One of the most beautiful events in St. Pete will take over the streets of the Deuces this weekend. The 2nd Tampa Bay Chalk Festival will be held on May 4, from 9am-4pm at 833 22nd Street S courtesy of the Pinellas Diaspora Project. This free-to-the-public annual outdoor exhibit “aims to bring the community, tourists, businesses, and art district together to revitalize and elevate the Tampa Bay Area, Deuces Live Corridor, and local artist and vendor market through economic impact.”

The schedule of the day is as follows:

• 8am Vendor/Partner/Artist set up (street closes at 8:45am for all vehicles)
• 9am-4pm – events of the day
• 4pm Award Presentation
• 4:30pm – event ends/street clean up

Transforming the streets into work of art

Attendees will witness a breathtaking transformation along the sidewalks of 22nd Street, stretching from 7th Avenue South to 9th Avenue South in the heart of the historic Deuces. As the festival unfolds, these paths will burst into a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, serving as a poignant reminder of our duty to safeguard the environment. Under the theme “PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT: Sustaining our Future,” the festival aims to raise awareness of both local and global ecological challenges, inviting all to join in the vital mission of preserving our planet for generations to come.

Award-winning visual artist, filmmaker, and educator Debbie Yati Garrett, organizer of the Tampa Bay Chalk Festival, received a Creative Pinellas BEYOND PLACEMAKING grant to support the project. The BEYOND PLACEMAKING grant was produced with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, Creative Pinellas, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, and the State of Florida. Other sponsors include Pinellas Community Foundation, The Sierra Club Florida Chapter, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, The Factory St. Pete.

Community support brings the event to life

Community partners include Pace Center for Girls Pinellas, Dali Museum, Environmental Outreach Technician Solid Waste, Stormwater, Pavement, and Traffic Operations, St Petersburg Library System, Eckerd College, BayCare St. Anthony’s Hospital, League of Women Voters, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, 95.7 the Beat, and iheart Radio.