
(Last UPDATED 8/24/2023) Description and review of the annual Chalk It Up Art and Music Festival held at Fremont Park in Sacramento. See 2023 Update below!
Original Post
Labor Day weekend in Sacramento means it’s time for the annual Chalk It Up Art and Music Festival – a three-day art and music festival (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day) that raises funds for local youth art grants in local schools and the community.
This year was the 26th year of the Chalk It Up Art and Music Festival. Wow! The free family friendly Festival is held at Fremont Park in downtown Sacramento at 16th and Q Streets. The layout of Fremont Park makes it the perfect venue for the Festival. Volunteer artists, sponsored by local businesses, create chalk art on the sidewalks surrounding the park.
In addition to some amazing chalk art, there is live music throughout the Festival featuring local bands. Add to that food trucks, arts and craft vendors, and a beer garden! What more could you ask for?
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For children, each day of the festival there is the opportunity for hands-on art activities – and all the children’s activities are free. There is also a kid’s zone where children can play in a gated area on the swings, slides, etc.
I headed over to Fremont Park on Sunday, the second day of the festival. It was a perfect day, warm but not hot.
As artists work on their creations on the perimeter sidewalks of the park, attendees slowly circle the park on the adjoining grass next to the curb observing the art, taking pictures and stopping to chat with the artist(s).
Not all of the sidewalk squares are sponsored by local businesses or organizations. I noted one young artist whose sponsors were (as noted at the bottom of the sidewalk square), her two uncles. They sure made one young budding artist very happy!

The interior of the park is where the various vendors set up shop. The interior sidewalks make it easy to get around – but you do need to keep an eye out for the children hunkered down working on their own chalk art creations.
As always, the Festival appeared to be well attended – but not so crowded that it was difficult to get around.
Updates
(8/24/2023) This year is the 33rd year of the Annual Chalk it Up Art & Music Festival! Labor Day Weekend, September 2-4, 2023 at Fremont Park. Check it out!
(8/8/2021) Chalk It Up Art & Music Festival is back! This Labor Day weekend the event will also include a Chalk It Up Around Town element (similar to 2020).
See related blog post: Chalk It Up Around Town (2020 COVID-19 version of the event)
Comments?
Did you attend the Festival this year or have you in the past? Do you have anything to add about this fun Sacramento annual event?
Chalk It Up Art & Music Festival Snapshot:
- September 2-4, 2023
- Fremont Park – 1515 Q Street, Sacramento, CA (16th & Q Streets)
- Free
- Street Parking
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