A Look Inside the 2007 Art-A-Fair: Take a Vacation to Italy Without Leaving Southern California

What Is It?
The Art-A-Fair festival is a much-anticipated annual event in Laguna Beach, and is one of three premier outdoor art shows held in Laguna each summer. The Art-A-Fair and neighboring Sawdust Festival are both celebrating their 41st season, which runs from June 29 to Sept. 2. Art-A-Fair showcases artists primarily from Orange County and other parts of California, plus several who travel from other states and countries. They apply annually and are accepted through a jury system, which contributes to the high quality of art and master crafts among participants. Artistic media of the approximately 120 artists include painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, pottery, glass and wood.

Located in pastoral Laguna Canyon in a beautiful garden setting, the festival also features live entertainment, fine food and beverages by Tivoli Too, free demonstrations and workshops.

What’s New & Different?
There are many exciting changes and improvements to this year’s festival, starting with the grounds, which have been recreated as Palazzo Laguna. Large, brightly colored striped pillars, with panels mounted between them, herald the entrance and announce both daily and on-going activities such as workshops, demonstrations, and entertainment. “Gondoliers” – employees and/or artists dressed in Venetian attire – then greet patrons.

As visitors pass through the arched entry they’ll find Piazza Venezia, an open courtyard with a stage to be used for entertainment and casual seating. The permanent gazebo in the center of the grounds, previously used for workshops, will now be used during special events to offer cocktails, other beverages and snacks.

In keeping with the Venetian theme, Tivoli Too, renowned for its beautiful garden setting and cascading waterfall, has added Italian specialties. Patrons can either be seated with table service or order take-out and eat at the location of their choice.

Entertainment For All Ages & Tastes
An exciting lineup of live musical entertainment has been booked for the duration of the festival and includes light jazz, reggae, Motown favorites, blues, classical, and surf music. On Friday evenings from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. DJ Inniss will be spinning salsa and merengue tunes while the Gazebo serves the renowned Tivoli Too margarita specials. Additionally, graduate students of Cal State University Long Beach Opera Institute will be performing on a number of special Thursday “m-ART-ini Nights”.

Another special feature of the Art-A-Fair are artist demonstrations and free workshops for adults and children. Among them are Venetian mask painting, jewelry making basics, gourd painting, and comic drawing.

Complete schedules for entertainment and workshops can be found online at www.art-a-fair.com.

Take Home A Lasting Memory
The Art-A-Fair has produced a high quality limited edition 2008 wall calendar, which will be for sale during the run of this year’s festival. As the winner of “2006 Best In Show”, voted on by a jury of other exhibitors, watercolorist Kevin Davidson is featured on the cover. The runners up are shown on the following months.

The calendar sells for $19.95 and is available at the Art-A-Fair sales booth and on-line at www.art-a-fair.com.

Where
777 Laguna Canyon Road, next to the Sawdust Festival and across from the Festival of Arts

When
June 29 – Sept. 2
Sun. – Thurs. open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fri. and Sat. 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Admission
Adult season ticket (unlimited admissions) - $ 7.00
Seniors, students and military season ticket - $ 3.50
Children under 12 - free with paid adult

Parking
The city provides a FREE trolley from their Act V lot, which is located about 1/2 mile inland from the Art-A-Fair on Laguna Canyon Road

Contacts: