Welcome to the Gulfport Merchants Association Home Page!
CURRENT PRESS RELEASES:
Gulfport: Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk, August 6th
Beat the Heat and Retreat to Gulfport's First Friday Art Walk on August 6th, from 6 to 10 pm. Getaway from the hectic work week, and peruse Gulfport’s Sun-fabulous “Old Florida” atmosphere while viewing the work of over 50 unique artists and crafters, as well as authors, antique dealers and entertainers stretched over a half-mile up and down scenic Beach Blvd. While browsing the sizzling art and craft booths…don’t miss Gulfport’s exclusive shops, boutiques and galleries. Live entertainers, including Gail Biron, The Paul Anthony Band, New Horizons Band and more will be appearing at venues throughout the Village. Live demonstrations take place all along Beach Blvd; The Industrial Art Center continues to offer "Blow Your Own Hot Glass Masterpiece” mini classes by master glass blower Jackie Ballard and the IAC team. And don’t forget to enjoy dinner at one of over a dozen fine restaurants within the Art District, now one of the foremost dining destinations in the Bay Area.
Gulfport Art Walk takes place on the First Friday and Third Saturday of every month, year-round. Parking is always free and free trolley rides are available from off-site parking areas. Pet and family friendly! Experience a unique dining, shopping and cultural experience unlike any other.
Once you discover Gulfport, Tampa Bay’s “best kept secret”, you’ll want to come back for more.
For information on the Gulfport Merchants Association and Gulfport events, please visit www.GulfportFlorida.us, www.gulfportma.com, and www.mygulfport.us.
The Gulfport Art Walk and event recorded information line is 866-ART-WALK.
Artists and Crafters interested in participating can find more information and download an application at www.SIKPromotions.com.
Applicants: Handmade and Personal creations.
Fees: $25 per Art Walk or $100 for five Consecutive Art Walks.
Application valid for one year.
Make Checks Payable to: GMA
Mail Application:
Suzanne King, C/O GMA
5225 15th Ave S
Gulfport, FL 33707
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or GulfportEvents@gmail.com
Vendors can download application here.
The Gulfport Art Walk and event recorded information line is 866-ART-WALK.
A Geckofest Fun-raiser!
Click on image for full-sized flyer
Saturday, August 7th. The Third Annual Gulfport Geckofest Pub Crawl has expanded!
Donate $25 per person and receive free drinks at participating Gulfport & St. Pete Beach Pubs! The Crawl starts promptly at Noon. Coral your pals and Show up in costume to get primed for the 10th Annual Gecko festivities. Participating Gulfport Pubs include: Bellini’s, Dominic’s Pizzaria, Peninsula Inn, La Cote Basque, Domain Food & Spirits, The Village Pub, O’Maddy’s and Gulfport on the Rocks. St. Pete Beach Pubs include; Rip Tides, The Blue Parrot, Philthy Phil’s, Sloppy Pelican and Swigwam Beach Bar. Tickets are available NOW at Gulfport on The Rocks, 5413 Shore Blvd, 727-321-8318 and The OutPost, 3007 Beach Blvd., 727-343-5962 and Swigwam Beach Bar, 336 Corey Circle, St Pete Beach, 727-363-7944.
Crawlers are encouraged to ride the Pink Flamingo connector trolley, which connects Gulfport and St. Pete Beach.
For more information on the Geckofest Pub Crawl on August 7th,
please call Sherrye at 727-321-8318.
GECKOS IN WONDERLAND Comes To Gulfport
click image for full-sized flyer
GULFPORT, FL: Gulfport’s annual Gecko Ball returns on Saturday, August 28th. GECKOS IN WONDERLAND is the light-hearted theme of this year’s festivities. The Ball will be held at the Peninsula Inn & Spa, 2937 Beach Blvd. The party starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until 11 p.m. The Gecko Ball is an annual event leading up to the 10th annual Gecko Fest, Gulfport’s largest street festival of the year on Saturday, September 4th.
GECKOS IN WONDERLAND will be a celebration befitting Gulfport’s quirky, funky, artistic nature. Larger than life décor will evoke Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Food for the occasion will conjure elements of the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Live music for dancing and entertainment will keep party-goers on their feet. Wonderland-related characters and activities will offer surprises throughout the evening. Silent auctions will also be held during the Ball, featuring gift certificates and merchandise from local businesses and artists. A portion of proceeds from the Ball and Gecko Fest will benefit the City of Gulfport’s Centennial Celebration to be held in October.
