series of quarterly themed First Friday Art Walk events hosted by the GMC since the event’s return in October, with a third planned in April. Emerging and professional artists representing several artistic mediums will set up alongside the restaurants, shops, galleries and coffee houses on Beach Boulevard while live music plays at numerous locations.

Brenda McMahon leads the arts committee of the GMC and owns Brenda McMahon Gallery, a participating venue during IMAGINE.

“The GMC is excited to see what the artists of our region will do with this month’s art walk theme: IMAGINE," McMahon said. "Throughout time, the creative community has been the voice of new movements. The events of this past year have shown that 2021 is a year of shifting paradigms – a new day, if you will. On Jan. 1, 2021, we get to see the imaginings of our local arts community and we invite the public to come and imagine along with us.”

As with all events hosted by the GMC, all safety protocols are exceeded as part of Gulfport STRONG, a heightened safety awareness campaign launched in September. Masks are available upon request from volunteers and all participating artists and shopkeepers are encouraged to wear them.