Festival Of Arts Returns To Laguna Beach In July

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Both established and junior artists will be on display this July when the Festival of Arts returns to town. The over-80-year-old festival began as a way to showcase creativity in the beachside community.

"Now, that small street fair has become a world-renowned cultural institution of fine art," according to Anne-Marie Schiefer, the Director of Marketing for Visit Laguna Beach.

READ: Laguna Beach Art Lovers! Pageant Of The Masters Returns In 2021

Having visitors return to the seaside town after the construction on Main Beach and Pacific Coast Highway is complete will be a boon to the artsy community. In 2020, the City of Laguna Beach called off all events due to the pandemic. Now, there is much to look forward to at the festival, according to Visit Laguna Beach.

Catherin Cooper, a photographer, will show the humanity of the homeless in Southern California with her project. "It shows that compassion can go a long way," Schiefer says, describing the photo exhibit as "gritty and vulnerable. Her photos will pull at your heart strings."

Another featured artist is Micahel Ward.

"Ward brings the everyday life into vivid and compelling reality with paint and canvas," Schiefer explains. You will be able to see his photo-realistic work as well as watch him painting in his booth this summer.

Another artist in the showcase is ceramics artist Fred Stodder.

Stodder's art is bold and colorful and his shape choices are modern and unique statement pieces, according to Schiefer.

The Junior art exhibit will feature 300 pieces of art on display from some of Orange County's most up-and-coming youth artists, K-12th grade.

"These pieces of art will no doubt leave a lasting impression," she says.

If you love the music along with the festival, that will be back, she says.

"Enjoy live music every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday," she says. "Bring your own chair, blanket, and wine to enjoy the music on the green near the festival stage."

Are you returning to the Laguna Festival of Arts this summer? Tell us your favorite part of this event in the comments, or share with your local Patch Editor.

Read: Laguna Beach Art Lovers! Pageant Of The Masters Returns In 2021