If you love classic and custom vehicles, chalk art, and just an all-around fun time, then you’re in luck as the 23rd Annual Arts & Autos Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, September 10th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in downtown Denton.
Winners 2022
Best of Show Motorcycle: Brian Bozeman, #209 – Schwinn Lowrider, Class 6
Best of Show Truck: Craig Hardy, #97 – ’41 Chevrolet Pickup, Class V
Best of Show Car: Mary Peck, #35 – ’56 Chevrolet Nomad, Class DD
President’s Choice: Chris Cord, #85 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles
According to Christine Gossett, executive director of the Denton Main Street Association, Arts & Auto features about 250 cars, trucks, and motorcycles ranging in age from the pre-1930s up to today’s current models.
“It’s a real nostalgic event that draws generations of families coming out together because they’re all reminiscing about the kind of car they had (and) the first car they had,” Gossett explains. “It really is a fun way to share memories with your family and friends and also to come out and see some of the art that’s on these vehicles because just the vehicles themselves are works of art, especially some of those older ones that have been really refurbished.”
Judges will award prizes for the best car, truck, and motorcycle. And then visitors to Arts & Autos have the opportunity to voice their pick for “people’s choice” types of categories.
“The public gets the chance to vote on some cars for some whimsical categories, which is always kind of fun,” Gossett says. “We’ll have little QR codes around that people can use to get online and vote for their car that they think fits a certain theme like ‘Best Drive-In Movie Car,’ ‘Best Gas Guzzler’ — just some fun types of categories.”
Those vehicles that win at Arts & Autos have the opportunity for their owners to not only walk away with a cash prize for certain categories but also take home a custom-made trophy designed and made by local artists.
“We have artists who help us make our trophies out of old car parts,” Gossett explains. “So someone will weld car parts together and make a fun-looking, unique trophy. And then … we have some folks that paint automobiles that actually help paint some of these trophies. It’s been a really great event for including our local artists and craftsmen.”
As spaces for the vehicle portion of Arts & Autos are limited, Gossett highly recommends car owners pre-register their vehicles for the event. “And then people can register the day of if there is still room — if they’re going to do that, they have to come that day and if they can get in after we let pre-registers in,” she adds.
Chalk Fest
In addition to the car show, Arts & Autos also features the annual Chalk Fest competition. Gossett says also Chalk Fest lost a bit of steam, support for the competition blossomed when the Denton Main Street Association brought it back about eight years ago.
“It has been really welcomed back and people have been excited to participate,” Gossett says.
As with the car show, Gossett highly recommends chalk artists pre-register for Chalk Fest as spots are limited.
“They have to submit ahead of time what their theme is going to be for their drawing — there are some rules and guidelines where we have for those drawings and what is not is or is not allowed,” Gossett explains.
Participants can register in four different age groups — 6 and under, 7 to 11-year-olds, 12 to 17-year-olds, and 18 and up. All registrants receive a designated sidewalk square for their art, as well as a box of chalk.
Gossett says artists have from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm to complete their artwork. All artwork is then judged by a panel of judges, including local artists and former art teachers. Cash prizes are given in three age categories, and winners in the 6 and under category receive certificates for a free ice cream cone at Beth Marie’s Ice Cream.
“It’s been a really great event to watch grow because we started out with like 20 chalk artists one year, and now we’re up to like 70 to 80 a year, so it really winds around the outside of the Square,” Gossett says. “We have had some really great artists that come from the area in the Denton County and Metroplex area that come in that (18+) age group.”
More to Enjoy
In addition to the car show and Chalk Fest, Gossett says there’s lots more for people to enjoy at this year’s Arts & Autos.
For starters, four different musical acts — including acoustic, jazz, blues, and classic rock — will entertain guests on the Elm Street side of the Denton Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn.
Visitors can shop ’til they drop with over 50 vendor booths. “We’ll have fine artists and crafters, local stuff that’s handmade here by our talented folks in the area,” Gossett says.
There will also be a large Silent Auction on the Courthouse lawn benefitting the Denton Main Street Foundation and the work it does to preserve arts and culture in downtown Denton. Gossett says the auction will feature gift baskets and gift certificates from downtown businesses and makers, as well as other businesses in Denton.
And there are lots of activities for kids to enjoy, including a display from the Antique Tractor Club and games courtesy of Denton Parks and Recreation.
Plus Gossett says the Golden Triangle Woodturners will be back to turn little wooden cars for kids on-site. “We encourage people to bring their kiddos up to watch them – they’ll turn the wood in front of you and you can see how they do their craft, and then a kid can take a car,” Gossett adds.
Gossett urges Dentonites to come out and enjoy not just Arts & Autos on Saturday, September 10th, but also Dog Days of Denton taking place at Quakertown Park and the Civic Center Pools, as well as the Denton Community Market at Quakertown Park in the morning.
“They can come and have a full day downtown … it’s a great family day,” Gossett adds.
Arts & Autos 2022 will take place Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in Historic Downtown Denton. General admission is free. For more information and to pre-register for the car show and Chalk Fest, visit dentonmainstreet.org.