A wonderful (free) local event held at Brookside Park this year (2026) so there's plenty of parking as well as handicapped parking spots and the park's public restrooms. Diverse "sidewalk' art all completed by chalk on the cement walking trails with the artists nearby if you want to interact. You're not bothered by anyone as you walk along (no sales or offers) so it's really an "at your own pace" activity. Great for kids too! There were food trucks on site. read more

Pasadena Chalk Festival - 2026 - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We visited Saturday afternoon. It was very hot and humid too, so we decided to wait until the late afternoon. We came closer to 5:00 p.m. and it was a very good decision. The park was shaded for the most part and there was a breeze so it wasn't so bad. We were able to enjoy a lot of the chalk art and speak to some of the artists as well. We enjoyed it quite a bit. It would have been so much nicer if it was a little bit cooler. I would definitely be coming back next year. read more

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Another great year at the Pasadena Challenge Festival. Free and easy parking and plenty of art to see. It was great to watch some of the artists create their masterpieces live. I do miss when the festival was in the Paseo but still enjoyed the outing. read more

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This is a fun, unique way to spend Father's Day weekend. I brought my dad here years ago for a different kind of Father's Day activity and we both loved it. I really enjoy seeing the creativity that's dwelling in people's minds and they're able to physically manifest it through skillful uses of chalk. Absolutely amazing. Make sure your phones and cameras are fully charged because you're going to want to take a lot of photos. Some of these don't even look like drawings. They look like photograph portraits. There are about 200 artists who participate each year, and you can vote for the best piece. I believe we parked in the Colorado structure and it was pretty affordable. Considering the festival itself is free, this is a great, one-of-a-kind, low-budget activity that I HIGHLY recommend if you're in the area. read more

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It was a good surprise to stumble upon this event. Not sure how often this happened but we just happened to walk into it. Didn't think much of it as we thought it was just the half block of the street that was blocked off. But then noticed that it also took part of the plaza as well as the street across from that. I just thought it was the farmers market. These artist with their chalk skills are amazing to say the least. Taking a picture and then creating it with just chalk and showcasing it was unbelievable. Each and every artist from all ages displaying their work, from portrait to cartoon characters to photography. Walking through and checking each work out was amazing. Some were already finished while loads were still in the progress of their finished look. Even talking to them and asking what their inspiration was made the process more meaningful. In the plaza area, they had artwork for a silent auction as well as a dj. The whole place was pretty taken with artist on the ground working away. Even with the heat, it was not stopping them. The experience was great walking through and checking out what was being created. Meeting some of the artist was a nice touch to the day. read more

This was really amazing! You can walk around and watch people create amazing works for arts using chalk on the ground. They had a live band. I thought there would be more vendors. I definitely recommend for families as it is a free event and its nice to walk around to see the artwork. On Saturday, you can observe as they are creating the drawings, but if you want to see the work completed go on Sunday. read more

Pasadena Chalk Festival - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This year's chalk festival was better than last. They scattered the artist across the streets which makes it less cramped. It was fun checking out all the art! You can vote in-person. Although it's usually been hot during the festivals so plan accordingly. There's some shade from the buildings but that'll depend on the time of day. Nevertheless, it worth checking out! There's even a booth where you may do a silent auction for the artists' canvas art! read more

Pasadena Chalk Festival - Cake chalk art (2025) - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

There's a tremendous amount of talent who come & paint on the sidewalks of Pasadena during this weekend event. Different styles, various techniques, and lots of vibrant color. What's cool is you can also watch the artists, creating & bringing to life the work of their imagination. TIP: Squeeze in some art earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. You'll want to avoid the sun's summer wrath from 11-2pm. read more

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Al has a good time! The layout in 2025 was a huge improvement over 2024. I did notice that there were unused spaces, and wondered if artists did not turn up this year. Additionally, I wish there was a way to vote online like last year. However, I can see where that would be a "who has the most followers" contest. I definitely wouldn't mind in-person voting had there been more vote drop boxes. read more

