Chalk Art Festival Returns to Longmont

The city of Longmont hosted their annual “Longmont Main Street Chalk Festival” on Sept 5^th, 2020. With Covid-19 restrictions, they still managed to rally artists and locals to the event to display colorful chalk art. The crowd being much smaller compared to previous years, but the event was still a success.

The Chalk Art Festival is just one out of many events that the city’s local art center, Firehouse Art Center hosts. The series of art events started on July 11^th and it ends on Sept 12^th. The most recent event that was held was the “Longmont Main Street Chalk Festival”. The event started at 10 a.m to 2 p.m, which was stated on the Firehouse Art Center website. The website also stated that social distancing, mask-wearing, and safety regulations will be followed throughout all events. Which surely ensured the guests that planned to attend or attended the event that it was safe.

More than a dozen creative artists had the opportunity to display their artistic skills on the sidewalks of Longmont’s streets to show off their art using just chalk. Stretching from 3230 Main Street to 5^th Avenue, guests were able to watch the artists create art pieces within the event time frame. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the public wasn’t allowed to participate in this event compared to previous years of them being able to create their own sidewalk chalk art pieces. The Firehouse Art Center made artists work nearly 20 feet from each other to ensure safety.

The artists that participated in the festival also would-be participants in the Longmont Main Street Chalk Festival contest. Each artist submitted designs of their choosing. The public got to vote for the completed art via Artwalk’s Facebook and Instagram pages. The artists were given a couple of guidelines. Make sure their work was non-political, non-violent, and family-friendly. The winners would receive a $100 gift card sponsored by ArtWalk Longmont, LDDA, and the Firehouse Art Center.

The executive director of the Firehouse Art Center Elaine Waterman spoke with reporterherald.com where she talked about her excitement for the annual chalk event. “What I am looking forward to the most is watching art unfold and also observing the reactions of passersby,” Waterman said.

Waterman also stated that the chalk art festival was amazing for younger kids. Due to younger kids playing with chalk and then viewing their chalk artwork get washed away from rain or just water. Similar to what the artists who participated in the chalk festival would have to do when the event is over. She also went on to talk about how they had many local artists and artists that traveled to Longmont to participate. Some of those artists being Cynthia Barnes, Tyrell Cooner, and Neva Hall.

With the success of the Longmont Main Street Chalk Festival, the Firehouse Art Center will close their artistic summer with an Art Market and Music event. People will be able to enjoy outdoor music, artist booths, and find out the winner of the Chalk Festival. The event takes place on Sept 12^th.