Artists Needed for SoStudio Tour

Artists are needed for the 2013 SoStudio Tour in May. Are you interested?

In 2012, 16 art studios in Gulfport welcomed guests in the annual SoStudio Tour. This year, organizers are putting out a call for artists from the entire area to participate. For the third year in a row, people will be able to meet and greet artists in their very own studios and enjoy drinks and food during the tour. For now, The 49th Street South Business Association and the Gulfport Merchants Association are issueing a call for artists for this year's tour. The event takes place on Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 25, 1-7pm, and Sunday, May 26, 1-4pm, with artists choosing their own hours. Demonstrations are encouraged. According to the releaase, SoStudio is certainly centered in Gulfport, but artists in the entire area are welcome to…

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Holiday Hoopla Coming Soon

Mark your calendars for the annual Holiday Hoopla on Saturday, Dec. 8 in Gulfport!

Are you planning to shop local this holiday season? Stop by the Gulfport Merchants Association's annual Holiday Hoopla on Saturday, Dec. 8 to find one-of-a-kind decor, handmade gifts, homemade treats and more! A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Gulfport Police Department's Operation Santa toy drive and Gulfport families in need. Holiday Hoopla is a celebration of arts, crafts, foods, live music and roving holiday characters set in a waterfront atmosphere amid bright, twinkling, colorful lights. Stroll the decorated streets filled with talented exhibitors and unique shops and galleries. All of your holiday shopping can be done in one place! Visitors will be enchanted by a variety of festive and fun holiday-themed …

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'Fine Arts Friday' Adds New Dimension to Gulfport Art Walk

“Fine Arts Friday” will create an exclusive enclave in the 2800 block of Beach Boulevard.

Gulfport’s long established First Friday Art Walk will evolve this season with the addition of a block of Beach Boulevard devoted specifically to working fine artists and artisans. “Fine Arts Friday” will create an exclusive enclave in the 2800 block of Beach Boulevard in which local artists chosen by a selection committee will show their work and demonstrate their techniques while interacting with visitors.  The first “Fine Arts Friday” will take place on Friday, November 2, and the event will continue on December 7 and January 4, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Art Walk is a cherished tradition in Gulfport, occurring on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month for many years. Local artists and crafters, including favorite regular vendors, …

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Calling All Pub Crawlers!

Gecko season in Gulfport is not over yet!

The Fifth Annual Gecko Pub Crawl is the final event this year in a trio of events celebrating Gulfport’s favorite reptile, following on the heels of the Gecko Ball and Gecko Fest. The Pub Crawl will be held on Saturday, September 22nd, beginning 3 p.m. For one $25 ticket, pub crawlers will be able to enjoy one beverage (or food item) at each of eleven venues in the Gulfport Waterfront District. Tickets are available in advance at these Gulfport businesses: Admission includes one free Gecko Fest t-shirt while supplies last. Participating venues this year are: Offerings vary at each venue and no substitutions are permitted. Some restaurants request pub crawlers to visit prior to 6:30pm. For more information, contact Leslie Gilchrist at 727-…

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Vote for 2013 Gecko Ball Theme!

Organizers of Gulfport’s annual Gecko Ball are encouraging the public to vote now on the theme of next year’s event.

August 24, 2013 will be the date of the Fifth Annual Gecko Ball, following on the heels of an increasingly popular annual event one week before Gecko Fest.  Past themes have included “Geckos in Wonderland” (with an Alice in Wonderland twist), “The Lizard of Oz” (evoking all things Oz), and “Hooray for Geckowood!” (Hollywood glamour) earlier this year.  Each theme inspires its own array of costumes and décor for the Gecko Ball, and also leads to a separate costume theme for Gecko Fest itself. Three themes have been selected for final voting by the public.  They are:  · “Gecko Rouge” (a French Cabaret theme)  · “The Masked Gecko” (a classic Masquerade Ball theme)  · “Saturday Night Gecko” (a combination 1970s/Disco theme) To vote, go to the …

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12th Annual Geckofest on Saturday

Are you ready for the annual celebration on Saturday? The free event is expected to lure 30,000 people!

The annual end-of-summer festival is expected to lure 30,000 people to downtown Gulfport from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. this coming Saturday! There will be dozens of vendors and three stages packed with live entertainment.. As always, the 12th annual event is free and very family friendly. And, Gulfport Patch will be there to cover all of the days events! Stop by our booth and say "hi!" Wondering what to expect? Check out our photo gallery from last year's festival, "11th Annual Geckofest: A Festive, Colorful and Well-Attended Affair." We've attached a map of the free parking areas including the Gulfport Trolley Stops around town. Check out the complete schedule: Gecko Fest Schedule: 10: a.m.: Opening of new electric car station on Shore …

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Share Your Geckowood Photos!

Did you snap photos with the stars, perhaps, even with Oscar at the fourth annual Gecko Ball, Hooray for Geckowood? Upload your photos on this gallery!

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Geckowood Features Glamour, Glitz in Gulfport

Geckowood guests were treated to the red carpet Saturday night at the Peninsula Inn. Complete with paparazzi, movie stars received "Oscars" for best dressed and some walked away with one-of-a-kind geckos.

From Carmen Miranda to Sonny and Cher, the starts were out in Gulfport Saturday night. The fourth annual Geckoball, known as Geckowood this year, drew more than 150 partygoers and helped raise more than $2,800 for the Gulfport Merchant Association's public art initiative. In all, eight geckos were auctioned off and sold for $2,865. A portion of proceeds from the Gecko Ball and Gecko Fest will benefit additional public art installations in Gulfport’s Waterfront District, adding to the two art installations on Beach Blvd. funded from last year’s events. For more information, contact Daniel Hodge at 727-366-4086 or dan@igc.org. Contact the Artists Do you have photos from the big event? Upload them on this photo gallery and share them with …

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Geckos on Display at Local Businesses

Meet the eight talented artists who created one-of-a-kind gecko pieces to be auctioned off at this year's Gecko Ball, "Geckowood!" this Saturday. From a golden Oscar to a new species called Geckosaurus, the show-stopping art pieces are sure to shine.

'Hooray For Geckowood!' Comes To Gulfport

Get your tickets now for the much anticipated annual ball on Saturday, August 25 in Gulfport!

Gulfport’s annual Gecko Ball returns on Saturday, August 25th. “Hooray for Geckowood!” is the celebratory theme of this year’s festivities. The Ball will be held at the historic Peninsula Inn, 2937 Beach Blvd. Doors will open an hour earlier this year at 6p.m. and the party lasts until 11 p.m. This is the 4th annual Gecko Ball, leading up to the 12th annual Gecko Fest, Gulfport’s largest and most beloved street festival to be held this year on Saturday, September 1st “Hooray for Geckowood” will be a celebration befitting Gulfport’s fun and funky,  artistic nature by tweaking the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood with a quirky Gecko twist. Party-goers will step into a Geckowood fantasy land complete with all the trappings of a red carpet …

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Daniel Hodge

10:15 am on Monday, August 20, 2012

GECKO BALL TICKETS: only a few left! Still on sale at T & Me, Bo-Tiki, & Domain Home Accessories. Also being sold at tomorrow's Tuesday Fresh Market. Or buy online with credit/debit card at GulfportMA.com. Get yours before they're gone!   more ›