For Father's Day, our daughter suggested going to the Pasadena Chalk Festival. Sure thing! We'd been to i Madonnari Street Painting Festival at the Santa Barbara Mission several times in the past, but the Pasadena event was our first time there. We were able to park at the large parking garage across the street, which was convenient. When we arrived, it was crowded and in full swing. I was actually surprised that some of the chalk creations weren't very far along, considering that we were there in the early afternoon of the second/final day of the festival. Wasn't sure that some of those pieces would be finished before darkness fell on Sunday. It's fascinating to see the artists work. Many will have a copy of the original piece that they are blowing up to the size of their designated space. It not only takes talent to do this kind of creation, but also patience, and a nimble body. I know if I were to try, not only would my knees not cooperate, but I wouldn't be able to avoid smudging an area I'd already colored in! Mad props to the artists, for sure! The venue isn't totally conducive to viewing the artwork, since with the crowds attending, and the limited walking pathways, it can be challenging to see everything. We did try to walk every general space to see as much as we could. They had a DJ playing popular music, but once you moved to either side of the main plaza, you lost the sound, as speakers were not repeated beyond the Green Street front of the Convention Center. The 2023 event was their 30th annual presentation, and it was definitely well attended. If we were to attend again, I think I'd want to get there either sooner or later in the day. Sooner might have less crowds, and later would showcase more finished pieces. read more

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A fun event to attend with plenty of talented artists. Truly amazing artwork. There are also food and drink vendors, good enough to satisfy your appetite and thirst. Also plenty of great restaurants near by. Love this place and it's events! Highly recommend. read more

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I have wanting to attend Pasadena Chalk Festival for years but I never managed to get to it. The pandemic happened so you start having regrets for things you didn't have a chance to do. This year, they were gonna hold their 29th live this time, in person, not virtual. First since the pandemic, so I was determined to attend. The event spreads over 2 days at the Paseo in Pasadena from 10 am to 7pm. They hosts many artists who bring various styles to this nice festivals. It's big, colorful, surprising. Lots to see, not just the main square, but also across the street and another courtyard. Lots of nice volunteers, bands (start later in the afternoon), food, drinks for purchase. It is outdoor, but pretty crowded, bring your shades. There are restrooms around, places to eat, other stores. Lively event, fun to attend and enjoy various murals. Lots of style, colors, visions. Glad I made it this year! read more

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Perhaps we came too early which was why only a few people were done with their art pieces. Now knowing this, would recommend folks coming towards the end of the event to see the stunning chalk art, plus it would be less hot! read more

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Amazing! It's a free event, really nice for a family outing. This year was extremely hot and they handed out paper umbrellas. Nice touch. read more

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The talent is simply mind-blowing. You'll find a variety of subjects and styles, both 2D and some incredible 3D artwork that will make you swear there is wizardry involved. This is a perfect weekend outing for the whole family, regardless of age. There are plenty of food and drink vendors, and a variety of local sit-down restaurants if you prefer. You definitely won't starve. read more

A truly awesome display of supremely talented artists! And what is equally astounding about this event is it is free to the public! Hats off to the wonderful artists who braved the sweltering heat to deliver these works. Enough of my babbling... I hope the pictures I took will do justice for how beautiful these illustrations were. read more

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What a fun day for art and music lovers! Fair warning, though, it gets hot in the afternoon! Had we not been sweating our brains out, we likely would have stayed longer and chatted with both artists and non-artists. It's interesting to find pieces you like and others that those around you might appreciate. I, for one, am naturally drawn toward cartoons, video games, and comics! It is incredibly impressive to see some of the portraits that can be done with the use of chalk, too! The band playing was wildly entertaining, playing a variety of music for all to enjoy. If you're looking for a fun, free event where you can enjoy the lovely southern California weather, check out this annual event! read more