Tickets for GECKOS IN WONDERLAND are $25 each and are available in advance at The Outpost, 3007 Beach Blvd. and Domain Home Accessories, 3129 Beach Blvd.
The third annual Gecko Fest Pub Crawl is another event in the line-up of festivities leading to Gecko Fest.
The Pub Crawl will be held on Saturday, August 7th. Watch for more details about this and all things Gecko in Gulfport as they develop.
GECKOFEST 10th ANNIVERSARY!!!
click image for full-sized flyer
Saturday, September 4th, 2010
From 12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Beach Blvd., Gulfport 33707
The 10th Annual Gulfport Gecko Fest is set for Saturday, September 4th, 2010.
This FREE Event sponsored by the Gulfport Merchants Association, The City of Gulfport and The Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, St. Petersburg Times, Bright House Networks, GEICO, and Zhu-niverse and is a full day of fun for everyone. This whimsical send off to summer is like Mardi Gras meets the Renaissance, and brings together strolling street performers, main stage performers, performing artists and vendors with all types of weird and wonderful wares up and down Beach Blvd. Over 200 arts, craft and food vendors will be in attendance at this year’s event!
Zhu-universe will sponsor the children’s area with inflatable habitat trails, human hamster wheel, 6 set obstacle course, Nintendo DS Hand held systems, Wii kiosks, photo opportunities, Zhu Zhu Pets and Kung Zhu Product and accessories showcase, give-a-ways, ID clips, Music and more!
Join the o-FISH-al GECKO Goddess and the Gecko Court along with Kim Magic and other roving characters, who will be roaming the streets and entertaining the crowds!
Live entertainment will be provided on two main stages from noon till 10 p.m.
Don’t forget this is an audience participation event especially the parade (6pm…think Renaissance meets Mardi Gras: wacky, noisy, and costumed!) with adults & children’s costume contests and a hat contest at the end. Additional activities include Sidewalk Chalk Art, Face Painting, Dance lessons and much more.
The day culminates in Gulfport’s famous -STREET DANCE at 8:00 pm! Bring your dancing shoes, and help celebrate our 10th Anniversary!
Gulfport Fresh Market Serves The Community Year-Round
Note special summer hours:
Note reduced vendor fees for summer:
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As summer approaches, many local fresh markets are preparing to close for the season. But one local market is and always has been available to the community year-round: the Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market. Local residents and local, independent vendors are the mainstay of the Gulfport Fresh Market. More than just a tourist attraction, the Market provides a valuable service to the community. The Gulfport Fresh Market takes place each Tuesday on Beach Blvd. below 29th Ave. South. Summer hours are 9AM to 2PM.
Week in and week out, the Market offers fresh fruits and vegetables (including locally grown seasonal produce from farms in our area), as well as fresh bread, cheese, seafood, live herbs, plants, fresh flowers, nuts, honey, pet treats, smoothies, hand-made soaps, local art, crafts, jewelry, candles and healing lotions and oils. Charter a kayak tour at the Market, consult our astrologer or try on a henna tattoo. Watch a pottery wheel demonstration. Visit with rescued parrots from the Pinellas Suncoast Parrot Sanctuary on the first Tuesday of each month. Nearly 25 vendors offer these items and experiences to customers who appreciate the opportunity to support local merchants, artists, crafters and non-profit groups. New vendors join the Market nearly every week.
The Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market is a community-oriented gathering. Each Tuesday, friends and neighbors take the opportunity to visit the vendors and each other, strolling along scenic Beach Blvd. and taking in the unique local color that only Gulfport can offer. It is a place to see old friends and make new ones. Live music each week enhances the open-air marketplace. If you work on Tuesdays, stop by during your lunch hour. Or to make an afternoon out of it, have lunch in this “old Florida” village. Over a dozen options are available, all within walking distance. Try fish and chips or a burger while watching Boca Ciega Bay, or experience authentic Italian fare in a garden setting. Independent shops and boutiques in the village offer books, clothing, gifts, antiques, art work and more. Spas and salons offer a chance to pamper yourself. All businesses in Gulfport’s waterfront district are small and independently owned. All parking is free. The Market is family and pet-friendly.
