The Gateway Art Gallery is thrilled to host Sketchtoberfest 2025 on Saturday, October 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This FREE event celebrates the worldwide Inktober movement while spotlighting the history, beauty, and charm of downtown Lake City with a sketch crawl.
We’ll kick off the day at the Gallery with coffee and croissants at check-in, then set up at Olustee Park right across the street and move through three sketch stops, each featuring a 45-minute black-and-white or single-color sketch challenge.
Artists of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join in—participants will receive practice sheets to work on first, if desired—and we’ll have facilitators on hand at each stop to demonstrate the techniques, answer questions, and help guide participants through the challenges. After the challenges are completed, we’ll regroup at the Gallery for prizes, refreshments, and fun! All attendees will receive a commemorative Sketchtoberfest sticker.
Supplies you’ll need to bring:
- Folding or camping chair (We will transport between locations if necessary.)
- Sketchbook, pen/pencil(s) Note: VIP pass holders will receive these at check-in.
- Bug spray & sunscreen (optional but recommended)
- Snacks, water (optional – bottled water available at the Gallery)
Optional: VIP pass *
For our inaugural year, we’re introducing a VIP Pass* for a $10 donation. Includes everything you’ll need for all Challenges:
- 0.9mm mechanical pencil
- 0.5mm ink roller pen
- Ultra fine-point marker
- Fine-point marker
- Sketchbook — A5 8.3×5.5 in, 60-pages
- 6″ ruler
- White eraser
- Mesh carry bag
- Collectible “Sketchtoberfest 2025” button/badge
- 5 bonus raffle tickets for prize baskets
*while supplies last
Agenda
DOWNLOAD AGENDA
- 9:00 – 9:30 AM → Check-in at Gateway Art Gallery (coffee & croissants available)
- 9:30 – 10:15 AM → Stop 1: Courthouse Square – Hatching & Crosshatching
- 10:15 – 10:25 AM → Transition to Stop 2*
- 10:25 – 11:10 AM → Stop 2: Lake DeSoto – Stippling
- 11:10 – 11:20 AM → Transition to stop 3*
- 11:20 – 12:05 PM → Stop 3: Blanche Hotel – Expressive Linework (Thick & Thin)
- 12:05 – 12:15 PM → Transition back to Gallery*
- 12:15 – 1:00 PM → Wrap-up at the Gallery — prizes, raffle, refreshments, and community fun. Selected artwork will be chosen to remain on display in the Gallery.
*We will transport chairs if needed.
Whether you’re a seasoned sketcher or just picking up a sketchpad for the first time, this is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a creative celebration in downtown Lake City. Bring your sketchbook, join the fun, and let’s make Sketchtoberfest 2025 an event to remember!
A note about the Challenges:
While we encourage you to do the challenges with pen and ink in keeping with the spirit of Inktober, you are more than welcomed to use another medium if you wish. But keep in mind that each location only allows for 30-45 minutes of sketching time, and the challenges are designed more for sketching than painting. If you do use another medium, you are encouraged to use only one color as if it were ink. But you are of course free to use whatever medium you prefer. The main goal is to go out, sketch, and HAVE FUN!
Here are the worksheets you’ll get to practice each Challenge skill:
Important information:
- All participants will need to sign a liability waiver at check-in. DOWNLOAD WAIVER
- Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- No tents or other structures are permitted in the park.
- For the comfort and safety of all participants, we ask that pets remain at home.
- The Gallery’s restroom is old and fragile and only accommodates one person at a time, but it is wheelchair accessible. There is a public restroom in the park.
- Limited supplies will be available for purchase on the day of the event, while supplies last.
What is Inktober?
Inktober* is a worldwide art challenge started in 2009 by illustrator Jake Parker. Each October, artists of all skill levels commit to creating one ink drawing a day, guided by a list of daily prompts. The goal is simple: build creative habits, practice drawing skills, and have fun sharing art with a global community. Over the years, it has grown into a movement with millions of participants who post their work online throughout the month. View 2025 Inktober prompts here
*Sketchtoberfest 2025: Lake City Sketch Crawl is inspired by Inktober but is not an official Inktober event nor affiliated with Inktober in any way.
