D11 Students Take Over Acacia Park for Chalktober — Plus First Friday Tonight
More than 1,500 Colorado Springs District 11 students are transforming Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs this morning, chalking sidewalks and creating large-scale murals as part of the district's annual Chalktober tradition. This year's theme is "Freedom to Thrive," and the project has brought in guest artist Lisa Roman — a D11 art teacher who performs as "Miss Boombox" — to work alongside students throughout the day.
Chalktober is D11's way of connecting classroom art education to a public, community-facing experience. Students spent Thursday at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, and Friday's location is Acacia Park, where the sidewalks and pavement will carry their work through the weekend. It's a rare moment when a school project genuinely takes over a public space in a visible way.
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The Chalktober activity at Acacia Park takes place Friday morning, which means if you're heading downtown with your kids today, there's real energy happening in the park. You don't need a ticket or an invitation — the murals are on public sidewalks and accessible to anyone who passes through. The park itself is at the corner of Pikes Peak Avenue and Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs.
Tonight adds another layer: First Friday Arts Month kicks off at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum from 5 to 8 PM. Families can explore museum exhibits, see new art installations, and participate in hands-on art-making stations. The Chalktober murals are directly adjacent to the museum, so you can see both in the same visit. The museum is located at 215 South Tejon Street.
Why This Matters for Colorado Springs Families
Events like Chalktober connect D11's 30,000+ students to the broader COS community in a way that's visible and accessible. For families not in D11, it's still a chance to expose kids to a wide range of artistic expression happening right in the city's core. For D11 families, it's worth knowing that this project is part of the district's Peak Experience arts integration programming — curriculum-connected, not just extracurricular.
Lisa Roman's involvement adds a local celebrity angle that kids respond to well. Known within the district as "Miss Boombox," she brings an energy to public art projects that makes the work feel like a performance as much as a painting.
Quick Reference
| Event | Date/Time | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalktober at Acacia Park | Friday, Oct 2, morning | Acacia Park, downtown COS | Free (public) |
| First Friday Arts Month | Friday, Oct 2, 5–8 PM | Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St. | Free |
What's Next
The Chalktober murals will remain visible through the weekend, weather permitting. First Friday Arts Month continues every first Friday of October, November, and beyond. If you're looking to continue the arts-connected weekend, the Cool Science Festival runs through October 18 at venues across Colorado Springs including WMMI and Ivywild School, and Rock Ledge Ranch holds its Harvest Festival tomorrow, October 3, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
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