WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) — Wausau’s 400 Block will serve as a canvas this weekend for artists from around Central Wisconsin as the 12th annual Chalkfest gets underway.
Over 800 people will be turning 350 sections of the sidewalk into works of art over the next several days. Chalkfest chairperson Amy Froelich says they got a welcome surprise this year when Crayola offered to sponsor the event. “They have requested as part of the sponsorship to have an artist that only uses sidewalk chalk.” The usual chalk that’s been provided to artists over the years is pastel art chalk, but Froelich says Crayola’s come up with some new chalk that will really pop out on in the middle of the Square.
Froelich says the event has grown rapidly over the past several years and that the temporary nature of sidewalk art is one of the things that draws people in. “That’s the whole part of sidewalk art. It’s there for a while and then you’re kind of dependent on when the rain comes or the sprinklers come on.”
Pre-registration is over, but you can still come down after noon today to pick up any spots that are left. The event runs today and tomorrow.
