Willoughby Arts Collaborative’s Chalkfest open to the public this year - The News-Herald
The public will soon be able to enjoy watching artists chalk Downtown Willoughby buildings and sidewalks as part of the fourth annual Chalkfest.
Chalkfest, sponsored by the Willoughby Arts Collaborative, is slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 10. The event is held in conjunction with Last Stop Willoughby, which has been held since 2008.
According to Chalkfest co-chair Cindy Ginsburg, there will be a juried competition with cash prizes for first place, two honorable mention awards and a people’s choice award.
“This year, everyone can participate in Chalkfest,” she said. “This is a fun-filled, family event. Families can chalk on their own square of pavement.”
Chalk pastels will be included at the registration table. Additionally, there will be cash prizes for first, second and third place for the children’s competition.
Stilt walkers will also be featured during the event for additional entertainment.
WAC’s Chalkfest found success in 2021, its inaugural year. The charitable nonprofit has since brought it back in conjunction with Heart of Willoughby’s Last Stop Willoughby event. In previous years of the event, roughly seven or eight artists chalked throughout downtown on select buildings. Children have also had the opportunity to chalk on the sidewalk in front of the Willoughby Public Library.
Among the attendees at WAC’s third annual Chalkfest was David Zinn. Since 1987, Zinn has been creating original artwork in and around Ann Arbor, Mich. For more than 20 years, he has freelanced for a wide variety of commercial clients while simultaneously sneaking “pointless” art into the world at large.
Last Stop Willoughby gets its name from a season one episode of the “Twilight Zone” called “A Stop at Willoughby.” The episode first aired May 6, 1960. The episode is screened at the library throughout the day of the event.