An artistic eyeful

ART-A-FAIR

The Art-A-Fair is the only summer festival in Laguna that invites artists from around the world to participate, and hosts 125 exhibitors who offer their paintings, sculpture, digital art, jewelry and more.

It will bring back the romantic Venetian carnival theme it introduced last year, adding more elements to immerse visitors in its “Palazzo Laguna,” making the Art-A-Fair a perfect date night option.

Daily workshops from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. give visitors the chance to create their own work. They include animal painting on Mondays; Venetian mask painting on Tuesdays; craft and gift making on Wednesdays; birdhouse making on Thursdays; 3-D tribal or animal masks on Fridays; palette knife painting on Saturdays; and scratchboard art on Sundays.

The Art-A-Fair also will have live entertainment on the weekends, from jazz guitar to steel drums to surf rock.

SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL

The 42nd annual Sawdust Art Festival will feature almost 200 artists, and is known for its wide blend of arts and crafts, including everything from hand-blown glass to metal sculpture to textiles.

Formed in 1966 by artists who were rejected from the Festival of Arts across the street, the Sawdust has gained acclaim as an “alternative” event with more edgy art, traditional crafts and a festive atmosphere.

Visitors are welcome to try their hand at a children’s art booth, ceramics and glass blowing booths, and summer evening art classes at 7 p.m. Sunday to Thursday throughout the run of the show. Tours will be held frequently throughout the week.

Restaurants, cafes and a bar are sprinkled throughout the outdoor venue, set in a eucalyptus grove. Roving musicians and balloon artists are joined daily by bands performing on several stages.

A locals’ favorite is the Artists Benevolence Fund auction, which will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 3; original art is auctioned at often cut-rate prices to support local artists in crisis.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

The grande dame of the summer shows, the Festival of Arts, recently celebrated its 75th birthday; its sister event, the Pageant of the Masters, is holding its own Diamond Jubilee this year.

More than 140 exhibitors will participate this year in the rigorously juried show, which includes all-original art in genres such as painting, drawing, photography, jewelry and glasswork.

Daily art workshops are offered for children and adults; tours are held daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Works by youth from Orange County are represented in the Junior Art Exhibition. Restaurants on site offer food from casual to fine.

Special events this year include Youth Art Education Days from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesdays; Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays; the Art of Cooking: Southern California Chefs Series from 1 to 2 p.m. Sundays; the Blues Fest from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays; Beatles classic music from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays; the Summer Smooth Jazz Concert Series from 1 to 4 p.m. July 12, Aug. 2, 16 and 30; and Art Goes Green: Planet•Peace•Purpose, from 1 to 4 p.m. July 26.

The annual Art-To-Go program offers more than 100 original miniature masterpieces by Festival exhibitors that benefit the nonprofit Artists Fund. Remaining pieces will be sold at auction on Aug. 16.

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS

The efforts of hundreds of volunteers will dazzle audiences this year in this year’s 75th-anniversary theme, “All the World’s a Stage.”

The show honors Shakespearean drama, musical theater and more, as scores of actors freeze onstage for 90 seconds a night to riotous applause.

The result is the melding of 3-D people and props into a 2-D masterpiece, which confounds the senses and makes for a memorable experience.

The show isn’t limited to paintings: Volunteers even replicate famous sculptures, jewelry and decorative elements.

SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL

WHEN: June 27 to Aug. 31; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily except July 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: 935 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: Single-day tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and up, $3 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

A summer season pass is $20; for $25, an annual pass also includes admission to the Winter Fantasy.

INFORMATION: (949) 494-3030 or sawdustartfestival.com

INSIDER HINT: Call (949) 497-0514 to reserve a private tour to learn behind-the-scenes tidbits and get up-close-and-personal with artists.

ART-A-FAIR

WHEN: June 27 to Aug. 31; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

WHERE: 777 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: Season pass for adults $7; seniors and military $3.50; children 12 and under free

INFORMATION: (949) 494-4514 or art-a-fair.com

INSIDER HINT: Go to the Art-A-Fair website for a coupon for 50% off an adult admission.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily, July 6 to Aug. 30 (closed Aug. 23)

WHERE: 650 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: $7 for season pass; $4 for seniors and students; free for Laguna Beach residents, military personnel with ID and children under the age of 12

INFORMATION: (949) 494-1145 or foapom.com

INSIDER HINT: Admission is only 75 cents after 7:50 p.m. daily, to commemorate the event’s 75th anniversary.

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS

WHEN: 8:30 nightly July 9 to Aug. 30 (closed Aug. 23)

WHERE: 650 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: $20 to $90; includes season festival pass

INFORMATION: (949) 494-1145 or foapom.com

INSIDER HINT: A Pageant of the Masters ticket also serves as a season pass to the Festival of Arts.

STAYING A SHORT TIME?

Bring quarters for the metered parking on Laguna Canyon Road.

NEW PARKING OPTIONS

The city has recently introduced a new free parking option at South Coast Medical Center after 3 p.m. on weekdays only and then all day on the weekends. A free trolley service will pick up visitors and take them to all three festivals and the downtown area.

INSIDER HINT: Call the city traffic hotline at (949) 497-0716 to learn about any street closures.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.