Pride Face Painting at All Bar One Birmingham with Absolut
- The Glitterologist
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Birmingham was already buzzing when we arrived at All Bar One on Saturday afternoon.
Outside, crowds were gathering as Birmingham Pride celebrations moved through the city centre. Music drifted through the streets, rainbow flags appeared in every direction, and there was a sense that the entire city had decided to dress a little brighter for the day.
Inside the venue, guests were settling in for an Absolut Pride activation delivered in partnership with Pernod Ricard and All Bar One. Our station quickly became a meeting point for guests looking to add a little extra colour, sparkle and personality to their Pride celebrations.
Similar festival glitter bar and face painting activations are increasingly being used by hospitality venues and brands to encourage guest participation.
Over the next two hours, a steady stream of attendees kept the face-painting chair occupied!
Bespoke Pride Face Painting for Every Guest
One of the things we enjoy most about live face artistry is that no two guests ever arrive with the same idea.
Some people sit down knowing exactly what they want. Others have no idea at all.
Requests varied as much as the crowd itself. One guest might point to a rainbow flag on a friend’s cheek and ask for a similar design, while another would arrive in a bright sequinned outfit and want artwork to match.
Some chose a delicate shimmer around the eyes, whereas others embraced vibrant colours and bold, eye-catching designs.
Rather than working from a fixed menu, each piece was created in response to the individual. Their outfit. Their energy. The details they mentioned, or the colours they were drawn to.
That approach meant every design felt personal, even though each one was created in just a few minutes.
35 Pride-Inspired Designs Created in Two Hours
Over the course of the activation, we created around 35 bespoke Pride looks.
What stood out wasn't just the volume, but the variety.
One of the most rewarding parts of the afternoon was watching guests see their finished designs for the first time. Many approached the chair with only a rough idea of what they wanted, but the moment they looked in the mirror, their reaction was often the same: a smile, followed by friends gathering for a closer look and photos to capture the result.
This happened repeatedly throughout the event. A striking design would attract attention from across the room, leading to conversations, questions, and new requests. The queue ebbed and flowed as guests explored the venue before returning for face painting, creating a steady stream of interest throughout the afternoon.
The face painting quickly became part of the rhythm of the event, drawing people together and adding colour to the celebration.
Why Face Painting Works for Pride Activations
Pride celebrations are inherently colourful and expressive. They provide an opportunity for people to celebrate their identity, showcase their individuality, and feel connected to a wider community.
Face art offers a simple and accessible way to become part of that experience. Some guests chose rainbow-inspired designs, while others embraced glitter, gems, and bold bursts of colour. A few preferred something more understated - a subtle shimmer that caught the light with every movement.
There was no single approach and no expectation to follow a particular style. Each design reflected the person wearing it, making every piece as unique as the celebration itself.
This is one of the reasons face painting, festival makeup and glitter artistry have become popular choices for brand activations and experiential marketing events.
Face Painting as Interactive Event Entertainment
One of the reasons adult face painting works so well at events is that guests don't simply observe the experience - they become part of it.
The finished artwork stays with them as they continue through the event. Guests compare designs with friends, stop for photographs, and often send new people back to join the queue.
The artwork becomes a talking point. A detail that connects strangers. A reason to pause and engage with the activation in a way that feels personal rather than transactional.
On a day as colourful and celebratory as Birmingham Pride, that felt particularly fitting.
Looking for Pride Face Painting for a Brand Activation?
This Birmingham Pride activation is one example of how face painting can be used to encourage participation, create photo opportunities and add colour to a live event.
To learn more about our Corporate Pride Face Painting services, visit our dedicated Pride events page.
Whether you’re planning a Pride celebration, hospitality activation or corporate event, we’d love to hear about your plans.
Event Details
Event: Birmingham Pride Activation
Client: Pernod Ricard (Absolut)
Venue: All Bar One Birmingham New Street
Service: Pride Face Painting
Duration: 2 Hours
Guests Adorned: Approximately 35
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