Gulfport’s Industrial Arts Center (IAC) is now open on Tuesdays from 10AM to 2PM during the Fresh Market. Located in Gulfport’s Art Village Courtyard, the IAC offers members of the public young and old a chance to “blow your own” glass masterpiece. Choose from vases, drinking glasses, spirit balls, candy dishes, ornaments and more. On Tuesdays, discounts of $5 off are available to seniors and veterans.
Expect other events and activities during the summer season. Music, clothing swaps, art shows and more will be scheduled to make the Market a new and lively experience each week.
Free transportation to the Market for seniors can be arranged on the first Tuesday of each month. The Gulfport Senior Center’s GEMS transportation service will take seniors to and from the Market free of charge from 9AM to noon. Personal assistance will be provided if necessary. To arrange for your ride, call (727) 893-2242. The Gulfport Merchants Association accepts donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other personal needs at each Tuesday Fresh Market. Bring donations to the Merchants Association tent. Items are distributed to the Senior Center pantry to assist local families in need.
The Gulfport Fresh Market is sponsored by the Gulfport Merchants Association. For more details or for vendor information, contact Daniel Hodge at (727) 366-4086 or email dan@igc.org.
The Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market is your local fresh market, supporting your community, its residents and its small businesses. More than just a shopping experience, the market offers food for your body and community spirit for your soul.
Gulfport Merchants Association:
Thanks to Our Members
The Gulfport Merchants Association continues to make strides in attracting visitors to Gulfport and creating traffic in local businesses. Creating and maintaining a healthy business climate in Gulfport’s Waterfront District is the primary purpose of the GMA.
Art Walks, the Tuesday Fresh Market and special events regularly attract crowds in the hundreds or thousands. Many of these visitors are discovering Gulfport for the first time. Many of these new and repeat visits can be attributed to the efforts of GMA:
- Paid advertising
- A strong presence on the web
- Community networking
- Promotion of events through press releases and our GMA information booth at the Fresh Market and other events.
Without the support of member businesses, the GMA would not be able to continue its efforts to keep customer traffic strong. GMA member dues and participation are repaid by streets full of visitors who are populating our restaurants, shops and businesses, discovering all we have to offer, and putting Gulfport on the map as one of the area’s top destinations.
We wish to thank each of these businesses for being members of the Gulfport Merchants Association and, by extension, actively contributing to our progress.
- 007 Computer Services
- The Art of Massage
- Auntie Lynda’s Pet Care & Sitting Services
- Beach and Body
- Beach Life Newspaper
- Bellini’s
- Bo-Tiki
- Can Sans
- City of Gulfport
- Culby Group
- Domain Home Accessories
- The Gabber Newspaper
- Gulfport Chamber of Commerce
- Gulfport! Magazine
- Gulfport On The Rocks
- House of Renee Originals
- Industrial Arts Center
- Kayak Nature Adventures
- La Cote Basque Winehouse
- La Fogata
- O’Maddy’s Bar and Grille
- The Outpost
- Owen Pach Studios
- Peg’s Cantina & Brew Pub
- Peninsula Inn & Spa
- Pia’s Trattoria
- Rebecca’s Veggie Patch
- Reef Dog Gifts & Grooming
- Roman Gardens Ristorante
- Sail Away Realty
- Salon M
- Sea Breeze Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn
- SIK Promotions
- Small Adventures Bookshop
- Stella’s Deli & Gelato
- Stillwagon Studios
- Yummy’s
4th of July in Gulfport, Florida 2009
The Gulfport Art Walks are becoming THE place for cool vendors to set up on the first Friday and third Saturday every month on Beach Blvd from 6:00 to 10:00 pm in Gulfport, Florida!
June 5th Gulfport Art Walk on Beach Blvd. in beautiful Gulfport, Florida
Gulfport Art Walk on June 5th, 2009
Drum Magic drum circle at the Gulfport Springfest 2009
"Get Rescued" in Gulfport 2009
GULFPORT EVENTS
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Tuesday Morning Fresh Market (Daytime Paver Event)
Weekly, Every Tuesday, Year Round. 9 am to 3 pm
Fees: $25 weekly or $150 for 10 consecutive weeks.
