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The third annual chalk fest brings art, family fun, and community to the Las Vegas Arts District on Saturday, April 18.
For one day only, the streets of Downtown Las Vegas will transform into a vibrant, open-air canvas as the 18b Arts District Association and Market in the Alley present the third annual Chalk It Down! Festival on Saturday, April 18.
From real-time chalk art by local artists to hands-on activities designed for fun for all ages, Chalk It Down! invites the community to step into, play with, and be part of the thriving neighborhood.
This year’s theme, “The heARTS District,” goes beyond visuals. It’s about the people who have and continue to shape the neighborhood – the artists, the businesses and their owners, and the people who support it – and how 18b holds that identity as the area continues to grow.
The Festival itself has grown, as well.
This year’s Chalk It Down! stretches beyond its original footprint, running from Able Baker Brewing to The Arts Factory, extending onto Commerce Street, and closing streets including Imperial and Colorado. The added space is meant for more wandering, more run-ins, and more room to make something.
At the heart of the event are 60 selected artists, each sponsored by local businesses, who will chalk the sidewalks with their interpretations of this year’s theme. Visitors can watch as these streets start from first sketch to finished masterpieces and vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice Awards.
This year’s event will honor last year’s prize winner, Alex Milat, as the festival’s muralist. Sponsored by the First Friday Artists Program, Milat will create a one-of-a-kind chalk art piece specifically curated for the 2026 event – beautiful in its temporary yet impactful presence.
While the chalk creations anchor the event, Chalk It Down! is built as a full-day, family-friendly festival with:
- A dedicated Kids Zone filled with hands-on creative activities
- Interactive chalk areas where guests can make their own work
- Storytime, puppet-making, STEM workshops, and live demonstrations
- Live painting and dance activations
- Food, drinks, and local vendors throughout the day
Through the partnership with Market in the Alley, the festival will also feature more than 50 local vendors selling curated goods, from handmade pieces and vintage finds to plants, jewelry, and specialty treats.
New this year, Boulder Plaza at The Arts Factory becomes an added gathering point, bringing fine art demonstrations, community groups, and extra space for attendees to connect more directly with local creators and businesses.
More than anything, Chalk It Down! aims to show what makes the Arts District feel like an actual neighborhood – creative, surprising, and defined by the people who show up and keep it moving.
Chalk It Down! takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public, including pets.
Special thanks to The City of Las Vegas, a partner sponsor for this year’s event, as well as additional sponsors including First Friday, Main Street Las Vegas LLC, Leavitt Legal Services, Slonina ART Space, Recycled Propaganda, Rebar, Davy’s Rebar, Koolville Tattoo, and so many more amazing, local businesses and organizations.
The Las Vegas Arts District is a neighborhood originally consisting of 18-blocks (18b) of eclectic fun. Nestled in the south end of Downtown Las Vegas, the Arts District is a walkable adventure, offering restaurants, bars, live performance venues, plentiful street art and art galleries, and more than 20 independent antique and vintage stores.
Market in the Alley started in 2017 in a small, unknown alleyway that was transformed into a mini Mecca for the Las Vegas creative community. Founder and community advocate, Jen Taler, kicked off the first Market with approximately 20 vendors and 200 attendees. Today, Market in the Alley looks a bit different, with a database of well over 300 small businesses and creatives, and an average of 2,000+ people at each event. Market in the Alley has grown into a larger venue in the heart of the Arts District and has launched additional locations at UnCommons and The Green at The District at Green Valley Ranch. Follow along on Instagram @marketinthealley.
For more information, visit 18barts.org and marketinthealley.com, and follow along on Instagram @artsdistrictlv and @marketinthealley.
