The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is looking for artists of all ages to participate in the annual celebration, which this year runs April 28-30 at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

Applications are open for chalk artists, a new festival event that will bring pictures of strawberries to life right before festival-goers’ eyes.

Artists will be supplied with a box of professional chalk and a 5-foot-by-5-foot cement square in front of the Convention Center.

The chalk art design must be pre-approved and strawberry-themed. Applications are due March 31.

To encourage children to participate, the fairpark will provide chalk and a Kid’s Canvas area free with festival admission.

Students in northern Santa Barbara County are invited to compete in the Strawberry Coloring Contest, which is arranged by grade levels: 1st-3rd, 4th-6th, and 7th-8th. Entries will be judged on originality, artistic composition, and relevant content.

The winning student in each category will receive four admission passes to the Strawberry Festival, a $25 gift card, and the winning classroom teachers will receive a $150 gift card for school supplies.

Coloring contest entries are due April 14 to the Fairpark administration building.

For more information, visit http://www.santamariafairpark.com.