During the summer, townies know that Downtown Champaign is the best place to kick off the weekend, thanks mainly to 40 North hosting their open-air event, Friday Night Live. On July 31st, however, the event took a different turn: hosting a chalk drawing contest for Pre-K through 8th grade children, downtown attracted much more than the usual bar crowd.
Walking alongside and viewing the kids various chalk drawings I was beyond impressed by the creativity and skill — some drawings were even far better than I could ever do! The crowds were huge, and excitement was everywhere. With live music on nearly every corner of downtown and a fun competition for the children, the atmosphere was perfect for folks of all ages.
Winners of the sidewalk chalk contest:
6th-8th grade level 1st Place: Chloe S.
1st-5th grade level 1st Place: Roger H.
1st-5th grade level 2nd Place: Jonathan R.
1st-5th grade level 3rd Place: Jonah S.
Pre-K – K 1st Place: Aydn D.
Pre-K – K 2nd Place: Xuran D.
Staff Pick: Brook R.
To view upcoming events with Friday Night Live and 40 North, check out their website.