The streets of Langley will be doused in rainbow colors once again as chalk artists of all ages hit the bricks later this month.

Actually, concrete will be their canvas. Students and other creative types will stake out spots on the city’s sidewalks during the Langley Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival 2008. The festival is noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20.

In case of rain, however, alternate dates for the festival have been planned for Wednesday, May 21 or Thursday, May 22.

Everyone is welcome to join in the fun and fill in the sidewalks with a mandala or circle of color following the theme of “Think Green.”

The word “mandala” is derived from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit meaning “circle.”

But a mandala is far more than a simple shape.

It represents the idea of wholeness in nature and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself – a cosmic diagram that reminds humans of their relation to infinity; the world that extends beyond and within the mind and the body.

The mandala is reflected in the celestial circles of the earth, sun and moon, as well as in the conceptual circles of friends, family and community.

Participants are asked to bring a pre-planned but simple design as the chalk is fat. For inspiration visit www.mandalaproject.org.

Check-in is at Island Coffeehouse & Books at 11:30 a.m. Artists will pick up some free chalk and the location of their square.

The Chalk Art Festival is sponsored by the South Whidbey Youth Connection, Island Coffeehouse & Books, the city of Langley and the Island Arts Council’s Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or pduff@southwhidbey

record.com.