RHINELANDER (WJFW) – Chalk fest 2025 started out early in the morning with artists heading to Davenport Street to get to work on their art.
Chalk fest co-chair Amber Whiteaker explained that the event gets people together for something fun.
She said, “to bring the community together and have something fun and eventful to do for the community.”
The event features artist Janessa Schaut who has been participating in chalk fest year after year.
Schaut said, “it’s an honor first of all because I won last year so now I get to kind of be like the, I don’t want to say the star of the show but I get to be featured and I don’t have the stress of having to compete against everyone, I’m just kind of here to do my thing.”
She is working on a realistic version of a hodag, something new to her designs. Schaut typically creates realistic chalk designs of animals.
“I’ve never done a mythical creature before so I’m kind of excited to try this one out,” Schaut said.
She may be the featured artist this year, but a pair of first year artists are excited about the opportunity to compete. Valerie and Avery Randall are participating in Chalk Fest this year and love seeing all the work being done.
Valerie said her favorite part of the event is “looking around at people’s art.”
Avery agreed adding, “yeah everyone’s so good.”
The chalk art may be the main event of the day but families walking around also could enjoy face painting, and see local businesses in the area.
“I think it’s really important to have these kinds of events in the community because it drives people down to our downtown district,” Tom Barnett, Chalk Fest 2025 co-chair, said, “and it helps out our small businesses that are up and down Davenport and Brown Street and it also just brings families down here for a fun day out.”
Next year Chalk Fest will take place August 22, 2026 and the hope is with the potential for warmer weather that more people will want to come out to the event.
