Chalk fests, friendship and face plants
a recap of my roadtrip to the Riverlife Chalk Fest in Pittsburgh, PA
I’d hoped to participate in the Riverlife Chalk Fest this year, but the schedule was just a little too tight to commit to the full event. Still, I managed to squeeze in a quick road trip with my longtime friend Alicia to catch the festival and explore a bit of Pittsburgh.
We hit the road around noon on Friday, determined to pack as much as we could into a 30-hour adventure. With our wonderful husbands handling things at home with all of our kids, and with some nostalgic 90’s-2000’s music playing in the background, we grabbed our coffee and headed south for a fast and fun getaway.
One of our first stops Saturday morning was the Duquesne Incline—a touristy gem Alicia found that was totally worth the hype. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a historic cable car built in 1877 that carries you up the hillside for a spectacular view of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny River. The upper station even includes a little museum about Pittsburgh history. (Quick tip: it’s cash only and exact change—$2.50 each way!)
From there, we made our way to Shadyside for a mini art supply spree at Blick, followed by a stop at The Terminal for a bit of shopping and a caffeine fix from Bitty & Beau’s Coffee. (Side note: I absolutely LOVE the story and the WHY behind this coffee chain! Have you had the chance to visit one of their locations?) Did I get pictures of any of this? Nope. But did we spend the day laughing, catching up, and just enjoying the moment? Absolutely. You’ll just have to take my word for it.
Our final stop in Pittsburgh was over to Allegheny Landing for the Riverlife Chalk Fest. And this is where things took a surprising turn. Turns out I did get up close and personal with the pavement—just not with chalk in hand. I took an ungraceful (but memorable) tumble. After I dusted off some gravel and my embarrassment, we were able to move on and soak in the beauty that surrounded us. Chalk artists from all over came together to showcase a stunning collection of talent and creativity. See for yourselves here:
The talent was incredible, the creativity was contagious and the weather was absolutely perfect. I only wish we could have stayed longer to see the finished pieces.
Even with a few bumps and bruises, the trip left me recharged and inspired. I’m so ready for this summer’s local chalk festivals—and next time, I plan to get down on the ground on purpose.
If you’re curious where I’ll be chalking this summer, check out my Events Page for a list of upcoming festivals I’ll be participating in. I’d love to see you there—come say hi, snap a pic, or just enjoy soaking up the creativity!
