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Mural Fest brings color to Beaumont

Artist, Laced and Found painting a parade float. During Mural Fest 2024, Saturday March 2nd.
Jay Rivera paints a parade float during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.

The third annual Mural Fest took over Beaumont, March 2-3, as more than 40 artists from around the world painted a variety of creations on downtown walls.

Attendees watched artists from Spain to Korea, Austria to Australia, and states including California, Michigan and Texas, as they used a variety of paints and sprays to make their work. Participants were able to work on smaller temporary walls constructed for the event.

A crowd of people walking around the Beaumont Event Centre during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.
A crowd of people walking around the Beaumont Event Centre during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.

The event itself featured food trucks, music, and local vendors.

Kids dancing along to the DJ music during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 3. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.
Kids dancing along to the DJ music during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 3. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.

Beaumonter Kenyan Guidry has attended the event every year and said he thinks it was bigger than years past.

“We have huge murals covering buildings out here,” he said. “There are also interactive cubes where people can bring their kids, or you can add your own stamp into some of the paintings. (With) live music and good food, it's a perfect place to be.”

 Floyd Mendoza III looks back at his mural during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.

Floyd Mendoza III looks back at his mural during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.

As well as being able to paint on temporary cubes and make chalk drawings on the ground, children were able to play on a bouncy castle.

A child going down the bouncy castle slide during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 3. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.
A girl goes down the bouncy castle slide during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 3. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.

Lamar student Ryan Shugart said Mural Fest is a great showcase for the community.

“The nice thing is getting these types of events out there and having these options to come to these things,” he said. “It really brings the community together, which is always a nice thing.”

Mario Robert Ramos and Dario Bucheli painting on their cubes during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.
Mario Robert Ramos and Dario Bucheli painting on their cubes during Mural Fest 2024, in downtown Beaumont, Mar. 2. UP photo by Carlos Viloria.
Category: Features