My visit to Pasadena on Father’s Day weekend unintentionally but fortuitously coincided with the city’s 24th annual Chalk Festival.

Located in and around the pavement of the Paseo Colorado, a large, open-air shopping mall, the event drew nearly 600 chalk artists and tens of thousands of spectators during the two-day event, in spite of temperatures that climbed well over 100 degrees each day.

The festival, which entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 as the largest chalk festival, draws amateur and professional artists alike from all over Los Angeles, the state and the country. They compete for viewer-voted recognition and prizes in categories including Best Technique, Best Rendition of a Masterpiece, Best in Animation Alley, Most Colorful and Best 3-D Effect. Visitors may participate in a silent auction, bidding on scaled-down, painted or drawn renditions of the larger works on the pavement.

All of the proceeds go to the Light Bringer Project, a Los Angeles County nonprofit that “produces special events and provides innovative, state-of-the-art programs that support college-to-career success tracks for deserving youth.” We stopped in on both Saturday and Sunday, so we had the chance to see how the works evolved.

It was fascinating to note the different techniques and tools the artists used, observing how some crushed the chalk to powder, mixed it with water and then brushed it on as a wash or to produce a uniform, dense field of color. (We overheard one person recommend grinding the chalk in an electric coffee grinder — brilliant!) These Madonnari (“street artists”; the name derives from Italy, where, 500 years ago, soldiers returning from battle would paint images of the Madonna in front of churches) may use only chalk; no spray fixatives, markers or paints are allowed.

Many had earlier produced several renditions of their work on paper or canvas, some working from a detailed grid, before translating it to the concrete. Here are just a few images from the event. Inspiration came in many forms, but the passing of legendary individuals this year moved several artists to honor them.

Animation Alley brought smiles to many faces. The variety and intensity of colors dazzled the eye. And, in recognition of the horrific shooting in Orlando, festival-goers had the opportunity to add their hand print to a mural celebrating diversity and community. We thoroughly enjoyed this colorful, entertaining and thought-provoking event. Next year’s festival, its 25th, should be truly spectacular.

I just might have to find my way to Pasadena, again!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor