Your Guide To The 2019 Mainsail Art Festival April 20-21

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- St. Petersburg's premier cultural event, the 44th annual Mainsail Art Festival, takes place this weekend at Vinoy Park, 500 Bayshore Drive N.E.

More than 100,000 visitors are expected to visit the show April 2o and 21 during which more than $60,000 in prize money is awarded to exhibiting artists.

This year's festival features more than 250 juried fine art and craft exhibitors working in ceramics, digital art, fiber, glass, graphics, jewelry, metal, mixed media, oil and acrylic paint, photography, sculpture, watercolor and wood.

The festival also include live music and performers, including an eclectic mix of mime, strolling minstrels, steel drums and bands on the stage.

Chairs are provided under tents for overhead shade in front of the performing arts stage. Visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets to view performances as well. Click here for a schedule of performances.

Budding artists will shine at the festival as well during the Young at ARt Student Exhibition with awards. Mainsail’s Young at ARt Student Exhibition features the best artwork from students throughout Pinellas County in grades kindergarten through 12. Student artwork is juried from hundreds of pieces of artwork submitted by teachers from public and private schools. The student show judge selects 12 Awards of Excellence for outstanding artwork for each grade.

The event will include a culinary arts food court (click here for a list of food vendors) featuring foods from the area's best restaurants.

And to keep youngsters engaged, there will be a Kids Create Craft Tent hosted by the Junior League of St. Petersburg in partnership with Great Explorations! This year’s free make-and-take crafts and activities will have a nautical theme and include:

• Pout Pout Fish Prints
• Benny’s Big Bubble Wands
• Great Ex’s Sensory Sand
• One Fish, Two Fish puppets
• Rainbow Fish Art
• The Sandcastle that Lola Built (Great Ex’s Imagination Playground)

Admission is free.

The festival runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Click herefor more details.