Charlotte’s Pavement Becomes a Canvas at the Chalk Art Festival
By Scott Jelleyman, Editor, Queen City Backstage
Some art begins with a blank canvas. On October 17–18 in Charlotte, it begins underfoot. The Charlotte Chalk Art Festival brings artists and visitors to NoDa Brewing Company on October 17–18, 2026, offering a chance to watch an outdoor gallery take shape over two afternoons.
Art You Can Watch Being Made
The free, family-friendly festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. each day at 150 West 32nd Street. Local and regional artists compete in youth and adult categories, turning the space into a temporary collection of chalk artworks.
Watching the process is part of the appeal. A finished image gives you one encounter with an artist’s choices; seeing it develop lets you notice how a composition is planned, changed and brought together. That makes this an approachable outing even for visitors who rarely step inside a gallery.
Room to Participate
The venue lists a free community chalking zone, art-focused activities, music, vendors and food and drink offerings. The festival is produced by Creative Canvas Productions, LLC. NoDa’s listing places the awards ceremony around 5:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Free admission does not mean every purchase or activity is included. The program lists Pop Up and Paint as a paid offering, and visitors should budget separately for food, drinks and shopping.
A Different Kind of Weekend Arts Stop
For families, the mix of observing and making offers more than a quick walk past finished pieces. For art lovers, it is a way to meet a public-facing creative process. And for anyone building an afternoon around the city, the daytime schedule leaves room for an evening concert or theater performance.
The organizer’s Eventeny listing and the venue’s event description both specify noon–5 p.m. daily; the venue calendar header separately shows 11:30 a.m. for Saturday. Check the organizer’s latest updates before leaving, especially for outdoor-event changes. Take time to look closely, let the artists work and enjoy the gallery while it exists.
Plan Your Visit
Charlotte Chalk Art Festival
October 17–18, 2026 · Noon–5 p.m. daily
NoDa Brewing Company, 150 West 32nd Street, Charlotte
Free admission.
Venue event details · Official festival website · More Charlotte weekend ideas
Cover artwork: official Charlotte Chalk Art Festival promotional graphic, via NoDa Brewing Company. Festival dates and program rechecked October 16, 2026.
