The Street Is the Canvas
Every Father's Day weekend, 500 artists get down on their knees and make Pasadena breathtaking. You should probably show up.
For one weekend every June, the sidewalks of Pasadena become something else entirely.
The 33rd Annual Pasadena Chalk Festival arrives June 20 and 21, 2026 — Father's Day weekend, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, at The Paseo on 300 E. Colorado Blvd. And if you've never been, here's what you need to know: this is not children with sidewalk chalk. Over 500 skilled chalk artists descend on Pasadena to create works that go well beyond what anyone has a right to draw on a public street.
The festival draws over 20,000 visitors and raises funds for nonprofit organizations that support arts programs for underprivileged youth. So while you're standing there with your mouth open, you're also doing something good.
Murals honor a diverse array of cultures, films, music, and more — the kind of range that makes you stop, reconsider, and stop again. There's also a Silent Auction running throughout the weekend, where artists donate small painted canvases, with proceeds going directly to arts education programs in Pasadena and Los Angeles schools. Visit Pasadena
It's free. It's open to the public. And it only happens once a year.
When: June 20 & 21, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Where: The Paseo, 300 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena