Project Jericho, Clark State College’s youth outreach program, will present the fourth annual ChalkFest chalk-art festival and contest on Saturday, October 2.
“Boy Blue – a Dayton-based artist – will be the featured chalk artist who works with Project Jericho youth leading up to the event,” said Lo Houser, director of Project Jericho.
Adelee & Gentry will be performing live music and local food trucks, including Kleinfelder Hots & Brats and Christian Bros Meat Company, will be available. The Springfield Museum of Art will lead a children’s art activity under the big tent.
ChalkFest will also include the annual Project Scare-A-Crow exhibit. This year the theme is “Saturday Morning Cartoons.” The scarecrow installation will be displayed through October 28.
“Although we have reduced the number of participants in Project Jericho’s family programs this year to allow more social distancing, it feels good to build scarecrows again. There is something magical about watching multiple families making large-scale art in the same room,” said Kristi Limes, Project Jericho success coordinator. “In one corner, you hear the sewing machine; just outside the doors, you see children and parents stuffing scarecrow bodies; at one table, you see sisters making papiermache, and at another table, a young boy is learning to use a hack saw for the first time.”
ChalkFest will begin at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 2 at the National Road Commons Park, 21 Fisher Street (located between West Main Street and West Columbia Street, two blocks west of St. Rt. 72), near the Madonna of the Trail in downtown Springfield. Admission is free. The event is presented by Project Jericho and National Trail Parks and Recreation.
Project Jericho provides in-depth performing and visual arts camps and workshops with a goal to make art and cultural experiences available to all youth and families in the community.
To enter Project Scare-A-Crow, register at: https://ntprd.org/project-scare-a-crow/ or to enter the chalk art competition, register at: https://ntprd.org/chalkfest-chalk-art-competition/
Project Jericho is a program of Clark State College supported through funding from the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services, Clark County Juvenile Court, Ohio Arts Council, The Turner Foundation, Community Health Foundation, and private contributions.
Chalkfest is additionally supported by Greater Springfield Partnership, Ohio Valley surgical hospital, Partners for the Parks, and Transportation Coordinating Committee.