One of downtown St. Joseph’s most visually stunning and crowd-pleasing events returns in August — and this year, Chalk the Block is bigger, bolder, and more colorful than ever.
Running August 1–3, the annual street festival brings together professional, regional, and local chalk artists to create vivid, large-scale works directly on the streets of downtown St. Joseph. Visitors can watch the transformation unfold across the weekend, with artists sketching and shading from Friday through Sunday.
Traditionally confined to the stretch of Broad Street between Lake Boulevard and State Street, Chalk the Block 2025 breaks new ground — literally — by expanding for the first time east of Main Street. Artists will now also be working in the Pleasant Street Plaza area, adding fresh energy and foot traffic to the growing East of Main district.
Also new this year is the introduction of vertical chalk art displays, bringing a dramatic new visual element to the festival. Eight artists will create 8×8-foot chalk pieces on upright panels beginning Thursday, July 31. Four of the panels will line the Pleasant Street side of the St. Joe Today building, while the remaining four will form a free-standing cube in Court Place Plaza, across from Silver Harbor Brewing. These towering chalk displays will complement the traditional pavement pieces and broaden the visual footprint of the event.
“Color, creativity and community are at the heart of Chalk the Block—and this year’s growth east of Main Street and the addition of vertical panels make it our most ambitious festival yet,” said Paul Knapp, Executive Director of St. Joe Today.
Visitors are encouraged to return throughout the weekend to witness the evolution of each chalk piece and to vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice contest. Voting is open Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with ballots available for purchase at the People’s Choice Tent on Broad Street ($1 per vote).
Weekend Highlights:
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Friday (Aug 1):
Artists begin gridding and outlining on both Broad Street and Pleasant Street Plaza—come early to catch the start of the creative process. -
Saturday & Sunday (Aug 2–3):
Full chalking action across both locations. Stop by periodically to see pieces take shape and cast your votes at the People’s Choice Tent on Broad Street:-
Sat, 12 pm–8 pm
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Sun, 11 am–2 pm
($1 per vote)
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Thursday–Friday (July 31–Aug 1):
Vertical art installations go up—don’t miss the freestanding cube in Court Place Plaza or the panels down Pleasant Street. - On Saturday morning, mosey downtown and check out the St. Joe Farmers Market from 9:00a-2:00p in Lake Bluff Park. This market features local produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, fresh-cut flowers, and more! For more information, visit stjoetoday.com/farmersmarket.
- Saturday afternoon, get artsy at the Chalk the Block Kids Zone, sponsored by Silver Harbor Brewing. From 12:00p-4:00p, kids of all ages are invited to showcase their chalk skills. The Kids Zone will be hosted in a new location this year. Check it out on the east side of Main St. outside of Silver Harbor Brewing!
See more artist previews, map, and event details at www.stjoetoday.com/chalktheblock.
drone photo of Chalk the Block on Broad Street, downtown St. Joseph
