Art festivals bid adieu
To celebrate another successful season, and the patrons who made it happen, Laguna’s three renowned summer art festivals will give back to the community over closing weekend through an array of fun activities, and one will even give a bang for no buck.
Art-A-Fair will “give back to its patrons” with a Customer Appreciation Weekend, which will provide free admission to its 125 featured artists and lineup of blues, doo-wop and dance music performances today through Sunday.
Vice President of Marketing Joyce Kaspryzk said the festival staff wishes to honor the folks, despite a still-rocky economy, who trekked to the canyon from all over to support the artists through their attendance and purchases.
“We’re celebrating the generosity of our visitors,” she said. “We invite them to come back and enjoy another visit ‘on us.’”
For a complete list of entertainment and activities, visit https://www.artafair.com.
*
Festival of Arts Gala
Actor, director and “Extra” host Mario Lopez will host the Festival of Arts’ 12th annual Pageant of the Masters Gala Benefit at 5 p.m. