It was the chalk art festival that almost wasn’t.
But on Saturday, June 17, the ground outside of the Pasadena Convention Center was adorned with a tapestry of murals made from chalk as hundreds of artists created for the masses.
“It’s amazing what they can do on their hands and knees all day with chalk,”said Kay Carpenter, who was mesmerized by how many of the artists start on Saturday and then come back Sunday to finish their piece.
Carpenter was looking forward to supporting an artist friend, Monica, who has a spot – #104 – at the event.
“We come every year to support her,” she said. “It used to be very busy over there [the old location]. This is much nicer,” she added.
That’s right. After 15 years in its prior spot, this was the first year the Chalk Festival was in a new one.
The path to what is the 30th year of the festival – known as among the largest – was a bumpy one this year.
In previous years, the Father’s Day weekend event had been held at the nearby Paseo, a retail hub that sits on a stretch between Colorado Boulevard and Green Street.
But the mall’s new owners, the Onni Group, a Vancouver-based developer, chose not to pick up event costs that the organizer, the Light Bringer Project, leaned on each year to make the event happen.
Proceeds from the event itself traditionally go to benefit school arts programs.
After a brief cancellation, organizers got help from the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Pasadena Convention Center and the City of Pasadena, essentially rescuing it and keep it in the city.
The new location appeared to have been working out just fine, offering ample space for both the artists, vendors and visitors.
If you missed the fest on Saturday, or didn’t get enough of it, it’s back for more on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Plaza of the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.
For more information, visit: https://pasadenachalkfestival.org/festival-info/.
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