Chalkfest 2025 Lights Up Reston Town Center with Stunning Artwork

by Lincoln Patience, Staff Writer

Insurance salesman and avid Chalkfest participant, Francis Deppner, drew a turtle as his animal of choice this year. Chalkfest "keeps me doing art," he said. Photo by Lincoln Patience

About 800 people came out for Chalkfest at Reston Town Center on Oct. 19. This year, 100 amateur and professional artists transformed the town square into a vibrant outdoor gallery, filling the pavement with mind-blowing chalk drawings. Children drew, zipped by on scooters, and had their faces painted while parents walked dogs and snapped photos of the artists at work.

“It’s like an outdoor art gallery,” said Dylan Van Vierssen, who teaches drums and keyboard at Herndon High School.

Herndon’s Bach to Rock student band returned for another high-energy live performance that kept the festival buzzing.

Photo by Lincoln Patience

Event coordinator Alexandra Rossi said that proceeds from this year’s event will support two community art projects: the decoration of local utility boxes by Terraset Elementary School students and the renovation of the Free Little Art Gallery in Southgate.

“Chalkfest is such an important event for us because it brings public art to the community at every level—professionals, amateurs, families, and kids,” Rossi said. “Having public art that everyone can enjoy helps strengthen our community and reflects one of the core values Reston was founded on.”

Professional artist Ben Morse has competed at Chalkfest every year since 2013 or 2014. “It’s fun, and it’s also a great way to connect with the public about art,” he said. His piece this year—a colorful hummingbird—paid homage to a painting by Salvador Dalí, whose work inspired him as a child.

Insurance salesman and perennial participant Francis Deppner created a chalk turtle this year. “Every year I paint an animal,” he said. “A frog, a crab, Harambe—you name it. It’s the one thing that keeps me doing art.”

Veteran chalk artist Penny Hauffe won first place in the professional artist category, followed by Morse (second) and Deppner (third). In the amateur division, Erin and Nancy Henry took first place, with Chloe Alford in second and Carla O’Brien, third. Amy Hoang earned the People’s Choice Award, while the Family and Kids category winners were Zinnia Marion, Jim Hannessian, and Grace Hutchison. Rossi and South Lakes STEAM Team teacher Marco Rando served as judges.

Amateur artist Jen Lee hasn’t missed a single Chalkfest. Known for her detailed leaf tracings, Lee said her goal is simple: “What I love to do more than anything is inspire people to do art.” As she spoke, she handed her notebook to a child in a robot costume, who gleefully added an octopus to the page.

“This is what happens when you get creatives together,” Lee said with a smile.