ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — The weather could not have been better for the 19th Annual Chalk the Block event held in St. Joseph, Michigan. Blue skies, warm sunshine and Lake Michigan breezes greeted thousands of tourists and locals who came to see the street artwork created by a dozen regional artists.

Jill Stone, event organizer, executive director of St. Joseph Today, announced the winners of the competition:

Best in Show: Hannah & Kim Syme sponsored by Honor Credit Union — $200 Cash Prize

Out of the Box: Audrey Pearson sponsored by Bound for Freedom — $150 Cash Prize

Best Emerging Artist (under 25): Peyton Hartwig sponsored by Jimmy John’s — $100 Cash Prize

Honorable Mentions: Courtney Bennett sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn, Grace Lamanna sponsored by Dr. Melanie Jones and Chloe Calhoun sponsored by Insurance Management Services.

Stone said this year was the second year in a partnership with Bloom n’ Chalk Fest from Safety Harbor, Florida, Stacy Schulstrom Roth, a Stevensville, Michigan, native and Bobbie Wheeler attended the St. Joseph event as representatives from the Tampa Bay festival. Roth and Wheeler selected Chalk the Block artist Kimberly Wood to participate in the March 2016 Bloom n’ Chalk Fest to represent Chalk the Block St. Joseph, Mich. Safety Harbor and St. Joseph are similar in size and have many common traits that have allowed the two festivals to exchange marketing and event ideas to help festival growth in both locations.

In addition to the honors awarded above, this is the first year St. Joseph Today held a Social Media People’s Choice Award voting opportunity on their Facebook page. Festival goers were encouraged to visit facebook.com/stjoetoday and click “like” on their favorite art images. Voting ended Monday, Aug. 3 at noon with Susan Dennison selected as the People’s Choice winner with 283 votes or “likes”. Dennison, whose block was sponsored by Third Coast Surf Shop, will be awarded a $50 St. Joseph Today gift certificate prize pack.

St. Joseph Today is a membership-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and businesses in St. Joseph, Michigan and its surrounding communities. For more information about Chalk the Block or upcoming summer events, visit www.stjoetoday.com, www.facebook.com/stjoetoday or call (269) 985-1111.