”Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day,” will be a popular tune among those who want to participate in the Great Jamestown Chalk Walk this weekend.

The fifth annual Chalk Walk is slated to start at 8 a.m. Saturday if it isn’t raining, said Michael Dykeman, Jamestown Now spokesperson. Dykeman said the event is typically a last moment decision for participants because they cannot create beautiful and unique designs if it is raining.

”It cannot be done with any rain at all,” he said. ”If the sidewalks are wet, it won’t work.”

Despite being weather dependent, Dykeman said the event is popular, with plenty of children and adults displaying their artistic abilities on downtown Jamestown sidewalks.

”I wouldn’t say I’m surprised it has become so popular, but I am grateful,” he said. ”It is busy the day of and busy the day after because plenty of people will come downtown on Sunday to look at what was created. There are some amazing artists and great designs. There are a lot of children who participate. It has been a very successful event.”

The main sponsor for Chalk Walk is Michaels Craft Store, located at 279 E. Fairmount Ave. Dykeman said since the first year of Chalk Walk, Michaels has donated the chalk for free. Also, he said they have a free arts and crafts activities area for children at the Winter Garden Plaza.

”Every year they have a different variety of crafts for kids to do,” he said. ”They are extremely generous to supply all the chalk for free.”

Dykeman said $1,200 is available in cash prizes for participants in three categories.

”If people want to enter the contest they can or if they just want to casually draw something that is fine too,” he said.

Chalk Walk was started as a way to get more people downtown, Dykeman said. He said Jamestown Now events, like the Great Jamestown Riverwalk Festival that was held last month, have been created to increase the number of people downtown.

”We want to publicize downtown Jamestown. That is why our events are outside,” he said. ”It brings a lot of people downtown to discover businesses. It serves its purpose to allow people to discover downtown Jamestown.”

People can register before the day of the event by visiting Jamestown Now’s Facebook page or participants can register the day of the event. The registration fee for artist is $10, which is due on the day of the event.

Jamestown Now committee members include Alison Barry; Michael Dykeman; Matt Kindberg; Heather Taylor Conroe; Vanessa Weinert; Heather Felton; and Luke Fodor.