Chalktober: From Class to Concrete
 

District 11 students transform Downtown sidewalks into vibrant works of art
 

Colorado Springs, CO — On Oct. 2–3, every eighth grader in Colorado Springs School District 11 will step out of the classroom and into the heart of the city for Chalktober: From Class to Concrete, an immersive learning experience that blends creativity, community, and culture.
 

More than 1,500 students will transform sidewalks throughout Downtown Colorado Springs into vibrant chalk art masterpieces. Sidewalks near Acacia Park, the Pioneers Museum, and other Downtown locations will become open-air galleries as students showcase their learning through creativity.
 

“This is what it means to be the school district at the center of the city,” said Superintendent Michael Gaal. “Chalktober brings learning into the community, giving students a chance to see how their creativity can engage and inspire others.”

Chalktober is part of D11’s Peak Experiences initiative—designed to ensure that every student has meaningful, real-world learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

The event is presented in partnership with Downtown Colorado Springs, First Friday Downtown, and Arts Month, linking student expression to the broader cultural fabric of the community.

Visitors are encouraged to stroll through Downtown during the two-day chalking event, then return on First Friday, Oct. 3, to enjoy the student-created art walk alongside Downtown galleries.

Event Highlights:

• Thursday–Friday, Oct. 2–3 – Students chalk sidewalks Downtown during the school day.
   

• Friday evening, Oct. 3 (First Friday) – Community members can view the art as part of the Downtown gallery walk.

Media Advisory

Sept. 18, 2025

See full press release with partner logos attached.

Contact: Alex Trefry | (719) 668-3848 or (719) 499-0511

Opportunity for media interviews and visuals:

Our media partners are invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Pikes Peak Children’s Water Festival at the UCCS Old Main Hall Lawn. Media interviews will be available after. Please RSVP with efry@csu.org">atrefry@csu.org to secure your spot.

Date/Time: Sept. 19, from 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Location: 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., Colorado Springs, CO, 80918 UCCS main campus

Pikes Peak Children’s Water Festival to host hundreds of local students

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo – The Pikes Peak Children’s Water Festival, a collaborative event between Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities), School Districts 2, 8, and 11, and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), will return on Friday, Sept. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

More than 780 fourth graders, spanning three school districts, will attend the educational program geared to introduce students to the complex water issues facing Colorado Springs, foster an appreciation of one of our most precious resources, and inspire potential future careers in water-related fields.

The Pikes Peak Children’s Water Festival is a day-long event designed to enrich participating students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), while supporting science academic standards and the statewide water education action plan goals.

Classes will rotate through stations during the day to learn about a variety of water-related topics and conduct hands-on activities. Examples include tracing the journey of water from mountain streams to household taps in 'Aqua Adventure,' building a corrosion-prevention system for pipelines in 'Cathodic Protection,' and observing native plants and farm animals at the UCCS campus garden in 'Cluck, Cluck, Grow.'