- April 17, 2024
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The buses will run continuously for four hours.
The Holiday Flagler Art and Wine Shuttle will give participants a chance to visit 10 galleries from Flagler Beach to the Hammock 2-6 p.m. on Dec. 7. In addition to the convenience of not having to drive and park, a variety of refreshments and entertainment will be offered along the way.
Frank Gromling, owner of Ocean Art Gallery, thought of the idea for the first shuttle last spring along what he calls the “A1A art corridor.” He said the first event was well received. Many people on the tour said they couldn’t remember when they had so much fun and had visited some galleries for the first time.
The event is being produced by L and R Presents, a local promotions and events company, on behalf of the galleries. Linda Sanders, of L and R, said guests can take their time at each gallery, talking to artists and gallery owners. They can also take a break from the tour for lunch or to walk around, and wrist bands will allow for re-boarding. The buses will run continuously and can be boarded at any time.
She said in April there were three buses and this time they will have eight. They also plan to have entertainment at the bus stops.
She said the shuttle not only showcases the galleries, but also brings the community together.
Proceeds for the event will go the United Way’s Women’s Initiative Flagler County, which supports a wide range of programs for women and children.
For information, call Linda Sanders or Renny Roker at 609-314-1785, 404-983-2869 or 338-3082.
Tickets are $15
To order tickets online, visit. holidayflaglerartwineshuttle.eventbrite.com. On the page, you can select “charitable organization ticket” to choose a charity to receive part of the ticket price. Tickets will also be available on site the day of the event.
Two parking/registration areas.
Flagler Beach Library, 315 S. 7th Street, Flagler Beach.
Adult Education Center, State Road A1A, Hammock,
Raffle drawing: 5:30 p.m. at Ocean Art Gallery, 208 S. Central Ave., Flagler Beach for “See Lion” donated by local artist, Fred Haase. It’s an acrylic valued at $1,000.
Participating galleries
Art LaMay Studio
Baliker Gallery
Down by the Sea
Flagler Beachfront Gallery featuring JJ Graham
Gallery of Local Art
I AM ART/ Rachel Friends
Hammock Wine & Cheese Shoppe
Ocean Art Gallery
Pierce Art Studio and Gallery
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What the gallery owners say
Last spring, Gromling said he woke up at 4 a.m. one morning and wrote “art shuttle” on a pad next to his bed. The day before, he had been thinking about how the galleries should be connected to each other and to the public.
“I live and work on A1A, and I realized there were galleries that even I had never stopped in,” he said. “So I thought there were probably galleries the public had never stopped in.”
Gromling took his idea for rotating buses to the other galleries and L and R Presents and the first art shuttle took place on April 13.
“We worked hard to put it together and it turned out to be fabulous,” he said. “It increased awareness of the galleries.”
Marge Barnhill, founder and owner of Gallery of Local Art, which represents about 80 local artists, is participating for the first time. She said they plan to have refreshments and music in their outdoor garden area, and will tell people about their other locations in town.
Bonnie LaMay, of Art LaMay Studio, said she participated last time and had a “really good crowd.”
She said she now has a list of the other galleries that she gives to people who are driving around the area.
“It’s nice to know new places you can take visitors from out-of-town,” she said.
