Entertainment

Free midtown Sacramento art festival is back Labor Day weekend. Here’s what to know

The 32nd annual Chalk it Up! Chalk Art and Music Festival is back in midtown Sacramento.

The festival celebrates art in the community with local artists filling the sidewalks of Fremont Park with color during the three-day event. Families can watch artists bring life to the park, listen to live music from local musicians and enjoy local craft and food vendors.

If you plan on going to the festival this Labor Day weekend, here’s what to know:

When and where

The festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Labor Day weekend. It’ll be at Fremont Park on 16th and Q streets.

Admission is free.

Sacramento artist Jolene Russell creates a chalk painting on the sidewalk at the Chalk it Up festival in Sacramento in 2018.
Sacramento artist Jolene Russell creates a chalk painting on the sidewalk at the Chalk it Up festival in Sacramento in 2018. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file

Music line up and vendors

A handful of artists are playing each day of the festival, including:

Saturday

  • Girls Rock
  • Pastel People
  • Autumn Sky Hall
  • Hannah Lingrell
  • Alex Walker
  • J Ross Parelli & Bru Lei

Sunday

  • River City Regiment Big Band
  • Show Me Golden
  • Amanda & the Shy Boys
  • Jonah Matranga
  • Centershift
  • Ghost Town Rebellion
  • The Pikeys

Monday

  • DJ Larry Rodriguez
  • Bellygunner
  • The Freebadge Serenaders
  • Loose Engines
  • The Crescent Katz
  • The Me Gustas
  • Mariachi Bonitas de Denorah Klinger

The festival’s vendor marketplace ranges from food, art and clothing, including face painting. You can find the vendor map on the festival’s website.

Evelyn Lacoste, 7, of Fair Oaks, picks out chalk to finish her “Underwater Adventure” piece she is creating with her father during the Chalk It Up festival at Fremont Park in midtown Sacramento in 2021.
Evelyn Lacoste, 7, of Fair Oaks, picks out chalk to finish her “Underwater Adventure” piece she is creating with her father during the Chalk It Up festival at Fremont Park in midtown Sacramento in 2021. Sara Nevis snevis@sacbee.com

Special features

The Chalk it Up! festival will also feature a beer garden, playground for kids and art mural.

With temperatures expected in the triple digits this weekend, there will be cooling stations and a pet hydration area in the park.

Parking

According to the festival website, there will be valet parking on Q Street and garage parking at 1515 R Street.

There will be a bike valet on the P Street side of Fremont Park.

The Sacramento Regional Transit is also offering free rides on the bus and light rail for the event, if you present an online flier.

Can we make art with chalk too?

If you and your kids feel inspired seeing chalk artists decorate the city, you can make your own creations too. Sidewalk chalk will be available for people to use on the walkways inside the park.

This story was originally published August 29, 2022 at 11:00 AM.

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