UPDATE:

15th Annual Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk

Tomorrow: Saturday, April 1st | 9AM-7:30PM

RAIN DELAY: With overnight storms in the forecast, we’ve decided to push the Chalk Walk start time to 9AM to give the sidewalks a little more time to dry off! Participating Artists: Check-in will now begin at 9AM at the Chalk Exchange tent in Market Square. The rest of the event will proceed as planned: Food Vendors open at 10AM, Beer Garden at 11AM, and the Award Ceremony at 7PM on the Market Square Stage.

15th Annual Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk this Saturday

This Saturday: April 1, 2023

~ from Dogwood Arts

Knoxville’s favorite live art competition is back! The 15th Annual Chalk Walk will take place this Saturday, April 1st from 8 AM-7:30 PM in Downtown Knoxville. Over 300 artists and collaborative teams will turn downtown sidewalks into an infinite canvas — from kindergarteners to professional artists, this event allows the entire community to showcase their creative talents. Alongside what’s happening on the ground, attendees can also enjoy food trucks, a blooming beer garden, and free art activities for kids in the First Horizon Fun Zone! The People’s Choice Award, presented by WIVK FM-107.7, will allow guests to text to vote for their favorite square.

Hours:

  • Artists Working: 8 AM-5 PM
  • Award Ceremony: 7 PM (Market Square Stage)
  • Food Trucks: 10 AM-5 PM

WEATHER UPDATE: We are keeping a close eye on the weather — unfortunately, Chalk Walk is the one event we host that can’t happen in the rain! It currently looks like the rain will move out by Saturday morning — if we have to postpone the start time of the event, we will notify all artists via email and post on social media/our website!

Kids Chalk Free! Kids of all ages can create their own chalk masterpieces with free chalk provided by First Horizon Bank in the First Horizon Fun Zone—located on Market Street directly behind the East Tenneessee Historical Society.

Photo: Artwork by Victoria Hinkley, the 2022 Chalk Walk T-Shirt Award Winner – pick up Chalk Walk merchandise at the Dogwood Arts tent in Market Square on Saturday!

There are a lot of fantastic events happening in Downtown Knoxville on Chalk Walk weekend! Please plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get downtown and find parking. ​

  • Parking: We know it can be intimidating to park Downtown; however, there are 38 parking lots and garages in the Downtown footprint (and over 5,000 spots are free on nights & weekends!). Discover options you didn’t know existed and find a spot closest to Market Square using the Downtown Knoxville Interactive Parking Map – with live parking availability: CLICK HERE
Food & Drinks at Chalk Walk: Don’t miss Captain Muchacho’s, Cruisin’ Cuisine, Daddy D’s, AppeThai, Mama Bear’s Sweet Treats, and King of Pops at Chalk Walk this Saturday! The Blooming Beer Garden in Market Street will include beer and seltzers from Cherokee Distributing Company (the bar opens at 11AM). There will also be free filtered water provided by the AB Project (don’t forget to bring your refillable water bottles).

Chalk Walk is sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union, First Horizon, Cherokee Distributing, Downtown Knoxville Alliance, City of Knoxville, Tennessee Arts Commission, Graphic Creations, Jerry’s Artarama, and US Cellular.