Gearing Up to Chalk the Block for the 21st Year Running

It has to take a rare breed of artist to go into a major piece knowing that your finished product will be fleeting at best and has the potential for being completely decimated within minutes of completion or even while the work is still underway depending on the fickle finger of fate and the vagaries of summertime weather conditions.

Nevertheless, we are fortunate to live in a community where top notch pastel artists literally “Chalk the Block,” by crafting sometimes amazing masterpieces and even three-dimensional creations directly onto the asphalt of city streets in downtown St. Joseph every summer.

In fact, we’re just a couple of weeks away from the 21st Annual Chalk the Block event and Downtown Sidewalk Sale days in the community’s central business district with an open invitation to hit the bricks and enjoy another spectacular festival weekend.

Any parent with kids suffering the summer boredom that can arrive about this time is encouraged to gather up the family and enjoy some time together before the back-to-school crunch gets underway in earnest.

Coming August 3rd through the 6th, North Pier Brewing Company sponsors St. Joseph Today’s 21st Annual Chalk the Block Festival — a free event that brings in regional artists who create chalk masterpieces downtown on Broad Street between Lake Boulevard and State Street. Various other professional chalk artists are coming in from across the country to participate in this event with help from the featured artist sponsor, Lake Michigan College.

Those who go can also vote for their favorite artist renderings in the People’s Choice vote. Tickets will be sold at the People’s Choice Tent on Broad Street for one dollar each from 11am to 8pm on Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sunday. One dollar equals one vote towards the favored artist, and the artist with the most tickets by the end of the weekend wins the People’s Choice Award.

For those interested in learning more about chalk art, an Artist Workshop will be hosted at The Box Factory for the Arts on the Broad Street hill on August 4 from 5 to 7pm. Zapal says this workshop is perfect for anyone ages 12 and up, pointing out, “It’s a chance to try a new medium, refine skills and learning something new from a chalk master.” The fee for the workshop is $35 and includes materials and admission into the Artist Welcome Reception later that evening.

Chalk art isn’t the only sidewalk entertainment planned. City merchants will showcase sales merchandise outside and local organizations will hold special events such as heritage walking tours, a farmers market, Antiques on the Bluff and free, horse-drawn trolley rides around the Victorian-era downtown district.

New this year is a Meet the Artists event hosted by North Pier Brewing Company on Saturday evening from 6pm to 11pm, where you can grab a beer and mingle with your favorite artists from Chalk the Block.

Zapal, who serves as Executive Director of St. Joseph Today, tells us, “This weekend celebrates our beautiful city,” adding, “Not only can you see awesome chalk art around town, folks can shop at beautiful boutiques and stores, walk to Whirlpool Compass Fountain and downtown beaches, jam to live music or catch a movie outdoors by Lake Michigan.” Zapal says this long weekend also offers a good opportunity to view the city’s outdoor art exhibit “Fishing for Fun” that showcases friendly sharks and fish along downtown streets.

Chalk the Block activities include:

August 3 – August 6 –All day Sidewalk sales
August 4 — 11am to 2pm — St. Joe Lighthouse Open Hours
Noon — Artists can begin chalking
5 to 7pm — Chalk Artist Workshop – The Box Factory for the Arts
5:30pm — Heritage Walking Tour: meet at The Whitcomb at 509 Ship Street
6 to 8pm — Chalk Artist Registration: The Box Factory
5 to 8pm — Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides: boarding at Elm and State Streets
7:30pm — Friday Night Concert: Jack Adams & The Breakers at John E.N. Howard Bandshell
August 5 — All day Chalk the Block on Broad Street
9am to 2pm — Farmers Market: Lake Bluff Park
11am to 2pm — St. Joe Lighthouse Open Hours
4pm — Summer Jam 2017 from Y-Country Radio at Silver Beach Shadowland Pavilion
6pm to 11pm — Meet the Artists event at North Pier Brewing Co.
10pm (dusk) — Summer Movies: Inside Out at Whirlpool Centennial Park
August 6 — All day Chalk the Block Viewing: Blocks completed Noon, judging follows
10am to 5pm — Antiques on the Bluff in Lake Bluff Park
3:30pm and 7:30pm — St. Joseph Municipal Band: John E.N. Howard Bandshell