This Saturday, the sidewalks along the "Gourmet Ghetto" of Shattuck Avenue in North Berkeley become a colorful canvas for artists young and old during the 16th annual Chocolate And Chalk Art Festival.

With no fees to artists, areas of sidewalk will be assigned to participants to create their own fanciful chalk drawings. A chalk art contest for the best drawing will be judged after 4 p.m. with a first prize of $250 and $50 gift certificates awarded for runners up. The winners of the contest will be notified the following day. Same-day registration for artists takes place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. in event booths located along North Shattuck Ave. Artist's chalk also will be made available for a fee. Thousands of local residents stroll up and down Solano Avenue all weekend, taking in the colorful creations of professionals and amateurs on the sidewalks.

Attendees can also purchase books of $1 chocolate tasting tickets (20 tickets for $20) that can be redeemed at various shops and restaurants along the route for sweet treats. Chocolate snacks range from the traditional (brownies, buttermilk chocolate cake) to the exotic (red mole chicken empanadas) to the downright weird (chocolate salami, picante habañero chocolate chunks gelato and chocolate-covered bugs). Sidewalk entertainers painting faces, clowning around and playing music will be stationed up and down the avenue providing more diversions for attendees. For more information, please visit the official festival website.

Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival
Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free
North Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley