For one weekend each June, the asphalt around the Denver Art Museum becomes a temporary museum itself. The Denver Chalk Art Festival returns June 1–2, closing Bannock Street between 13th and 14th Avenues and the surrounding sidewalks to car traffic so that roughly 200 professional and amateur artists can cover them in pigment.
Presented by the Golden Triangle Creative District, the festival has grown from a modest neighborhood gathering two decades ago into a regional draw that attracted more than 100,000 visitors last year. This summer's lineup includes artists from 14 states, among them 2023 Best of Show winner Derek Johnson of Tucson, who will render a 12-by-12-foot portrait on the pavement, and first-time juried exhibitor Ana Morales, a senior at Denver School of the Arts.
What You'll See
The work ranges from photorealistic portraiture and architectural illusion to anime and political satire. Artists begin sketching early Saturday morning and work through Sunday afternoon, their progress visible in real time. Most pieces measure 8 by 8 feet or larger; the most ambitious span 20 feet across. Because chalk is an unforgiving medium—especially at 5,280 feet, where UV exposure is more intense and afternoon thunderstorms can arrive without warning—crews spray finished works with fixative and cover them with plastic sheeting when rain threatens.
"You're essentially painting with dust," said Maria Santos of Albuquerque, last year's People's Choice winner and a returning competitor. "The altitude here dries your hands and cracks the chalk faster than at sea level. You adapt your technique, work faster on the base layers, and hope the weather holds."
For Visitors
Admission is free. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Live music rotates on two stages, and roughly 30 food vendors—half local restaurants, half regional food trucks—line the perimeter. A dedicated children's zone on 13th Avenue offers supervised chalking for ages 4–12.
Getting there: Street parking is limited; the closest RTD stops are the Civic Center Station (0.3 miles) and the 13th Avenue/Bannock Street bus stop (one block). Organizers encourage biking or rideshare. Pets are permitted on leash but are discouraged on the hot pavement near crowds.
Best times to visit: Early Saturday, if you want to watch artists map their grids; late Sunday, if you prefer to see completed work. Peak crowds arrive Saturday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Rain Plan
If severe weather forces a full cancellation, organizers will post updates by 7 a.m. each day on the festival's Instagram and website. Light rain typically causes only temporary delays.
More information: denverchalkartfestival.com
