The rain couldn’t stop the Chalk for 2024 Chalk the Walk, just slightly delay the start of the festival.
After the short squall of rain passed through uptown, volunteers got to work. People came up with leaf blowers to push the rain away from areas of the pavement to get the roads to dry faster. Mount Vernon volunteers with the Chalk the Walk committee came around and reframed squares that were washed out before the festival even began. Other chalkers worked on touching up the grids that were previously damaged in the storm or uncovered the work they had with tarps.
By 1 p.m., you would hardly notice the rain had even hit, as many chalk artists had solid work on their pieces.
One of the big draws this year was a more dedicated children’s art fun zone outside of First Street Community Center. Art booths were there for children to draw, as well as plenty of sidewalk and road space for children to draw on.
This year’s first place winners were Josh Wirtz and Leah Presnal. They will be the featured artist in 2025’s Chalk the Walk and invited to return for next year’s festival. Second place went to Gregga John for her glitter piece and Pam Hyberger and Alison Frerking for their Chalking Tacos piece. Third places went to Dave Pittman for his Kahlo inspired rug, Mike Larson for Piggie Life, and Emma Larson for her dog photo. Honorable mentions went to Hannah Dighton for Rose, Adeline Whisner for Coco Dog, the patients and families of hospice for Death Doulas, Joey Hines for orange triangle, Mary Campbell for Caitlin Clark Frido, Sarah and Danielle Lensen for Dolly Parton, the Mount Vernon Middle School Gay Straight Alliance for Cat LGBQT, Casey Kasparek for Red head, Iowa Conservatory for portrait, Bailey and Cole Kasparek for dog, Hanna Brockmeyer and Alex Barnett for a landscape and Charlotte Woosley for Mario.
At the unveiling of the community piece, outgoing CDG director Joe Jennison said this was a bittersweet Chalk the Walk, his final as director of the organization.
“I’ve been working on this festival since 2005, and it’s been a really big deal,” Jennison said. “It’s been a lot of fun and exciting working with the committee every year, and something I will miss being in charge of.”
A short squall Saturday morning delayed the start of the Chalk the Walk festival, as many frames were washed out by the downpour. Some artists, like those above, tarped what they could to protect the work they had finished on their grid and start work in the morning.