It’s time again to get down on the ground and color the sidewalks of Langley.

There will be plenty of free chalk available at the second annual Langley Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 22.

Young people and adults are welcome to beautify the sidewalks of Langley with brilliantly colored chalk mandalas. The theme his year is “Creating Community.”

Using the mandala as the basic structure, participants are invited to incorporate their own interpretation of how creating community can be expressed with chalk drawings.

Symbols representing peace, healthy choices, sustainability and environmental responsibility are welcome.

Carrie Parker is a freshman at South Whidbey High School and participated last year in the event. She’ll be attending again this year.

“I liked watching everybody else and looking at their finished drawings,” she said. “It was awesome!”

Parker said her design last year was a yin and yang circle, and she looks forward to creating a new design this year. Like many artists, Parker said that’s the best part of the festival.

“I like the process of designing it,” said Parker. “This year I might want to do a yin and yang shape again but with more crazy stuff inside it. But, you never know, I might choose something else.”

Organizer Diana Shirley said the idea of using the mandala reflects the symbol of the circle in which is contained wholeness and balance, which are both important themes when creating community.

Debby Elwell, an employee of the Learning and Community Engagement Program (LACEP), one of the festival sponsors, said it was a coincidence that event organizers chose to use the symbol of the mandala. LACEP has a tradition of having students create one of these symbols of universal harmony at least once in the course of the school year.

In addition, many business community members of Langley have taken the festival’s spirit of community to heart and are offering to sponsor people to do mandalas near their shops. Those businesses include Big Sister, Virginia’s, Good Cheer Thrift Store, Violet Fields, the Langley Chamber of Commerce, Hawaiian Island Massage and In The Country. Ask about sponsorships when registering.

The Langley Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival is sponsored by Island Coffeehouse and Books, LACEP, Learn and Serve America, CEC/SW Schools Foundation, Island Arts Council and South Whidbey Commons.

In case of rain the date of the event may be moved to May 23 or May 24.

Students are welcome to draw free; adults pay $10. Participants can join the day of the festival but are encouraged to register early by calling 221-6198, ext. 3402 or by e-mail at merrill@whidbey.com.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.