History: Then and Now
celebration of, the circus, which decided to make Sarasota its winter home in the 1920s. The festival aims to bring people back to a time when residents would glow with anticipation as the trains rolled into town carrying circus families from around the world, along with their elaborate costumes, massive tents and exciting props with which to practice their fearless acts. The festival is set to run for 10 days, from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6, with the main festivities happening from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. It will feature two music stages and a performance stage showcasing music, drama, dance, acrobatic and aerial performances and, as usual, it is free for all to participate in and attend.
History of the festival
Denise Kowal, president of the Burns
Square Property Owners Association, founded and sponsored the first Avenida de Colores Burns Square Chalk Festival in November 2007, with 22 artists and 5,000 people attending. At that time, the Children’s Chalk Playground, run by artist Jill Hoffman-Kowal, was the most popular area. Of the 22 participants that year, only three had street-painting experience: experienced street painters Lori Escalera, Kitty Dyble-Thompson and Mike Kasun. These artists were all instrumental in the progress and development of the festival. The second festival, held in May 2009, had already expanded considerably with more than 75 street painters attending, many of them experienced street painters who traveled to Sarasota from all over the country. Various fringe events began to complement the street painting. There was a performance stage that featured non-stop performances
VISIT CHALKFESTIVAL.ORG | 2012 Sarasota Chalk Festival { 7 }