Taking first place overall in 2015, with her “Angel with Blue Eyes,” was Melissa Slight.[/caption]The year’s largest fundraiser for the Round Rock Area Arts Council is expected to bring an estimated 35,000 visitors to Centennial Park this weekend.
The seventh annual Chalk Walk and Festival, sponsored by Community Impact Newspaper, opens Friday from 5-10 p.m. and continues on Saturday from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, 301 W. Bagdad St., Round Rock.
Artists of all ages will spend hours putting chalk to their pavement canvas, creating entries to compete for cash prizes in several categories.
Austin’s Dale Watson is the headlining entertainer, performing a free concert at 8 p.m. Friday. The two-day event also includes musicians, vocal groups, theatrical performances, food and drinks, and children’s performances by local organizations and schools.
New this year is the Chalk Walk High School Food Truck Battle in which teams of culinary students from area high schools and the Art Institute of Austin compete for votes from festival attendees. The winning student team wins a scholarship prize.
Chalk Walk talk
1. Artists work within a 10-foot-by-10-foot designated chalk area. Work may begin after check-in Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and continues until judging at 5 p.m. Saturday. Awards will be presented at 6:30 p.m.
2. Several new categories and prizes were announced for this year’s Chalk Walk and Festival. Best of show will be awarded $1,000, and second- and third-place winners will receive $300 and $200, respectively. Judges will also choose winners in the Best Representation of Round Rock, Best Animal, Best Figure, Best Copy of a Famous Masterpiece, Best Newcomer and Most Creative categories.
3. Friday’s schedule, along with the artists working and mingling with attendees, includes the high school food truck challenge from 5:30-8 p.m., a free concert by the Round Rock ISD symphony orchestra from 6-8 p.m. and a performance by the band First Year on Earth on the main stage from 7-8 p.m.
4. Watson will perform on the big stage at 8 p.m. Friday. All concerts and performances are free to the public. The Chalk Walk and Festival wraps up a busy September road schedule for Watson, who performed in 11 states and Washington, D.C. during September. He has released 30 albums, and his latest is “Live at the Big T Roadhouse, Chicken S#!+ Bingo Sunday.” It was recorded at the bar he owns in St. Hedwig, Texas. After spending the next few weeks performing in Texas, Watson will play 11 shows on a European tour in late October and early November.
5. Saturday’s schedule includes events on three music stages throughout the day; more than 80 chalk artists working; and numerous food, art, business and vendor booths throughout the park.
6. The Round Rock Area Arts Council said the event has an economic impact of $380,000 on the area. Contact 512-218-7099, [email protected] or www.roundrockarts.org for more information.
