'Chalk Art Bash '08' set for Sept. 20

Still beaming with excitement from last year's Putnam County Chalk Art bash in Greencastle, organizers have their eyes on another big event this year.

Plans are already under way for the 2008 Chalk Art Bash, scheduled to take place on the Greencastle square, on Sept. 20. In the event of bad weather, the event will take place on Sept. 27 instead.

Putnam County Convention and Visitors' Bureau Chief Karla Lawless, who along with her assistant Sharon Eiteljorge organized last year's inaugural event, said several donations have already come in for this year's event.

"I'm very pleased," she told members of the tourism board Tuesday night. "The prizes keep coming in."

Lawless fashioned the event, which encourages participants to create sidewalk art using chalk, after one that is held each year in the city of Fort Wayne. Lawless was pleased with the attendance at Greencastle's event last year and hopes to double the numbers this year.

On Tuesday night, she told tourism board members she is investigating the possibility of expanding the art north from the visitor's bureau, which sits on the south side of the courthouse square in Greencastle.

"We are starting the planning early," she said.

Anyone wanting to participate or find out more about this year's contest is asked to call the visitors' bureau at 653-8743.