Chalkfest at Arbor Lakes Takes Place Labor Day Weekend

Chalkfest on Main Street in Maple Grove is back for 2021. The event features artists creating colorful works on the street right before spectators’ eyes. And children can help create chalk art too.

“We have mandalas being drawn. So we will have chalk on the street so the kids can draw in the mandalas,” said Nancy Whitelaw, executive director of Chalkfest at Arbor Lakes.

Whitelaw says the event grew from 20 artists in 2016 to 60 in 2019. Chalkfest wasn’t held on Main Street last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead artists created murals around the Arbor Lakes area.

Crystal resident Shawn McCann is among 40 artists taking part in the festivities this year.

“I’m going to be working on a large scale 3D piece which is going to be really fun and entertaining for the kids and interactive. And hopefully they will love to join in and be a part of it,” said McCann. 


Artists like McCann will work on their art starting at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, the street will remain closed for viewing the art. 
There will be a people’s choice award for most popular piece of chalk art. Whitelaw says voting will be done with marbles.

“The artists have to be done by 4 p.m. Sunday because the voting has to be done. Then we calculate to see who the public has made the people’s choice,” said Whitelaw.

Chalkfest 2021 at Arbor Lakes takes place on Main Street in Maple Grove.

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