It’s official! Viva Cuba is the founder of National Mural Day. Starting 2025, the last Saturday in June will be celebrated as Nation Mural Day across the country and here in Crawford County.
Viva Cuba started the mural project in 2001 with its first mural to commemorate Peoples Bank 100th anniversary. From there the Viva Cuba mural project expanded to a collection of 14 outdoor murals.
Murals are everywhere in Cuba. There is impressive mural art in the grocery store, truck stop, museum, restaurants and countless other spots around town.
On June 28, Cuba will celebrate National Mural Day with an official Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at the corner of Smith and Washington Street in front of the Cuba Postcard Mural.
It starts with the National Days Calendar®, a source for unusual and unique celebrations throughout the year. Since National Popocorn Day in 2013, the National Days Calendar is the first calendar of its kind to curate these special days all in one place.
The National Days Calendar has been mentioned on more than 20,000 media outlets, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel, CNN, Fox and Friends and CBS Sunday Morning. Many media outlets rely on the National Day Calendars’ website for story ideas.
Cuba’s National Mural Day submission was selected from nearly 30,000 annual submissions. From these submissions, only about 20 per year are selected for the calendar.
The idea was suggested by former Cuba resident Bill Gunn to Viva Cuba’s Chairperson, Jill Barnett. From there, Viva Cuba volunteers submitted a proposal for National Mural Day for the last Saturday in June. The National Days Calendar team deemed Mural Day worthy of their calendar.
The National Mural Day designation will be added to the printed 2026 National Days Calendar and added to NationalDaysCalendar.com. The annual celebration will fall on the last Saturday of June nationwide.
National Mural Day is a vibrant ode to the power of art to transform ugly spaces into beautiful places. From bustling city streets to quaint neighborhoods, murals enrich surroundings with color, culture, and creativity. Murals bring artists, travelers, and communities together to celebrate the benefits of public art.
In addition to celebrating the art, this day is also to recognize and honor the artists who paint murals. These talented people dedicate time and energy to create meaningful works that endure the test of time.
National Mural Day celebrates diversity of artistic expression. This opportunity recognizes the impact murals have on our community and the people who find themselves here for the art.
Whether you’re an artist, enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates beauty in unexpected places, National Mural Day invites everyone to join in the celebration and discover the magic of murals in Cuba Missouri and neighboring communities in Crawford County. To learn more about National Mural Day or how you can get involved locally, email vivacuba@cubamomurals.com or info@cubachamber.com.
