Try Girl Guide

I’m gonna be honest… sometimes I get way too caught up in everyday life.

Like most days, I’m on autopilot:
Wake up. Go to work. Come home. Cook dinner. Make sure I exercise. Take care of my home.

And before I know it… the day is over.

Sometimes life gets so busy that I genuinely forget to just have fun.

So when I got invited out to experience Barkum’s Art of Fun on Phillips Highway here in Jacksonville?

My inner child was immediately ready.

Seriously — my eyes lit up, and I was literally counting down the days.

Because let’s be real…

Who DOESN’T want to go somewhere and splatter paint everywhere?

First Impressions: Pure Fun Energy

When the day finally came, I was so excited.

We arrived and were led into our own room where everything was already set up for us.

And let me just say… they understood the assignment.

We were given:

• Neon paint
• Mini spray guns
• Canvases to create our masterpieces
• A speaker so we could connect our Bluetooth and play our own music

And honestly? That Bluetooth speaker setup really took it to another level.

Because baby… once the music started, it was over.

We had Tina Marie, Cameo, and New Edition BLASTING while paint was flying absolutely everywhere.

I’m pretty sure people outside probably heard our whole playlist… and honestly? No regrets.

The Experience: Messy, Creative, and So Much Fun

At first, I’m not even gonna lie…

The paint was going everywhere except the canvas.

But that was half the fun.

There was something so freeing about just letting go, being messy, dancing, laughing, and not worrying about being “good” at it.

It genuinely made me feel like a kid again.

And honestly? I didn’t realize how much I needed that.

Sometimes we really do need experiences that remind us life doesn’t always have to be so serious.

Let’s Talk Price:

For us, pricing was about $26 per person, which honestly felt worth it for how unique and fun the experience was.

They also have add-ons — like paint balloons for an extra dollar each.

And let me tell you right now…

Get the paint balloons.

I highly recommend them.

Throwing paint-filled balloons at the wall was ridiculously fun and absolutely added to the whole experience.

Great for More Than Just Date Night

This is definitely one of those places I’d go back to.

Like… if friends came into town?
I’d absolutely bring them here.

Family night with kids?
Yep.

Fun date night?
Definitely.

Girls’ night?
Absolutely.

It’s just one of those experiences that works for so many different occasions because it’s interactive, creative, and honestly just feels good.

More Than Splatter Paint

From what I understand, Barkum’s also offers other events too — like paint-by-number experiences and adult paint nights.

So if splatter paint isn’t your thing, it sounds like they’ve got other creative options too.

Final Thoughts:

I genuinely loved this experience.

I love supporting local businesses, especially when they create spaces that help people break out of routine and just enjoy themselves.

Barkum’s Art of Fun was fun, different, messy, nostalgic, and honestly just what I needed.

So if life’s been feeling a little too repetitive lately…
If you need a date night idea…
If you want something fun for the family…
Or if you just want to throw paint while dancing to your favorite throwbacks…

This might be exactly what you need too.

I’ll leave their website below so you can check out all their events and pricing for yourself.

CLICK HERE FOR A DIRECT LINK TO BARKUM’S ART OF FUN WEBSITE! BOOK A SPLATTER PAINT SESSION!

And definitely watch my video below so you can really see the chaos, the paint, and the fun for yourself.

Jacksonville has some seriously cool hidden gems… and this one? Definitely made the list.