Let’s Chalk parts ways with city, goes private

Monticello’s annual Let’s Chalk Festival, a unique event that lets artists turn city streets into works of art, is changing over from being run by the city into a privately operated endeavor.

The City Council discussed the annual festival at its last two meetings, at the bequest of Mayor Lloyd Hilgart.

Ultimately, the council decided to take Let’s Chalk off the city’s plate, and instead have it run under the purview of a private entity.

Hilgart was instrumental in bringing the event to Monticello, and has spearheaded fundraising efforts since its inception in 2022.

For its first two years, in 2022-23, Let’s Chalk had been run as a city event, organized by the mayor and city staff, but completely funded by donations, with no municipal funds budgeted.

The event will continue on in 2024 — it’s slated for Aug. 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — but now Hilgart will be operating it separately from the City of Monticello.

Similar to other privately run events held in town, such as Brewfest or Riverfest, Let’s Chalk will be operated and funded separately, but can still receive assistance from city staff after submitting a special-event permit.

For example, assistance of city staff may be requested for coordination of event set up and location requirements.