Houston Street is closing down on Saturday for an unconventional event. Once a year, "Chalk It Up" routes traffic away and makes downtown a place where people rule the asphalt.
"It's a huge family festival. Kids just love getting down on the street, getting a little dirty and chalking up all of historic Houston Street," Artpace's Scott Williams says. "From Soledad all the way down to Jefferson, there'll be no car traffic on Houston Street. It's just the place for the community to come down and explore their creative spirit."
It's the city's only art-based festival where the majority of the art is actually done by those who come to it.
"Exactly. We have some artists who come and do professional murals, but one of the best parts of the festival is just letting the community get involved," he says.
The events taps a couple of well-known locals to create an artful centerpiece mural.
"Our featured artists this year are Stuart Allen and Kate Bradshaw. They're going to be on the bridge on Houston Street doing a 30-by-20-foot chalk mural," Williams says.
And so what Artpace does is close off the streets, make chalk available, and then get out of the way. They're looking for 30,000 of you to show up and find your inner muse.
"It's at 10AM-4PM on historic Houston Street. The best thing to do is to show up at Travis Park at 10AM. That's where we'll be headquartered."
If you're wanting to make a day of it, Artpace has planned it out.
"There's live music by KRTU, and then we also have food trucks on Jefferson Street and a couple more at the end of Houston Street. It's gonna be a great day."
As to whether or not you can afford to take the family...
"Ha! It's free, of course!"
Find more on Chalk It Up here.
