WHO: Art in the Park, Northeast Florida’s only Chalk Drawing competition, returns for a fifth year to Jacksonville. This event is presented by Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park, YaYa Productions, and made possible through a generous grant from the PNC Foundation. Over the years, a number of illustrious artists have joined the competition including Christopher Clark, Elena Øhlander, Roosevelt Watson III, Adrian Rhodes, Grace Bio, Marcus Williams, Jenn Veal, Maiye Elaine, and Tatiana Kitchen. Several talented students from Duval County Public Schools have also competed and produced amazing chalk art. This year’s artist lineup will be announced in early March.

The festival was voted by Jacksonville Magazine readers as “Best Art Festival” in 2023.

WHAT: During the competition, artists of all ages will have up to six hours to create a work of art entirely from chalk. Visitors to the park will be able to watch the art happening right before their eyes, talk to the artists and vote on which ones they like best.

The theme for 2025 will be “Full STEAM Into the Future.” Participants will be given chalk and other tools to create their sidewalk art. Once the time is up, esteemed judges in the art community will visit each piece and vote on their favorites. Combined with the public vote, there will be first, second and third place prizes in three categories: Main Artists, High School Student, and Middle School Student. Elementary school students are also eligible to create artwork for participation prizes, and past Art in the Park winners will mentor them on their creations.