The First Annual Venice Chalk Festival was held on June 1, 2011 on Miami Ave in downtown Venice. Contestants ranged from young children to seasoned professional artists. Sponsored by the Venice Art Center, contestants completed for cash prizes. Throngs of pedestrians marveled at the masterpieces created by combining chalk and sidewalk.
In 2014, the Festival moved to the Island of Venice, Florida and combined with the Venice Chalk Festival. The works of art were located on Miami Ave downtown, at the Venice Cultural Campus, and at the Venice Municipal Airport festival grounds.