Make a Date of It - Bountiful Chalk Art Festival - Magic on the Sidewalk

When we moved to Bountiful, I started hearing about The Bountiful Chalk Art Festival and one year we finally made it a priority to go. We've been every year since, for date night or for a family outing. We love walking down Bountiful Main Street, seeing the amazing talent that our community has, and chatting with friends and neighbors who we run into while we're out. The last couple of years, the chalk art festival in Bountiful has shifted to later in the season, I believe in hopes of not being rained out.

We've found that Sunday evenings at the end of the weekend are an amazing time to go, although the drawings aren't as fresh by then, and sometimes it's rained and washed a few away. I also love going once every day of the festival, which usually runs Wednesday to Saturday) to see the different artwork as it develops. I thought I'd share a few ways that you could turn the Chalk Art Festival into a fun date of your own.

Where: Bountiful Main Street
Cost: FREE (food and other activities are an added cost)

Bountiful Chalk Art Festival Date Ideas

Check out the Food Truck League Event

Every Friday night, The Food Truck League has an event atBountiful Town Square, which is located behind the shops on Main Street, between 100 S and 200 S. You can check out their food truck finder for details on which food trucks will be there the night of the chalk art festival.

After you've walked Main Street, head over to grab some food or dessert. If you'd rather start with your meal and avoid missing out on the popular items from the food trucks, you could eat first and stroll down Main Street after.

Eat at one of the Locally Owned Restaurants

Bountiful Main Street has a lot of great, locally owned restaurants and stores. A few of them are located on the blocks where the chalk art festival will take place and the rest are just a couple of blocks away. You could stop for a bite to eat while you're walking or after you've seen everything that there is to see.

Royal India is located right in the middle of the chalk art festival walk. Vito's is as well but has specific hours, so you'll want to check to make sure they'll be open when you go if you want to eat there. A couple of blocks south of the festival is the newly opened Mak Mak Thai restaurant that has amazing reviews.

bountiful chalk art 2023

Grab Dessert Afterward

If you're on a mid-day date or choose to eat elsewhere, you might grab a quick treat after your walk down Main Street instead. Stop at Blacksmith Ice Cream Ice Cream Co. (on the west side of the 100 S block) for delicious hand-churned ice cream. Stop by Sweet Cakes Bakery for delicious gluten-free and vegan treats. Enjoy a coffee, tea, or non-caffeinated beverage from Split Leaf Coffee. Stop at Bountiful Town Square for a drink and a cookie from Fiiz. Or walk the few extra blocks to 5th South and check out Crumbl Cookies. 

Have a Festival of Your Own

Seeing all of the amazing artistic creations at the chalk art festival makes me wish I was a little more creative. Maybe the two of you are good at drawing and looking for a new medium to try. On your way home from the chalk art festival, stop and grab a box of sidewalk chalk for yourselves. Use your driveway or the sidewalk in front of your house and have a festival of your own. Work on a mural together or draw your own separate images. Maybe you'll be inspired to register to participate in next year's festival

Continue to Enjoy the Summer Weather

Bountiful has a lot of great overlook areas where you can get a view of the valley and have a great view when the sun sets. Drive up to toward the mountains after you're finished with the festival, find a place to stop, and get out to enjoy the view. You could put a blanket down on the grass or in the back of your car and chat while you watch the sun go down. If you're feeling extra romantic and want to keep moving, turn on some music and dance together while you watch the sunset.

Add a Local Activity

Fun things are happening near Bountiful Main Street all the time, but especially next weekend during the Chalk Art Festival. Below are just a few of those ideas. Friday night could be the optimal time to add culture to your date night with the free concert in the park, chalk art festival, art displays at the BDAC and then The Improvables.

This year’s Magic on the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival will start Wednesday, June 26th, with all artists finishing their work Friday night. The art will be on display until the rain washes it away. I'm really excited about our family date at The Chalk Art Festival next weekend and hope you'll venture out to enjoy it as well! I'll be sharing some of our favorite chalk drawings on Instagram this weekend and a few of the details of our date. If you see us while you're strolling down Main Street, stop and say hi!