Sunshine City Soiree to Benefit History Museum
The Sunshine City Soiree will benefit the St. Pete Museum of History and its mission to curate and tell the stories of our city.
The 2026 social season is a whirl, but queen of the ball may just be the first annual Sunshine City Soiree – a community celebration benefitting the St. Petersburg Museum of History (SPMOH) February 21 in the Vinoy ballroom from 6-10 pm.
“It’s an unforgettable evening of cocktails, dinner, and entertainment with Bryan Hughes & The Crew, with live and silent auctions,” says Executive Director Rui Farias. “This is an opportunity for the museum to help the city celebrate their 134th birthday. More importantly, it is an opportunity to celebrate the people who created this amazing city.”
In what Farias hopes will be an annual event, there will be two awards for a civic leader from the past and present. “This has never been done. In the past during the Festival of States there were a Mr. and Ms. Sun Awards. But this is different,” says Farias. “This event is going to kick off the future of the museum (which is expanding in 2026) as well as the city. We’re not just showcasing and remembering the past, we’re anticipating the future and those who are helping St. Pete expand into even a more world-class destination.”
Who should attend? Says Farias: “Anyone and everyone. We invite those who have been involved in the community as well as the new generation of St. Pete civic leaders and residents.
With formal attire as the dress code, this upscale event will feature an open bar and delectable hors’ d’oeuvres purveyed by the staff during the 6 pm cocktail hour, followed by a sit-down dinner, presentations, awards, and live auction. In the background, Hughes, James Suggs, and The Crew will play jazz and American songbook favorites.
“We have amazing items to auction including exotic trips, exclusive tickets to sporting events, maybe an evening in NYC with Broadway tickets! Also to be auctioned is an original mural painted on wood board by Shine muralist Derek Donnelly,” says Farias.
To enhance the ambiance, the museum is building entertaining historical pop-up exhibits in the ballroom, with multiple photo opps including a green screen where you can pose in front of historical photos such as the Vinoy hotel circa 1926 or Webb City. There will also be an entertaining multimedia presentation during the evening.
The Sunshine City Soiree is a new high for the museum’s annual fundraiser. “In 2023, our annual event was Cocktails on the Court at the Shuffleboard club, but it was cancelled in 2024 because of the storms,” says Farias. “This soiree pays homage to the Florida citrus era when St. Petersburg’s main industry was citrus, not only tourism. Look for orange grove décor…and bow ties!”
There are various sponsorship levels, all named after historical St. Pete leaders such as Mary Wheeler and Aymer Vinoy Laughner. Interested sponsors can choose to support the music, exhibit, cocktail hour, and other gala festivities. To book a table or become a sponsor, contact Executive Director Rui Farias at 727-894-1052, x207 or email rui@spmoh.org.
