It was a celebration of all thing art and autumn as more than 3,000 people gathered at Skye Canyon Park on Saturday, Oct. 23 for Chalktober Fest. Festivities included a chalk art competition with 35 artists vying for honors in the high school, amateur, and professional categories, while vendors sold wares and kids collected pumpkins in the Pick-a-Pumpkin Patch, a benefit for Create a Change Foundation, while local band Street Folk played everyone’s favorite cover tunes.
Chalk art competitors interpreted their vision of the contest theme, ‘Spirit of Las Vegas,’ and drawings ranged from nature scenes to the Las Vegas Strip and even our beloved Vegas Golden Knights. Brittany Price’s unique illustration of a Native American headdress with iconic Las Vegas symbols interwoven into the feathers earned her top honors in the People’s Choice category and third place in the Amateur category.
Las Vegas resident and international chalk art competitor Jay Schwartz, who has competed in chalk art competitions in Mexico, Japan, and Italy as well as several around the United States, showcased his talents and created an installation of longtime Vegas icon Vegas Vickie, which took him two days. Schwartz started his masterpiece the day before Chalktober Fest, affording him more time to mingle with spectators at the event.
Attendees who were inspired to draw did so in the freestyle chalk art area. No surprise, there were many Vegas Golden Knights drawings in the mix. (Go Knights go!)
Las Vegas’ art community showed off its very best at the art vendor village. There was everything from paintings to a unique collection of vintage clothing to paper flowers. Artwork included an impressive array of decoupage and mixed medium pieces, sculptures. photography, pottery, and fine handcrafted woodwork.
The 1,500 pumpkins at the Pick-a-Pumpkin Patch brought a twinge of fall to the 80-degree day. Kids took home a pumpkin for free, but generous attendees gave donations to Create a Change, an organization that educates underprivileged kids on how to grow and prepare nutritious foods and develop healthy eating habits. Along with proceeds from craft beer and wine sales, more than $1,200 was raised for the non-profit.
The enthusiasm, smiles, perfect weather and outpouring of community made Chalktober Fest an ideal illustration of the Spirit of Las Vegas.