Marc Haze

When you think of St. Petersburg, what’s the first image that comes to mind? Time once was that answer was likely to be the Pier or the city’s  famous green benches. Now, that answer might be murals. In the past few years more than 100 murals have been created and more are arriving all the time. Recently the city played host to the 2nd annual “SHINE on St. Petersburg Mural Festival”. Twenty two  new murals were created for the event over the course of 10 days.

When you think of St. Petersburg, what’s the first image that comes to mind? Time once was that answer was likely to be the Pier or the city’s  famous green benches. Now, that answer might be murals. In the past few years more than 100 murals have been created and more are arriving all the time. Recently the city played host to the 2nd annual “SHINE on St. Petersburg Mural Festival”. Twenty two  new murals were created for the event over the course of 10 days.

When Beth Buchanan brought her 3rd grade class to the Giraffe Ranch, she knew it meant her students from Monarch Learning Academy in Winter Park would see animals in a completely different way. “I think it’s a great environment for the kids to learn about animals in a more natural environment than a zoo”’ she said.