FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Potters sling mud at Festival

The Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, will present “Mudslingers Day -- A Celebration of Ceramics” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 4.

The day will be filled with ceramic competitions, lessons and demonstrations led by ceramicists Monica Dunham and Scott Young.

Events will include a competition entitled “All Day Aesthetic,” in which three professional competitors will spend the day each producing a special piece; the adult “Largest Thrown Pot” competition for amateurs; and special guest lectures from the American Museum of Ceramic Art.

A 6-foot clay alligator will be stationed on the grounds for kids to decorate with clay pieces and paint. In addition, anyone can enjoy the paint-a-pot Raku experience that will also be available.

Mudslingers Day is free with Festival of Arts admission.

Art-To-Go auction

The festival will also hold an auction Aug. 11 for any remaining Art-To-Go items.

The Art-To-Go exhibit features 130 miniature originals created and donated to this program by Festival exhibitors; 70 items are currently available for purchase until the auction. Proceeds from sales benefit the Artists Fund.

The Aug. 11 auction features a preview and sale starting at 10 a.m.

Mayor Toni Iseman and Festival President Anita Mangels will open the Festivities at noon on the Center Green Stage. Silent and live bidding will run from noon to 2 p.m.

Admission to the auction is free with regular Festival admission.

Festival admission prices are $7 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students. All children 12 and under are free, as are Laguna Beach residents.

All general admission tickets to The Festival of Arts -- California’s Premier Fine Art Exhibition are season passes.

For general information, call (949) 494-1145 or visit www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org.

Sawdust plans entertainment

The Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, has a full lineup of entertainment in addition to its annual Benevolence Fund auction, which begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Mike Johnson Band will play jazz and blues from noon to 4:30 p.m. on the main deck, followed by The Classic Cats from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

They will be followed with jazz by Rocky Gaines in the tavern and John Stowers’ rootsy pop rock at the grill from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

On the main deck, Patty Booker & the Players will perform honky tonk from noon to 4:30 p.m., followed by The Eliminators Surf Band from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m.

That evening, TJR will perform alternative rock in the tavern from 5 to 5:30 p.m., and the Hempstring Trio’s jam grass music will be performed on the main deck from 6:30 to 9:45 p.m.

The Kelly Fitzgerald Trio will perform folk rock on the main deck from noon to 4:30 p.m., followed by Yvonne Perea’s blues from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m., while Steve Ybarra plays soft rock in the tavern from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Melissa Lewis will play adult contemporary folk in the tavern from 5 to 9:30 p.m., while Vertigo Road plays folk rock on the main deck from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m.

That evening, Dave Osti will play blues rock in the tavern and TJR will perform alternative rock at the grill from 5 to 9:30 p.m., while Satin Blue plays blues and jazz from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m. on the main deck.

Porter House Bob will sing the blues from 5:30 to 9:45 p.m. on the main deck that night, while Sion & Anderson play classical blues and James Hurley performs country rock at the grill from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

The festival is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through Sept. 2. For more information, visit www.sawdustartfestival.org or call (949) 494-3030.

Jazzy weekend at Art-A-Fair

The Art-A-Fair, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, features live music every weekend on its Piazza Venezia stage at the front of the grounds.

Lagunans with I.D. are admitted free every day of the week. Every Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m., DJ Inniss will spin Latin grooves while impromptu salsa dancing happens. In conjunction, Tivoli Too will offer margaritas in the Gazebo.

Upstream will perform reggae, calypso and soca from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by Don Covel’s soft rock vocals from 4 to 7 p.m.

Free art workshops are also taught by artists every day between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For additional information, visit www.art-a-fair.com or call (949) 494-4514.