Chalk Festival organizers open new store

On Friday, organizers of the Sarasota Chalk Festival will open a new store in Burns Square designed to help fund the group’s operations.

Chalk Line, located at 529 S. Pineapple Ave., will sell works by artists that participate in the annual chalk festival, as well as merchandise associated with the event. Proceeds from the sales will benefit Avenida de Colores, the nonprofit organization that funds the festival, according to a press release.

In a November interview with the Sarasota Observer, Chalk Festival founder Denise Kowal said the event lost out on revenue this year after rain affected attendance totals. In addition to the Sarasota Chalk Festival, the group organizes a chalk festival in Anna Maria Island, and participates in outreach programs throughout the year.

“We're always doing events and doing things for people,” Kowal said. “We're just looking for ways to help fund that.”

Chalk Line will be open from 5-9 p.m. Friday, during the Burns Square Christmas walk. Kowal said plans are currently to operate the store, which is staffed by volunteers, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round.

“We're going to see how it goes for season,” Kowal said. “We hope it's going to be successful, and we hope we can keep it open.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected].