16 Murals * 250 Artists * 5 days

Murals and Milestones is a 5-day mural painting festival. This festival, held June 27 to July 1, 2018, will feature the International Walldogs -  a group of highly skilled sign painters and mural artists from all over the globe.

Once a year, hundreds of Walldogs gather in one lucky town to paint multiple murals and old-fashioned wall advertisements. Imagine a “pack” of talented artists descending upon downtown Streator to paint the most beautiful murals you can imagine. Every wall that a fellow Walldog touches springs to life with images of local places, people, and products that have historic significance to each town. T

Our committee expects 250 artists from around the world and thousands of visiting tourists. “Murals and Milestones” will celebrate Illinois’ 200^th, Streator’s 150^th anniversary and the Walldogs 25^th anniversary. The event will result in 16 completed historical murals added to the face of Streator’s downtown. Our event is endorsed by the Illinois Bicentennial Committee and is featured on their website – www.illinois200.com.

Locals and visitors alike can watch the art unfold and even participate over the period of the festival, making the event quite interactive.  After the festival is over and the artists pack up their brushes and head home, The Walldogs will leave behind beautiful, handcrafted and professionally painted murals depicting Streator’s rich history.

Other than the project leaders, all the participating artists are volunteers. In exchange for their talent, we provide meals, supplies, local transportation and host families. This event is centered around volunteering and community. Our mural project will serve as a springboard for regrowth in community pride, identity and spirit. A similarly sized community in Illinois reported that their tourism improved 300% within the first year following their mural project.