By Benjamin Garcia
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Tempe Marketplace is playing host to the World of Chalk Art Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8 featuring six local community group performances.

The festival will be Tempe Marketplaces' first big gathering since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

Jade Frazier, marketing manager at Tempe Marketplace wanted a special way to come out of the event industry hiatus.

“We just really wanted to support local artists and show the community that we’re there for them. It’s also a great way to bring people back to the marketplace and see what it’s all about,” Ms. Frazier said.

“The idea behind the world of chalk is to preach the message that everyone’s important, everyone’s needed. And how the world is made up of so many different people that come from different places and show that to people.”

The festival takes place on the internal District Street decorated with chalk murals done by a local artist as well as community performances throughout the day.

The performances include a Chinese Lion Dance, a Mariachi band, an American hip-hop group, a Japanese Taiko drumming group, Native American songs and dances, and a Mexican Folklore dance group.

“We want to celebrate diversity and unity as a community,” Ms. Frazier explained of the theme. “Each group will be able to perform and show what diversity and culture are to them as well as being able to expose the public to something that maybe they haven’t experienced before in their lives.”
During intermissions of performances, there will be a DJ on-site to provide music throughout the event as well as a patio bar sponsored by Dave & Busters designed for people to relax and cool off.

The event will also have a create-your-own chalkboard craft for kids where kids can create their own murals while the adults enjoy a drink.

“The create-your-own chalkboard craft for kids is something we are really excited about because it means there will be something for everyone to do,” Ms. Frazier said. “While the kids are creating their own murals on chalkboards parents can cool off on our patio and enjoy a drink.”

Along with the art festival, patio bar, and kids crafts the outdoor mall is celebrating the occasion throughout the weekend by offering discounts and special deals on products.

“We want to give something to the community of Tempe to do this weekend with the whole family to celebrate getting through a tough year,” Ms. Frazier said. “We really love the idea of celebrating art and unity with the community, and we hope as many people attend as possible.”