One of the most celebrated street painting events is happening this holiday weekend on the South Coast.
It’s the annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at the Santa Barbara Mission that runs Saturday through Monday. It features 140 street paintings drawn with chalk pastels on the pavement in front of the mission.
Ann Hefferman of Santa Barbara is one of 200 local artists who is transforming the pavement into artwork.
"It's a chance to really come up with an idea, execute it on paper first, design it, work out the composition, then put it on the ground. One of my favorite parts of street painting is just playing with color," she says.
There’s also an area for children to create street paintings. The three-day event also features live music and an Italian market.
Proceeds benefit the Children’s Creative Project, which is a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
The festival takes place from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.