This really is a great free family friendly event where you can check out all the awesome art by all the talented participating artists. My fiance recently became an artist at the Chalk festival and really just enjoys creating art as a part-time hobby. There are so many amazing art murals that you will find if you make it out here. The best part is that they normally have sponsors that they work with that come out to sample free items. This year, they had Tillamook who provided ice cream for so many guests that came in and out of the Paseo in Pasadena. The best part is that this event takes place during father's day, so you're getting tons of foot traffic for this event as it does take place inside an outdoor shopping mall. My recent complaint is more so in regards to the organization of the event. I completely understand that this is essentially a non-profit organization that's supporting the local artists, but when there is a voting process involved and you have all these artists that are working their butts off to gain some type of recognition via voting, they should really make sure that their voting system works. For some reason, any artist that was listed in the 600s and above were not qualified for the text in to vote ballots as the organizers could not figure it out. I asked the organizers and no one could give me a straight answer for the entire two days until the end, when someone said that they'll e-mail the artists that were in the 600s. Well, unfortunately, that e-mail never came through. I'm hoping next year they fix this situation as I believe every single artist should have a chance to be voted for! read more

Pasadena Chalk Festival - RIP Tony. - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The event is free and located in Paseo Colorado. There were live music, entertainment, food, giveaways, raffle, car show, and silent auction. Don't forget to vote for your favorite artwork! ::Experiance:: I came to the event on both days. On Saturday around 1 pm, most of the artists were just starting and settling in. On Sunday, around 2:30 pm, some artist were done, and others were still working on their art piece. Each artist created beautiful, creative, and unique images on pavements of the Pasadena streets. There was a varity of art themes, such as, animation, movie, shows, and famous people. All of the artist is so talented, I was impressed with their work. It was a nice to experience to witness the art work from begining to end. ::Customer Service:: -Everyone who was helping at the event was friendly. -The artists that we spoke to was very welcoming and happy to address any questions we has about their art work. ::Tip:: -Check out the website for event information. ::M's Notes:: -Wear comfortable shoes -Bring your camera -The event is surrounded by resturants and shops read more

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Event that exceeded my expectations. The plus is that this event is free for the visitors. There were many pieces of artwork all over the Paseo to check out. This was my first time and I am glad I went on the second day so that I could see most of the drawings completed or almost completed. I assume if you go the first day you get to see how the artists set up. Even when we arrived some artists were still starting. Everyone can vote for their favorite piece and the artists who rank first, second or third get a prize. The attendees can also bid on a piece of the artwork that each artist donates to the auction for charity. I definitely would go back to check out what the artist come up with next time. It's too bad that they remove the artwork the same night the event ends. read more

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I found this event via AAA magazine. I told my mom and sister about it, so they came with. Most of the drawings were really good. We got there early, so they were still drawing them out. If you go later in the evening you can see them all completed, but I prefer to actually see them draw them. You get to see what they see, with every line they create. It's actually quite inspiring. I would defiantly come back again. It is a little small and there is two parts too it, there was also some on the second floor, but it wasn't listed anywhere that they were up there. We just happened to go up stairs and came across a handful more. And since we did go on Sunday, they had a classic car show going on too. Really tiny, but lots of really cool old cars. read more

Pasadena Chalk Festival - My fav of the day - Festivals Near Me - Pasadena, California

After hearing about this for years, I finally made it out to the Pasadena Chalk Festival. I've sure been missing out! What a beautiful experience! I arrived around 6pm on Sunday, about an hour before the event ended on the second day. It was the perfect time to be there! Parking was pretty good, artists were putting finishing touches on their masterpieces, music was playing on the stage, food cart was smelling delicious, the sun was shining but it wasn't frying us, and everyone there looked like they were having the grandest time! Now the art...oh my goodness. I loved the different techniques that each artist displayed in their piece. Although many pictures were from prints and others were out of imagination, each and every one was SO unique and extraordinary. Some images paid tribute, some images were just for fun, some images tried getting a message out, some popped out if you stood at a certain angle, some played illusion tricks, some brought you to another world, and some were even interactive games for the audience! These people are called artists for a good reason! Though they are technically competing, EVERY artist here deserves 1st place in my book! Though the pictures may stay on the ground for a short while longer, there's nothing like being at the Pasadena Chalk Festival on the actual days of the event. This is one of those events you'll want to experience at least once in your life...and after that "once", you'll find yourself wanting to do this again and again every year! At least that's how it goes for me! read more

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Two words to describe this event. "TRULY AMAZING"! Why is it truly amazing you say? Well if you actually came or saw pictures of the artwork you know what i'm talking about. The Pasadena Chalk Festival is a two day event where inspiring artists come from all walks of life to draw on the very ground we normally walk on at the Paseo Mall. This event usually falls on father's day weekend! The artists are basically pouring their heart and soul into what they love to do and that is to DRAW with chalk. Some are first timers and others are veterans of the festival. The cost to do this is a one time fee of $35. For onlookers like us that can't draw if our life depended on it.....it's free to gander and admire! Artists do the hard work working on their art from morning to dusk for two days. We have the easy part.... just walking around and rubbing elbows with they neighbor! Fun for all ages! Advice: First Day: If you like to take in the experience and have a better understanding of the artists, come out on the first day to see what the artists have to go through with prepping and doing their sketches. The first day is mostly art pieces that are about 1/2 done to 3/4's done.... depending on how the artists feel. Second Day: If you want to see the finished product, come on Sunday! They also have a car show also. What a great way to spend fathers day! Last advice: If you want to see the transformation of the artists amazing artwork, come on both days. You'll be blown away by the experience! Looking forward to see next years new and veterans of the festival and so should you! :) read more

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2015 was my first time visiting the Pasadena Chalk Festival, and I really liked it. It's definitely an event that is worth visiting for locals. We walked over and didn't stay too long but had the opportunity to check out a bunch of chalk artist in action and see all of the pieces. They also had a classic car show going on, on Green Street which was a nice shaded addition. While my boyfriend wasn't really blown away by many of the pieces, I liked most of them. Of course, you have a few really stand out artist but kudos to anyone who is going to be down on their hands and knees, creating art from chalk on a blazing hot concrete sidewalk on the first day of summer which also happened to be nearly 90 degrees. I sure as hell couldn't and wouldn't want to do it. Although it's not an event you need to stay hours at, its really neat to see it in action. I would have liked to return closer to 7P to see these completed and perhaps the umbrellas moved, which were providing shade for the artist but shadows on the art. I'd recommend going Day 2 when they are almost complete. Perfect little summer community event! read more

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My body is so sore, it's just screaming for a massage right now but I'm happy! Another great year participating in the 2011 Pasadena Chalk Festival. We beat last year's Guinness World Record for the Largest Display of Chalk Pavement Art! =) The Chalk benefits the community arts programs of the Light Bringer Project, a Pasadena-based nonprofit arts organization. During the festival artists complete a 12"x12" canvas to be auctioned off during the festival to help fund the Light Bringer Project and the canvas are provided! I think this also to ensure no obscene entries make it to the chalking phase. It's so fun and only $35 for the first year to participate, if you want to participate in the following years it's free. You get a tote bag filled with large, medium and small box of chalk, coupons to local stores, t-shirt and VIP artist party (with free food and drinks it almost feel like a Yelp event) You don't have to be a particularly good artist to participate, just have a vision and willingness to work long hours for no pay. =D Helpful Hints - Wear knee pads - Grid out your art work so you don't become overwhelmed by the size, (I didn't know about this tool but I guess in construction they have this tool called a chalk line where you just snap it too make a line... get it) - When sketching the initial outline tape a piece of chalk to a stick so you don't have to kill your back - Try and work in teams, it seriously goes a lot faster even with two people instead of one. x_X - If you crush up your chalk and mix with water you get a "paint" goes on smoother and covers more area - Let your presence be known, many DERP people are oblivious that there is a chalk festival going on walk across your art! =( read more

First timer! Event & Art: It was an incredible festival! So vivid and colorful that you can't help but take a picture of everything! So much passion goes into these murals and you can witness that passion by going on the first day alone. I believe there were one or two designated areas of chalk murals I missed because there were not enough signs indicating there was more to be seen. As for that, I would just say for next year to make sure the crowd is led and clearly directed to every area as to not miss anything worth seeing! It's a shame to miss even one of them and sucks for the other artists who did not get enough of a crowd! Live performances were great and the station for kids' chalk art was a sweet touch. The numerous amount of umbrellas definitely gave some shade to keep away from the sun for a couple of minutes. Crowd control: It was okay, definitely crowded but still breathable. My personal space was invaded a few times though because there were multiple cameras and phones going in every direction. The spacing between artworks allowed walkable space but crowds have such a mind of their own. So keep that in mind! Future advice: This event is two days & believe me when I say, it is a complete treasure to go both days. Seeing the unfinished work and coming back for the completion was breathtaking in more ways than one. But due to this festival always being on Father's Day, the last day between 5:30-7:00PM is the best time to go! It's when parking is less of a headache, everything's done, the LA heat's dissipating, & everyone is crowding the awards ceremony giving more space to see all the pieces with less people around them. Also, the artists love when you engage in conversation! It was great to see the same ones proudly standing by their works on the second day. See you in 2016, chalk festival! read more

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This is such a cool way to celebrate Father's Day weekend. It's located in the Paseo mall area. There are lots that you can easily park in that will charge you based on how many hours you're there. Get it validated if you shop or eat around there! This was my first time here and I came on Sunday around noon. Most of the murals were completed or 3/4 done. A lot of the artists had umbrellas/shades out to help shade them as they work. I wish I came later that afternoon so that I can actually take pictures and admire all the pieces without blocks of shade covering half of the piece. Still really enjoyable though. There's plenty of artists who participate. And they have a taped area on the floor that shows where their area is, but you can get up close and personal to pretty much all the art pieces. It's really fun to see how creative people from all ages can be. They have food trucks near by such as grilled cheese truck and the Starbucks frappuccino truck. Free musical entertainment and a kids zone where kids can draw with chalk and get their face painted. You can also participate in voting for your favorite chalk drawings and even talk to the artists themselves!! Overall, a really fun and free way for a family to have fun together. read more

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This is a must see for all during Father's Day weekend and best of all it's FREE!! I've been coming here for the past 3 yrs and I love it! So many talented artists and it's so amazing to see how a boring sidewalk can be transformed into a piece of art, one word...WOW! It's a 2 day event and I suggest to come on the last day when most of the artists have completed their artwork. This event is great for all ages, so bring your family, friends and loved ones and enjoy some art, live music and a car show! Don't forget your camera! read more

This event is free. Came about 2pm on a Saturday and most of the artists were halfway through their chalk work or some were barely sketching it. I prefer to see it completed so I suggest coming the last hour 6pm. They had some entertainment and Mountain Dew booths to let you sample things and hot dogs for sale. It goes around the Paseo Colorado mall and upstairs as well as across the street which is Green street. It took me about an hour to go through and take pictures of some of the work so parking is not so bad. Talented artists who I did not see having tip jars which I'm surprised. My guess is it's volunteer work or they are doing it for a class. A great event if you are in LA. read more

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Impressed! Nice place to hang out with the whole fam. There's place to eat, get entertained and meet the artists in action.

This is a fun and free event. The artwork is great to look at with amazing talent. This is an event that can appeal to every age group and should be attended. read more

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I've only been involved in this event once (I am not an artist) and I had such an amazing experience participating and observing such lovely works of art. The art here is amazing!! Everyone is so talented and so dedicated to their work. I don't know how the judges decide who gets what award because everyone's work is so beautiful. The area that this event is held is nice, after walking around to view art you can also visit some of the shops here. I met some really cool people and some really cool pets too. Overall great experience!! Definitely recommend this place!! read more

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25th Anniversary!!! Sounds special, right? Well, I'm glad I went.... Now I can say I've been. More importantly it brought me to beautiful Old Town Pasadena. The buildings, the people, the food... Who wouldn't want an excuse to visit?! Even though you don't need one (but sometimes you just want to justify the commute & sitting on So Cal freeways - ughh)! I digress - Anyhow, this being my first chalk festival ever (I KNOW, RIGHT), it made for a nice afternoon and a great way to walk around & work off a huge meal! :P So much talent displayed here... Obviously, some more than others... *whispering* as you'll see in my photos, but don't want to point fingers! I was hopping to see more of those amazing 3-D installs that you catch on the news, but there actually weren't that many. If you get the chance, check it out. Free... Interesting... Chance to actually use your legs... And of course, an excuse to venture out & explore Old Town. Maybe even meet new friends! ;) read more

