Le Mars ready for chalk artists this weekend

(Sentinel photo by Magdalene Landegent) Sketching some of the first chalk drawings for this weekend's Le Mars Chalk Art Festival, Catherine Pratt designs a bright blue chalk shirt outside The Fashionette. Pratt, a Gehlen art student, spent part of Wednesday morning downtown chalking up the sidewalks in front of businesses. Gehlen student Nora Gloger draws more designs in the background. Gehlen student Nora Gloger adds more color in the background. [Click to enlarge]

Le Mars is gearing up for its first Chalk Art Festival this weekend and conditions seem just right for success.

The weather forecast promises sunny weather with only slight chances for rain late Sunday night.

Several vendors and restaurants will provide a variety of foods for people to enjoy during the festival.

Live entertainment is booked.

Thirty businesses all over town will have chalk drawings on their sidewalks.

And people of all ages are invited to try their hand at creating their own chalk drawings.

There is enough chalk for more than 400 people to draw.

Once people have chosen the size of their drawing area and pick up their chalk, Chalk Art Festival volunteers will walk them to their designated street and draw a template on the sidewalk.

People can then get creative and color the face of downtown Le Mars.

Even if people run out of one chalk color or another, that's OK. It's a tradition of chalk festivals for participants to trade chalk with other artists.

The festival starts Saturday morning at 10 a.m. but there is no need to rush, said Main Street Director Mary Reynolds, who is coordinating the event.

"There is no pressure to finish the drawing in one sitting," she said.

Rather, people are also encouraged to walk around, look at other drawings, enjoy the food and listen to the live entertainment that will be presented on both Saturday and Sunday.

The festival will also feature three professional artists to chalk up the pavement. People can bring their own lawn chairs if they want to watch the artists in action, Reynolds said.

Reynolds advised people who want to draw to bring cardboard to sit on and closed beverage containers to avoid spilling on the paintings.

She also suggested bringing cheap hairspray to spray on top of drawings because it helps preserve the colors.

The festival will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

As a special for the event, stores in downtown Le Mars will be open Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

Check-in tables will be set up at the south side of the Olson Cultural Event Center where chalk and drawing areas can be purchased.

A 2-foot by 2-foot area comes with 12 pieces of chalk for a price of $8.

A 4-foot by 4-foot area comes with 24 pieces of chalk for a price of $16.

A 6-foot by 6-foot area comes with 48 pieces of chalk for a price of $24.