The sidewalks of Bountiful’s downtown Main Street will turn into canvases May 13-15 as 100 local artists create chalk masterpieces for the Joy Foundation’s 9th annual Magic on the Sidewalk Chalk Festival.

Last year’s festival brought 30,000 people to downtown Bountiful, which is still “unbelievable” to the Joy Foundation’s founder, Jane Joy.

There were 15 artists the first year, Joy said. That number continued to double each year, and this year’s 100 artists — who range in age from 13 to 75 — don’t even include the schools that are involved.

Interested individuals were required to register for the festival by April 11 and pay a $15 fee to reserve a spot. Supplies of pastels and a T-shirt are provided to artists by the Joy Foundation. For those who weren’t able to snag a spot, a section will be reserved for the general public, with sidewalk chalk provided. Local businesses and organizations also have the option of sponsoring artists each year for $100 per square. Along with that option, the festival usually has a couple of major sponsors, which include Intermountain Healthcare’s LDS Hospital and First National Bank.

Joy said there are no more spots available, as in the past those artists who missed the registration deadline were allowed a spot but needed to provide their own supplies, but the street is at capacity.

“It might lose its charm if we start going down side streets,” Joy said.

Alex Platt, 27, said he can’t think of a better place to hold the chalk festival in the area other than Bountiful’s Main Street.

“The chalk festival brings the whole area together,” the Bountiful resident said.

Platt first participated in Magic on the Sidewalk as a student at Woods Cross High School in 2005. He didn’t participate for the next couple of years but came back in 2010 and has done the festival every year since. He was last year’s featured artist, and is being commissioned by LDS Hospital this year.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to share art with a lot of people that I think don’t get much exposure to art, really,” Platt said. “It’s really fun to see families and kids and people seeing the art and being impressed and inspired.”

The public has the chance to view art that’s being done just for art’s sake, he said.

The main goal of the Joy Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to support and encourage local youth to discover and develop talents, which can then help them overcome adversity. Many of the youth it focuses on are at-risk.

“They get on the sidewalk with professional artists and they’re not only mentored but they get to be part of a community and feel like they belong,” Joy said. “It spurs them on to do better things.”

Platt said he loves the foundation and thinks its focus is needed and important.

“I think art can be the perfect, very important part of helping youth become excited about something and productive and focus on something good,” he said.

Awards will be given for best of show, first and second place in adults and first and second place for youth. There will also be a best team award. This year’s featured artist is Trever Wirth, who won best of show last year. The featured artist gets a large square right in front of the post office’s clock tower. Bountiful City’s mayor also always has a square, and Joy said Mayor Randy Lewis got on his hands and knees with the rest of the participants while wearing a suit last year.

Magic on the Sidewalk will begin at 9 a.m. on May 13 and continue until the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. on May 15. Live entertainment from the Joy Foundation’s open mic program will be on stage in front of the post office from 1 to 7 p.m. on May 15. The festival is free to attend.

Joy said that unless it rains, the chalk art will remain on Bountiful Main Street until it starts to look messy and the Bountiful City Fire Department cleans it up. She also said it has become a tradition of sorts for families to come view the art the following Sunday after church.

For more information on the Joy Foundation, visit http://kidsfindjoy.org.

Contact reporter Sonja Carlson at 801-625-4229 or scarlson@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter @sonjacSE and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SonjaCarlsonSE.

PREVIEW

• WHAT: Magic on the Sidewalk Chalk Festival
• WHEN: May 13-15
• WHERE: Downtown Main Street, Bountiful 
• ADMISSION: Free to attend