Chalk the Walk
500 Artists of all ages
and abilities.
1 ton of chalk. 2 days.
20,000 visitors. 1 legendary concrete canvas.
A Festival of Epic Proportions
20th Annual Chalk the Walk
May 3 & 4, 2025
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The 2025 community piece will feature Henri Matisse’s “Woman in a Purple Coat”
During the first weekend in May, main street Mount Vernon is transformed into a jam packed rainbow of artistry. Artists of all ages are assigned one of the 150 8 X 10 spaces on the concrete canvas. Regardless of skill level, everyone’s medium of choice is chalk. The festival draws thousands of on lookers and artists, who have the ability to participate in the large community piece (see 2019 example above).
The festival is celebrating its 20th year, but has roots in an original art form that began in Italy in the 16th century, called Madonnari. This form of public art was originally done by street artists hoping to collect coins from passersby. Images back then were based on religious themes, and as the Madonna was a popular subject, the artists became known as the “Madonnari.”
Chalk the Walk is presented in partnership of the City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation, and the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council.
2025 Festival
The Chalk the Walk committee is hard at work, planning the 2025 festival! If you would like to participate in this year’s festival, please see opportunities below.
