Photos: 20th Annual Community Mosaic Festival Draws Crowd to Downtown Riverhead

RIVERHEAD, NY - Artists brought their creativity and enthusiasm to downtown Riverhead Sunday as a beloved annual tradition unfolded.

The 20th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival took place on East Main Street between Roanoke Avenue and East Avenue and on the grounds of East End Arts.

The festival is a favorite Memorial Day weekend tradition bringing a crowd, including families and friends who turn out to enjoy art, music and fun in a day-long celebration.

The event centers around a street painting festival that harkens back to the Italian street painters who practiced "I Madonnari", a street chalk art form dating back to the 16th century.

Street painting squares sponsored by businesses, families, and individuals are used as a canvas for inspirations in chalk.

The festival is a fundraiser for East End Arts scholarships and also included a fine arts and crafts fair, live music, food trucks, face painting, drumming, dance, theater, and children's activities.