The Blueberry Patch
| The Blueberry Patch | |
|---|---|
| Address | 4923 20th Ave S |
| City | Gulfport |
| State | Florida
|
| Website | Official site |
The Blueberry Patch is an artists' commune and outdoor music venue in Gulfport, Florida, near St. Petersburg. Founded on July 7, 1977 (7/7/77) by Dallas Bohrer, it bills itself as "Florida's Longest Surviving Artist's Retreat." The venue operates under the philosophy of "Sharevival" - the idea that "we need to share to survive and survive to share."[unverified]
History[edit]
Dallas Bohrer established The Blueberry Patch as a creative sanctuary for artists, musicians, and writers. The venue relocated several times throughout the Tampa Bay area before settling in Gulfport, having previously occupied the Merry Pier in St. Petersburg and later operating from a backyard shed that expanded onto an adjacent property.[unverified]
Bohrer was known as a "palletoligist," building the stage, benches, and other structures entirely out of recycled pallets and other reclaimed materials. This sustainable, DIY ethos remains central to the venue's identity.[unverified]
Programming[edit]
The Blueberry Patch hosts regular events on a monthly schedule: open mic nights on the 1st and 7th, a jam session on the 11th, and a featured band on the 22nd. The venue won a 2016 Best of the Bay award for best open mic poetry. "Paint at the Patch" nights invite audiences to co-create visual art during performances.[unverified]
Shows are $5 and BYOB. The venue is 18+.[unverified]
Hurricane Milton[edit]
The venue was damaged by Hurricane Milton in 2024 and launched a restoration fundraising campaign.[unverified]
