Photos: City of Prior Lake
Chalk art festivals are growing in popularity with artists and art-lovers.
The road becomes a canvas as artists descend on two local downtowns to celebrate community and creativity through chalk art. “We’re using art as a platform to engage with the community,” says Kelly Anderson, chalk artist and leader of Crayon Kelly, a creative strategy agency. “That’s the whole point.”
Chalk art has been around for centuries, and two festivals—Chalk Fest in Prior Lake and Streets Can Chalk (Lakeville)—celebrate the art form locally.
The tradition of chalk art got its start in the 1600s in Europe. The medium had a big moment in 1964 when Mary Poppins hopped into a sidewalk scene in the iconic Disney movie, and it continues to delight people today. “Chalk art festivals are really big in the South,” Anderson says. “There’s 10 or so in Minnesota, and the number is growing.”
Anderson helped bring chalk art to Pan-O-Prog, Lakeville’s annual community festival, for the first time in 2024. “We had an international artist from Mexico City and 17 others,” Anderson says. “We hope this year is even bigger.”
At Pan-O-Prog, Streets Can Chalk creations are painted on Holyoke Avenue, the main street in downtown Lakeville. Anderson says the first thing she does when she’s about to get started is to prep the base with tempera chalk paint. “I prime the road,” she says. “Depending on the design, I’ll start with all black or all white. Prime the road, and colors pop.”
While Anderson is a professional artist, she didn’t get her start with chalk—her preferred medium is melted crayon. She was inspired to work with chalk after following a Minnesota chalk artist online. “We crossed paths in person and wow,” Anderson says.
And her story isn’t unusual. “A lot of the participants haven’t worked with chalk before,” she says of the artists she meets at chalk festivals. While the canvas is unconventional and the medium might not be what they’re used to working with, artistic talents transfer well to the road.
Experienced chalk artists were in the minority at the first Streets Can Chalk event, so Anderson created a list of tools she considers helpful. Her list included chalk erasers, a cushion, gloves, a hat, knee pads, makeup brushes, a mini broom, a mini stool, paint brushes, paper towels, sponges, a water bucket and water.
Her go-to tool? “Cut up pool noodles are great for blending colors,” she says.
Prior Lake began hosting its Chalk Fest in 2019 as a way to bring the community together. “There was a construction project at the intersection of Highways 13 and 21,” says Kelsey Coy, Prior Lake recreation supervisor. “Chalk Fest was a way of bringing people and business downtown.”
Prior Lake Chalk Fest drawings are created on 6-foot by 6-foot squares or larger. An amateur chalk-art contest is held on 4-foot by 4-foot squares.
In 2020, and amid COVID-19, Chalk Fest was the only event the city could host, and it has become a mainstay each September. “Chalk Fest is the only art-focused event the city sponsors,” Coy says. “What makes it so unique is that it appeals to all ages. And yes, most everyone has worked with chalk at some point in their lives.”
Streets Can Chalk (Lakeville)
One of last year’s additions to Pan-O-Prog, Streets Can Chalk, features artists working along Holyoke Avenue. It takes place on the last day of Pan-O-Prog and is near live music, food vendors and carnival rides. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. July 13; Holyoke Avenue in downtown Lakeville; panoprog.org
Prior Lake Chalk Fest
Chalk Fest is a city-sponsored event that highlights the amazing artwork of professional and amateur chalk artists. The two-day event includes contests, interactive art displays, live music, food trucks, fun and fellowship. 3–8 p.m. September 12 and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. September 13; Main Avenue in downtown Prior Lake; priorlakemn.gov