Make Checks Payable to: GMA
Download the 2009 Vendor Application
Application and Fee Payment to: Mike McCue or Daniel Hodge
Contact: Daniel Hodge
Daniel Hodge 727-366-4086 or dan@igc.org
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Art Walk (Evening Paver Event)
Bi-Weekly, First Friday and Third Saturday, Year Round. 6-10 pm
Applicants: Handmade and Personal creations.
Fees: $30 per Art Walk or $120 for five Consecutive Art Walks.
Application valid for one year.
Make Checks Payable to: GMA
Mail Application:
Suzanne King, C/O ART WALK, PO Box 530234, St. Petersburg, FL 33747
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com
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Shop Mom and Pop (Daytime Paver Event)
Saturday, November 27, 2010 10 am to 5 pm
Applicants: Sole Proprietors, Handmade and Personal creations.
Fees: $30
Make Checks Payable to: GMA
Mail Application:
Suzanne King, C/O MOM/POP, PO Box 530234, St. Petersburg, FL 33747
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com
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Get Rescued In Gulfport (Daytime Street Event)
Saturday, February 27th, 2010, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Applicants: Pet Related/Friendly, Art, Craft, Food, Corporate Sponsors
Artist/Crafter Fees: Early applications postmarked by Feb 1st $75.00.
By Feb 15th $100, AFTER Feb 15th $150
Food Vendor Fees: Early applications postmarked by Feb 1st $200.00.
By Feb 15th $250, AFTER Feb 15th $300
Rescue Groups: Early applications postmarked by Feb 1st, FREE with proof of non profit status. Late: after February 1st, add $50 fee.
Make Space Rental Fees Payable to: GRIG
Include Application Fee: $10 Payable to SIK Promotions
NSF Check Fee $35Mail Application:
Suzanne King, C/O GRIG, PO Box 530234, St. Petersburg, FL 33747
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com
Rescues Contact: Lynda Shehan-727-323-3892 or no1ringmaster@aol.com
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Spring Fest (All Day Street Event)
April 11, 2009, Noon to 8 pm
Applicants: Any
Artist/Crafter Fees: Early applications postmarked by March 1st $75.00.
By March 15th $100, AFTER March 15th $150
Food Vendor Fees: Early applications postmarked by March 1st $200.00.
By March 15th $250, AFTER March 15th $300Make Checks Payable to: GULFPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Mail Application: Suzanne King, C/O SPRINGFEST, PO Box 530234, St. Petersburg, FL 33747
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com
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July 4th Celebration (All Day Paver Event)
July 4th, Annualy. Noon to 10 pm
Applicants: Any
Fees: $50
Make Checks Payable to: GMA
Mail Application:
Suzanne King, C/O JULY 4, PO Box 530234, St. Petersburg, FL 33747
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com
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Gecko Fest (Street Event)
Saturday, September 5th, 2009, Noon to 10 pm
Applicants: Any
Fees: Artist/Crafter Fees: Early applications postmarked by August 1st $75.00.
By August 15th $100, AFTER August 15th $150
Food Vendor Fees: Early applications postmarked by August 1st $200.00.
By August 15th $250, AFTER August 15th $300
Make Checks Payable to: GMA
Mail Application:
Suzanne King, C/O GECKOFEST, PO Box 530234, St. Petersburg, FL 33747
Contact: Suzanne King- 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com
Geckofest 2008
Your GMA Board Members
Feel free to contact board members with questions and comments about GMA activities and events. Your input matters.
- Leslie Gilchrist - President
The Outpost
gilchristleslie@gmail.com or 727-439-1485
- Mike Baggs - Vice President
Sail Away Realty
MichaelBaggs@hotmail.com or 727-384-6776
- Mike Knettel - Treasurer
Domains Home Accessories
mgkcoinc@hotmail.com or 727-302-9299
- Joey, Secretary
The House of Renee' Originals
- Lori Rosso - Board Member
Sea Breeze Manor
rsvp@seabreezemanor.com or 727-343-4445
- Mary O'Malley - Board Member
Reef Dog Gifts and Grooming
reefdogmary@yahoo.com or 727-323-7007
- Suzanne King - Events Coordinator - Board Member
SIK Promotions
GulfportEvents@gmail.com or 727-322-5217
- Mike McCue - Advertising - Board Member
mmccue@igc.org or 727-302-929
- Marta Woodhead, Board Member
Salon M
727-323-7870
- Rob Fowler - Webmaster
007 Computer
rob@007computer.com or 727-388-9442
