Welcoming the festival season

It’s that exciting time of year again for Laguna Beach ? festival season. Nearly a whole year’s worth of working and planning by individual artists and organizations has gone into making this year’s offerings at least as special as the years that have gone before.

And it’s an especially meaningful year for two of the festivals ? Sawdust and Art-A-Fair. Both had their origins in a “rebellion” against the mother ship of art in Laguna, the Festival of Arts. The exact year or years is a bit murky, but suffice it to say that between 1965 and 1967 ? which makes it roughly 40 years ago ? artists who were not included in the Festival of Arts launched their own shows in a history-making effort.

There have been three art festivals in Laguna ever since, all on Laguna Canyon Road within a stone’s throw of each other.

Next year, the Festival of Arts will mark its 75th year ? another remarkable milestone for Laguna and the art world.

Each of the festivals has a distinct flavor, and, while some of the artists overlap among the three, visitors and art-lovers will find something fresh and unique at each of the venues.

The festivals and the summer beach season bring a boon to local businesses who serve the visitors.

For residents, festival and beach season has a downside, which is the massive traffic that winds down into Laguna from the hills and from Coast Highway. Free shuttles and remote parking lots go a long way toward alleviating some of the headaches, but patience will be called for as newcomers try to find their way around.

This long holiday weekend will end with a bang as fireworks launch off of Monument Point at 9 p.m. Tuesday, marking the beginning of another spectacular summer in Laguna.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.