DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Chalk artist Steve DeOrio works on his art based on the painting called La Ghirlandata by Dante Rosetti during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015.(Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Isabelle Rutar, 10, of Golden sits in the chalk art piece entitled What the Duck during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: A beautiful peacock is the creation of artists Hannah Coburn, Taylor Schofield and Andy Shimmin, not shown, for the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015.(Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Pieces of chalk being used by artist John Martinez, not shown, for his Mythica Lion design during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Chalk artist Nixi Pixi works on her creation called Epic Battle of Mythical Creatures during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Loyd Daggs, middle and Erik Kemp, right work on their creation called Fish during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015.(Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Pieces of chalk ready to be used by artists during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, Denver Post file
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DENVER , CO - JUNE 7: Chalk artist Steve DeOrio works on his art based on the painting called La Ghirlandata by Dante Rosetti during the Denver Chalk art festival on Larimer Square in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2015.(Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)
As far as free outdoor festivals go, the is rivaled only by Civic Center events such as A Taste of Colorado, Cinco de Mayo and the People’s Fair in sheer size.
The two-day arts celebration, which returns to Larimer Square on June 4-5, last year attracted 150,000 people. And that was with a couple of serious bouts of rain.
“We typically have closer to 200,000 over the duration of the weekend,” Jacey McDaniel, marketing and events manager for Larimer Associates, wrote in an e-mail. “But last year it downpoured … a couple of times!”
Whether or not the clouds cooperate for this year’s 14th annual event, organizers are gearing up for another enthusiastic celebration of colorful, elaborate street art. Larimer Street between 15th Street and Speer Boulevard, and 14th Street between Market and Lawrence Streets, will once again host five featured artists, live music, refreshments, kid’s activities and the “youth challenge” presented by — which pits students from the seven-county area against one another to win cash prizes for art supplies at their high schools.
To get a preview of this year’s event, take a look at last year’s numbers:
Artists: 250
Professional chalk artists: 5
Chalk artists: 145
High school chalk artists: 100
8-by-8-foot chalk art pieces: 118
12-by-12-foot chalk art pieces:5
3-D chalk art pieces:6
Pieces of chalk used: More than 3,400
Hours put in by the artists during the weekend: More than 6,000
Artists who have been involved since the festival began in 2002:9
Square feet of chalk art: 9,167
Cost to put on the event: $130,000
The action kicks off Friday, June 3, with a 5-8 p.m. happy hour, followed by the family-friendly Saturday (10 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) events. Find out more at .
