New Blog — Via Arté

The Via Arté chalk Festival takes place at The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Avenue in Bakersfield, CA
on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2026, from 9 AM to 8 pm

Bakersfield Museum Art’s 28th annual Via Arté Chalk Festival has become a beloved local tradition; thousands of visitors flock to watch as hundreds of artists transform the pavement of The Marketplace into stunning works of art. Funds raised from this event enable Bakersfield Museum of Art to continue its mission of ensuring that the visual arts, and access to them, remain a success in our community.

The festival draws on the tradition of 13th-century Italian street painting, a way to create art for the masses that often brings masterworks to the streets.

The Via Arté chalk Festival takes place at The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Avenue in Bakersfield, CA
on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2026, from 9 AM to 8 pm

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