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I have heard of this the past years, but never went. I went this weekend for the first time and it was great! The event is free. Take the family, bring water, and protect yourself from the sun (depending what time you go). I love art, especially when the artist is there doing it. read more

This is my second year coming to the Chalk Festival and I hope I can make it every year. I love seeing the amazing artists come up with new work each year. This event is free besides the parking, which costs 9 dollars to park in a garage. Once parked it is very easy to access the Chalk Festival and walk around. There are a bunch of restaurants in walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat. I really enjoy the live music that is playing through the Chalk Festival, it changes every couple of hours. I highly recommend this event to people of all ages! read more

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AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT every year All Father's Day Weekend long June 2019. The Modonnari Festival that began in Italy comes to The Pasadena Chalk Festival in Pasadena CA. It was another Stellar year for The World's Largest Chalk Festival. Pasadena captured that Guinness Record Title a few years ago. There is so much beautiful Artwork here. Remember to go upstairs & across the street too for more Art. The Big themes this year were Superheroes: Spider-Man, Ironman, Star Wars, & Rock Stars: Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Rihanna, Kurt Cobain & others. One of the coolest art pieces was the Vintage Disneyland done in pastel colors. For a list of winners go to https://pasadenachalkfestival.com/winners/ It was crowded with people. There was a Big Line for Tillamook Ice Cream from Oregon. They also had Free Entertainment all day. There is Parking in the Parking garage right there & if it's Full there is metered street parking on surrounding streets. If you missed it mark it on your calendar for next year. So Much Fun! It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

23rd ANNUAL PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL BACKGROUND: In 2010, this festival made it in the Guinness Book of records for the most artists together for one event. Over 600 artists come together to work on 200 chalk murals on the sidewalks of the Paseo Colorado in Pasadena. STATS: LOCATION: Paseo Colorado Saturday & Sunday (Typically Father's Day Weekend) COST: FREEEEEEEE HOURS: 10:00 am-7:00pm PARKING: Underground structure $$ (validation available in some shops). Metered street parking available. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Gold Line w/in walking distance EXPERIENCE: Awe!!! Childhood memories...sitting on the curb of a sidewalk, with friends, drawing pictures, or playing tic-tac-toe, or even making a hopscotch court, with a soft, white or yellow, porous sedimentary carbonate rocks. Dems da days of da simple life. Chalk art has sure come a long way and the artists who come out to the annual Chalk Festival know how to create masterpieces using a plethora of colored chalk. 2015 marks my third visit to Pasadena's Chalk Festival. Each year the artists who get down on their hands and knees with colored chalk in hand never cease to amaze me. Artists are assigned their own space to create art pieces that are quite jaw-dropping. I'm especially amazed at how they are able to create 3D chalk art. My childhood tic-tac-toe board couldn't hold a match, let alone a candle to this stuff. This event was well organized grouping art into three categories: Animation Alley - Watch artists create amazing animation with chalk. Lower theatre near Starbucks and Upper Theatre near Cold Stone Creamery. Chalk of Fame - Presenting murals that represent tv and film. Upper theatre near ArcLight. Kids Chalkland - Kids can create Father's Day cards for dad. Plus free face painting with donation from 12-5pm Sat & Sun. Euclid Court near Happy Nails. Here are this years winners: http://www.pasadenachalkfestival.com/winners.html In addition to the chalk art, the Pasadena Police closes off park of Green Street, just down the stairs from the Paseo where you will find classic cars on display. You and dad like art? Looking for something to do with dad on Father's Day? Check out this event next year. I strongly suggest going as early as possible. It gets mighty toasty, as well as crowded as the day progresses. #cityofpasadena #art #chalkfestival read more

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I have been going to this festival for past 5 yrs and this yr was so overwhelming! This has become our family Father's Day tradition and would love to keep the tradition, we used to go to the one in Valencia till we found out about this one, I feel the set up of festival is wrong and with it becoming more popular each year they will have problem. There is dire need to spread the drawings!! There is plenty of space so ther is no need to shove all in the paseo w food tent and stage It was overwhelming specially w people w kids and pets. I noticed people bumping and observed some to become annoyed because they were not able to stand and study the work since everyone kept walking by and asking the person to move so they could take pictures. The set up is wrong! Kids need to be downstairs, its too much for parent to hawl strollers in elevator and escalators. Food vendors should be wher they hav the kids cuz ther is plenty spot to sit, open the street to make more space for the artists and close another street for all the police activities, in prior yrs cars wer on the other side not by the convention center so maybe you all can close that whole side by the convention and make that the spaces for artists.. i feel if each artist have room to walk around their design for spectators there be much better flow and less chaos! Band was amazing and it was a shame they wer squished in between strong smell of street hotdogs, ther absolutely was no room to walk or sit to enjoy them. read more

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If only we had gone in the late afternoon on Sunday! My husband, younger son & I were there at 10am that morning. Most of the artwork was still in progress and halfway to 3/4 finished. I really wanted to return later to see the finished products. But, it being Fathers' Day, we had things to do, places to go. Thanks to Yelp, we knew not to park at the plaza's garage. Apparently, it's parking hell. We lucked out and found a space across the street. No having to pay the meters on Sundays! First thing we see is a very cool car show on Colorado Blvd. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=WezQvpPWseWe46eGgmF94Q http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=LYBDx2hU2D3AIHj-a-Lo8w Since we were there early, there was no crowd and we were able to browse through all the areas easily. There were a lot of talented artists! And one of our Yelpers, Joseph "Joey Tee" T. was there helping out on this delightful work: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=U9uBkWJDh7K3PDhQkx0HQQ Here's some pics of other works-in-progress & finished pieces: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=wMwOc857xAQSvdY9aT1RxQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=-Hr9PqbKHjEyYzIHJXLOYA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=gkZhxh6LSoGv5UeQVAcTwg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=2FDYtPE2DcseUDCBcScycA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=omKLEHkNBBCWPQcj4OGpwQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=OdFdYPCEWc9l4O04wDlclg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=BXW_Y53bjegMa7i8sDl6wg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=g5M80g0gSexTvaSVyMKggg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=zo9GEhvsIdbi5FeiARDHTg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MbnBg0O-lCHKdUOIMBRgPw?select=sJLa2ebmGAD447taarKU3g Just as we were leaving, the live music started. I would have loved to just sit and enjoy it. Had a good time, but now we know to attend next year at the end of the festival for maximum enjoyment. read more

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4.5 Stars. This has been my favorite festival in the L.A. area so far. Why? Because instead of the usual "festival" with 15-200 vendors, 99% of this one actually had to do with the theme and the last 1% was free live music! It was really cool seeing 90% of the Paseo Colorado sidewalk covered with talented artists and their creations. Gelson's was giving away hot dog samples, random others were giving away "immune boosting" sippy drinks, a tent for kids to chalk it up, 2 different stages with bands playing music, plenty of parking, hundreds of artists, few people trying to pawn stuff... couldn't get much better. The hundred or so umbrellas kind of blocked the view, but what else can ya do with this sun? Quick overview: Pros: -plentiful parking -tons of artwork -few vendors -live music (2 stages) -kids' section Cons (sorta): -CROWDED towards the end -few 3-D pieces, if that's your Forte. -I find it hard to believe that it's "biggest chalk festival in the world" I went on the first morning of the festival and most people were still setting up, so I came back Sunday afternoon to check it out again. It was definitely more awesome Saturday morning even though most pieces were just outlines and the car show wasn't set up. Aside from artists, hardly anyone was there so you could freely see everyone setting up/getting started, which, believe it or not, was better than seeing the finished pieces . Sunday was just way too crowded and the only thing to do once everything is done is to look at pictures on the sidewalk. It's much cooler to see the artists in action (think Bob Ross, way more fun to watch him paint than stare at his finished painting). Thumbs up for sure. read more

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