Professional and student artists will chalk out a colorful walking path of art during the 2025 OTrak Chalk Walk, hosted by Ocala Cultural Arts.
In its second year, the event is part of the Tuscawilla Art Park Series sponsored by Fun4Ocala Kids and takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the park, 213 NE 5th St., Ocala.
Emily Parkman, cultural arts supervisor for Ocala’s cultural arts program, said the Tuscawilla Art Park Series is part of the city’s effort to raise public awareness about access to walkable pathways that connect the downtown area. She also said the art event is a revival of an old Ocala tradition of hosting chalk competitions for Marion County students. “We hadn’t done that in years. Families were happy to see chalk was back on the docket,” Parkman said. “The event is something light to activate this specific area in Ocala.”
Last year’s competition drew nearly 1,000 people to Tuscawilla Art Park.
“The first year went incredibly well,” Parkman said. “We had perfect weather last year and 15 artists compete for best in show.”
The theme for 2025’s competition is “Natural Wonders, Great and Small.” Artists are tasked with creating original family-friendly designs featuring plants and animals in Florida’s environment.
This year, 28 professional artists are registered for the competition to create chalk art inside individual 6-by-6 squares.
The student competition is open to Marion County middle and high school students who will work within individual 3-by-3 squares.
All art must be finished by 4 p.m. for judging and public voting. Artists will compete for best in show, second place and people’s choice awards. Winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Judging the event will be Lisa Irwin and Geraldo E. Rodriguez, of the Lisa Irwin Legacy for Arts & Culture Foundation.
There will be monetary prizes for professional artists of $1,000 for best of show or first place, $500 for second place and $250 for people’s choice.Event attendees can join in on the fun by voting for the people’s choice award and by creating their own chalk art in designated areas of the park.
There also will be other forms of art to explore, vendors, food trucks and live music by Fareeza, Niño Castaneda, David Smith Jr. and The Mudd, as well as a performance by Devotions Dance Company.
“This is the last community event for the season. We’’ll be doing a routine from the show titled, ‘Around The World,’” said Michaela Gardner, owner of the Devotions Dance Company. “The girls are excited to be back in the community and feel the love the audience shares,” Gardner said. “They get butterflies not because they are nervous but because they are so excited to dance.”
For more information about the free event, visitocalafl.gov.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
