A picture-perfect morning greeted the 150 artists who participated in the sixth annual sidewalk chalk art contest Saturday. 

    "It’s blue skies and it’s a great day," said Barbara Hughes, owner of Narnia Studios and organizer of the event. With a rain out last Saturday for the first time in the contest’s history, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the event got under way successfully this time, she said. 

    "I’m so glad my daughters were able to participate," said Mary Burrell of Hendersonville. "They have never missed being in Chalk It Up!" she said. Burrell had two daughters, Heidi, 13, and Charlotte, 12, competing this year. 

    The Steve and Shannon Gardner family from Clearwater, Fla., also participated in a big way. All five of the Gardner children, Anna-Lace, Abigail, Allison, Avonley and Franklin, got down on hands and knees to draw. "It’s the highlight of our summer. This is our second time doing it," said Anna-Lace. 

    Even visitors from Japan got involved in the contest. Susan Zarzaca of Misawa, Japan, is in town visiting her family. She, her husband and children are stationed overseas with the Navy. "We love Hendersonville. It’s nice that they have events like this," she said. 

    The judges for the event were Nancy Irving, Joyce Blakely, Wil Irvine, Mark Haines and Linda Hendricks, all professional artists, and David Osann, owner of Framing Arts. 

    The winners in the 5 and under category: Brooke Stoker, Costan Barber, Sara Yarbrough, Tia Busenitz, Eleanor Palmer. 

    The winners in the 6-9 years category: Jessica Peterson, Danny Russell, Ashley Rush, Christina Prozilla, Melissa Maltais. 

    The winners in the 10-12 years category: Trey Sherman, Logan Corn, Zachary Stoker, Cody Hughes, Hannah Rochester. 

    The winners in the 13-20 years category: Rebecca Cannon, Marissa Blake, Kara Salpeter, Mary Sherman, Rachel Benney. 

    The winners in the 21 and over category: Judy Holt, Brett Schmidt, Minna Shirley, Diane Osteen, Jimmy Sherman. 

    The $100 winner in the professional category: Yoriko Russell. 

    The winners in the "Businesses Drawing for Charity" category: First place: Judie Sloan drawing for Interfaith Assistance Ministry; second place: Joanna Collier, drawing for All Creatures Great and Small; third place: Tim Handeville, drawing for All Creatures Great and Small. 

    Downtown merchants donated the prizes for the age categories. Hot air balloons, eagles, dragons, and landscapes went from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue on both sides of Main Street. 

    The sidewalks of Main Street were transformed into an outdoor museum, albeit temporarily. "I encourage everyone to come to downtown and see these incredible works of art before the next rain," Hughes said. 

    And just in case the rain comes before everyone has a chance to see it, photos from Chalk It Up! will be posted on Narnia Studios’ Web site (www.narniastudios.com) in the next seven to 10 days, Hughes said.