Street Painting Festival in Temecula

One hundred plus degree heat, black asphalt and chalk dust combine into a day of fun, smiles, art and sweaty armpits. Welcome to the annual Street Painting Festival in Temecula.

Each year in June, the city of Temecula hosts a weekend of street painting which attracts artists from all over as well as local residents. A few weeks before the street painting begins, Temecula holds workshops for future street painting artists to learn the basics of the craft. When the Street Painting Festival in Temecula begins, chalk flies as artists create a grid and begin their masterpieces.

And masterpieces they are. Many of the street painters recreate works of art from masters such as Michelangelo and Da Vinci while others draw their inspiration elsewhere. It's fun to visit the street painting festival in Temecula's Old Town on both days. Seeing the artwork in the early stages is fascinating. Coming back to see the completed paintings the next day is like walking through an art gallery except the paintings are on the asphalt rather than canvas and on the ground rather than hanging on the walls.

The artists use sets of 48 pastel colored chalks on squares measuring ten by twelve feet. Over 14,000 square feet of Temecula's streets are painted by these artists. Local merchants get a piece of the action by sponsoring pieces of artwork. In exchange, they get recognition by having their name placed above the artwork.

While the street painters work, live music fills the air. It can take up to twenty hours to complete a project so the artists settle in under large umbrellas with fully stocked coolers close at hand.

One of the best parts of street painting in Temecula is the children's area. Upon entering the street painting festival, kids can get a supply of chalk at a booth operated by festival volunteers. Next, they go to the two-by-two foot squares of asphalt that are sectioned off for kids to create their own artwork. These squares are available on a first come, first served basis. Street painting is messy business so children are encouraged to wear their grubbies. After creating their street paintings, the kids wash up in large buckets of water and return their chalk set to the organizers.

The Street Painting Festival in Temecula is not unique to the area. The tradition of street painting originated in Italy and has gained popularity in cities and towns across the United States. Street painting festivals, or chalk art festivals, can be found in cities such as Santa Barbara, Denver, Salt Lake City, Raleigh, Orlando and countless others across America. Grab a box of chalk and chalk it up!