Bakersfield Museum of Art's Via Arté Italian Street Painting exhibition event has been a tradition in Bakersfield for over two decades, starting in 1998. The event invites artists to use asphalt as canvas, turning the parking lot of the marketplace into a gallery of chalk masterpieces all while spectators watch.
The event opens to the public Sunday at 9 a.m., and people can come down anytime until 8 p.m. There is no cost for admission. The Marketplace is located in Southwest Bakersfield at 9000 Ming Avenue. Event coordinators say CDC guidelines, wearing masks, and maintaining distance must be followed and disposable gloves, masks, alcohol wipes, hand sanitizers, and hand-washing stations will always be available during the exhibition.
The Marketplace Bakersfield's many restaurants are now open for dine-in and patio service before and after the event including Lengthwise Brewing, Tahoe Joes, Toro Sushi, and more.
23ABC's Austin Westfall was live from the event Sunday:
