Newtown Lions Club brought color and creativity to Arts Festival Week through its Second Annual Chalk the Walk Sidewalk Art Contest. The two-part event was presented on Saturday, September 12, and then the following weekend, all at Fairfield Hills.

Thirty residents participated this year, turning the courtyard adjacent to Newtown Municipal Center into a lively outdoor gallery of chalk art.

The Lions continued the celebration during Newtown Arts Festival on Saturday, September 19, when they displayed photographs of all 28 submissions at their booth. The display attracted steady traffic throughout the day, with festivalgoers stopping to admire the artwork and cast votes for three categories: Adult, Youth, and The David Merrill Memorial People’s Choice Award.

Although the festival did not open on Sunday due to rain, visitors cast 438 ballots on Saturday, generating more than 1,300 individual votes across the entries.

Matt Deitrich, a member of Newtown Lions Club and one of the competition organizers, said the club was “thrilled by the turnout and by how many people engaged with the artwork.

“The enthusiasm at the Arts Festival showed how much joy this event brings to the community,” Deitrich added.

Organizers said they were especially encouraged by the number of residents who expressed interest in participating next year. Joan Alexander said she and other organizers heard from roughly two dozen people “who told us they hadn’t known about the contest but are eager to take part in 2027.

“That kind of excitement is exactly what we hoped to inspire,” she added.

Award Winners Announced

The $250 David Merrill Memorial People’s Choice Award, selected by public vote at the Arts Festival, was awarded to Jacob Helzner for his intricate drawing of “The Castle.”

Category winners were chosen by a panel of judges. The Adult category winner was Meagan Ferriter for “Lake in the Pines,” while the Youth category winner was Mashal Gagne for his scene of a cow being beamed into a UFO he called “Abduction!”

Each category winner received a $100 prize.

Looking Ahead

The Lions described Chalk the Walk as a low‑barrier, family‑friendly way to kick off Arts Festival Week and contribute to one of Newtown’s signature community traditions. Organizers said they were grateful for the strong participation and the warm reception at the Arts Festival.

“We were delighted to help launch Arts Festival Week and to play even a small role in adding joy to one of Newtown’s most beloved events,” Deitrich said.

Residents who wish to participate in future contests may submit their names and contact information at chalkthewalk.org, where photographs of all 2026 submissions are also available.