Yesterday my family and a couple of my daughters’ friends visited the Chalk Howard Street Fest. The fest was held in the Roger’s Park neighborhood of Chicago on the most northern street of the city (Howard).
It was so impressive! It was also free and family friendly, so we knew we had to experience it. This annual event features world-renowned 3D and 2D chalk artists from across the country creating new works drawn right on the street.
We visited a bit early in the day, so we missed this year’s lineup of live music, but the DJ that was there was fantastic, playing tons of vinyl records from the 90s.
There were also food, drinks, and artisan vendors. We tasted food from Badou Senegalese Cuisine, but there were other restaurants like Jaunita’s Mexican Food and Urban Tables.
Artists and families were able to buy a sectioned off portion of Howard Street to create their own chalk drawing.
Honestly, it was a pleasure just watching artists work with different tools and materials to create amazing street art. Some were 3D, like the one below, and others were stunning simply as 2D works.
I also loved supporting the community and being able to talk with locals.
For example, while we sat at a picnic table enjoying our Jerk Platter, my husband and I chatted with a native Chicagoan who had relocated but moved back after many years. She is now a community activist, and she had a lot to say about her neighbors’ needs.
She also shared how she teaches a Chicago-style stepping class as a way to instill love and heritage in the city’s youth.
I was so inspired by hearing her love for the city.
In fact, I’m keeping this blog as a way to reflect on my own emerging love for the city and “slowly making a home in Chicago” in my chica cottage.
Truly, visiting events like the Chicago Chalk Howard Street Fest is one way I’m learning to connect with the city, hear people’s stories, and find ways to feel like Chicago is my own.
In fact, some of the books I’ve read about relocating to a new city share about how important “showing up” for events like this is. You can check out that post where I share about those books HERE.
I hope you had a lovely weekend, too!
Does your community have any art festivals you love to support? Let me know in the comments.
Desi says
Wow, what hidden talent there must be all around that we will never witness. Mind blowing.
Chico Cottage says
I’m so glad We went. It was so much fun.