Fifth Annual Florida Luxe Arts Festival Returns to Downtown Panama City

PANAMA CITY, FL – The Florida Luxe Arts Festival (FLLUXE) is bringing talent, community, and the best family-friendly experience to Downtown Panama City for its fifth year.

FLLUXE is a street painting festival presented by Bay Arts Alliance, the local non-profit art agency for Bay County with support from its generous sponsors. The event includes renowned national street painters and local artists. FLLUXE also features live music, performers, and artisanal vendors.

“With this being the fifth year of FLLUXE, I cannot express how excited and honored I am that the event has found such a supportive home in historic downtown Panama City,” said Jayson Kretzer, Executive Director of Bay Arts Alliance. “This festival is a true celebration of creativity and community, and I look forward to sharing this vibrant experience with local residents and visitors alike.”

FLLUXE will take place on Friday, March 7 from 4:00PM-8:00PM and Saturday, March 8 from 10:00AM-8:00PM. This free-to-the-public event promises to transform the streets into a kaleidoscope of creativity, showcasing the talents of local and international artists.

National chalk artists–Chris Carlson, Naomi Haverland, Jan Riggins, Nate Baranowski and more—will bring their talents from across the United States to the streets of Historic Downtown Panama City to create 3-D interactive pieces for the public to enjoy.

Naomi Haverland has been painting for as long as she can remember and has been doing chalk since 2011. Her anamorphic “3-D” illusions are executed with the most impressive quality of any artist in the industry. She has won many recognitions and awards for her chalk art, including seven awards at the Denver Chalk Art Festival. Her chalk art has been utilized by companies such as Harley Davidson, Blick Art Supply, Amazon, Microsoft, and Skittles. 

Nate Baranowski holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where his passion for street painting began. He is a versatile artist experienced with a range of mediums, including large chalk murals, indoor and outdoor painted murals, acrylic on canvas, and various forms of digital painting and concept art. From temporary installations to permanent painted murals, he can add a splash of creativity to any environment.

Visitors will have the chance to witness the magic unfold as the artists transform the sidewalks of downtown into a visual feast of colors and 3-D illusions, as well as enjoy performances by local musicians and purchase handcrafted goods from local artisan vendors. They will also be able to enjoy the Panama City Farmers’ Market and see the newest exhibitions at the Center for the Arts.

After the sun goes down, attendees can break out their glow sticks and best dance moves for the FlaminGLOW party on the Center for the Arts Lawn.

The festivities will take place just outside of the Panama City Center for the Arts along 4th Street and Luverne Avenue.