Breezy shores aren’t the only draw for California’s Laguna Beach this summer: The coastal community also showcases its renowned art all summer long with several festivals. Here’s the lowdown on Laguna Beach’s summer art festivals.
This two-month festival celebrates art in two ways: through its Festival Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters living art displays. One hundred forty Orange County artists showcase their work in the Festival Art Show (June 30-Aug. 31), one of the country’s oldest juried fine art shows. After taking in the show’s paintings, sculptures, photography, glasswork and ceramics, you can get hands on with an art workshop, catch a concert, watch a master give a demonstration of their craft or take an art tour to learn more about the pieces.
The Pageant of the Masters (July 7-Aug. 31) is one of Laguna Beach’s most famed events. Every night at 8:30 p.m., famous works of art are brought to life as living pictures. Actors are dressed in elaborate costumes and heavy makeup to become perfect stand-ins as characters in pieces like “The Last Supper” or the Sistine Chapel. The 90-minute show is narrated and set to an orchestra as well.
While the Festival of the Arts focuses on a juried fine art fair, the Sawdust Art Festival (June 28-Sept. 1) features 200 local artists in a venue whose floor is covered in – you guessed it – sawdust. During the two-month non-juried event, art, ceramics, clothing, jewelry, glass, sculpture and woodwork by Laguna Beach artists are spread throughout the triangular village. Education is just as big a focus as the exhibition, so feel free to chat up the artists on their crafts, watch a glassblowing demonstration or learn to throw your own pot during a ceramics workshop. Daily entertainment ranging from country to reggae music rounds out the fest.
So far, we’ve got juried and non-juried art festivals with local artists covered – but Laguna Beach isn’t done yet. The annual Art-A-Fair (June 28-Sept. 1) is a juried art festival that includes artists from outside Orange County. The 125 artists cover mediums like painting, photography, glass, ceramics and sculpture, and beginner-to-intermediate workshops let you tap into your own inner artist while working with acrylics, ceramics, watercolor or oil.
Whether you prefer juried to non-juried, local to international, living art to original inspirations or vice versa, Laguna Beach has it all. Which summer art festivals top your summer travel list?
(Main image: Laguna Beach CVB)
