A new arts festival is adding some extra color to the streets of The Deuces this May. The Inaugural Tampa Bay Chalk Festival is being hosted on Saturday, May 13, where locals and visitors alike are invited to turn the historic neighborhood into a tapestry of chalk art.

The sidewalks on 22nd Street between 7th Ave South and 9th Ave South on the Historic Deuces will be “transformed into a kaleidoscope of colorful squares as professionals, beginners, and everyone in between are invited to take part as artist or viewer.”

Festivities kick off at 9 am and chalk painting will go throughout the day until a 4:30 pm presentation caps off the event. As part of the festival, attendees are encouraged to sate their hunger and thirst at so many of the great restaurants in the area, such as Lorene’s Fish & Crab House, Heavy’s Restaurant, Rastaman Natural Juices, Night FLOW Restaurant, and Urban Drinkery.

“This is an opportunity to bring together the community of artists, recreation centers, youth providers, and businesses, in addition to showcasing professional artists’ chalk work from near and far. And most importantly to give our children a day of art expression using chalk and art while having fun,” said festival organizer Debbie Yati Garrett.

Tampa Bay Chalk Festival is being hosted by the Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project. PDAP is a 501c3 organization with a mission to support, encourage, and promote Black and Brown Arts and Artists in Tampa Bay while providing family engagements with a focus on health and wellness. Their vision is to build a community of Black and Brown creative producers, artists, and activists, focused on developing and inspiring educational, collaborative, and uplifting engagements for youth and families that encourage health and wellness.

Learn more and register to participate at tampabaychalkfestival.com.

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