One of Southern California’s most popular art festivals, the Sawdust Festival is one you won’t want to miss, even if you’ve been before, once is just not enough. Check out my experience at the festival this time around.
The Sawdust Festival is celebrating its 52 anniversary and when walking in initially, everything seems the same as it was in the tie-dye era (including the sawdust covering the ground). The 60’s style Laguna Beach art community (complete with psychedelic VW van greeting you as you enter) seems to have not changed a bit, until you look more closely. When you walk in there is a small wall display of photographs from the festivals throughout the years starting with the beginning when everything was groovy.
Set in a eucalyptus grove, complete with waterfalls, in Laguna Canyon, all forms of arts and crafts are featured and available for purchase. There is some form of art for everyone’s taste and budget in this three-acre treasure trove of talent so make sure to take your time and really look around.
There’s ceramics to clothing and textiles to glass…
…jewelry to mixed media to painting…
…and finally photography to sculpture and wood work.
And if you really want to acquire some authentic beach art or souvenirs that scream “Southern California beaches” this place has you covered. Some things are just down-right fun and eclectic.
To make the attraction even more lively, there are musicians playing throughout the venue and artists demonstrating their crafts like glassblowing and drawing.
You even have an opportunity to bring out your own inner-artist with some arts and crafts activities that are free of charge (certain classes charge a small materials fee however). A popular one is the potter’s wheel with one-on-one instruction.
I enjoyed many of the artists and talking about their work but if I had to pick a favorite it would have to be The Illuminated Letter. Judith Haron is the artist and does the most amazing pet portraits. Her work and materials are inspired from the Illuminated Manuscripts (an art form popular in the Medieval to Early Renaissance period). She showed me a work-in-progress and gave me an explanation of the meaning. I love being able to talk with the artists about their work and passion.
I must admit these beautiful wine goblets (think Cersei Lannister Game of Thrones) caught my eye as I was meandering through the booths! The John Barber Glass display had amazing glass designs, like the wine goblets, and even the post in the center of his booth was made of glass and was actually holding up part of the structure – or appeared to be anyway! (I was still half- focused on those wine goblets).
Parking can be tricky in Laguna Beach but not impossible. The easiest is to park at one of the designated lots (found on www.lagunabeachcity.net/parking) and take the free of charge Laguna Beach trolley (www.lagunabeachcity.net/trolley) which drops you off right in front of the Festival. There are parking lots directly on Laguna Canyon too and if you get there early you pay less than later in the afternoon at some. We arrived around 10 am and paid $12 but when we left around 2:30 the rates had gone up to $25! Early bird got the worm!
There are still a few weeks left to experience this modern renaissance (it ends Sept 2nd) and you just might enjoy yourself so much that you want to return for the 28th annual Winter Fantasy too! That festival is five weekends long starting on November 17 through December 16 will showcase winter-themed art and live holiday entertainment. But during the summer, the Sawdust Festival is a must see for the Orange County area, both locals and tourists alike.
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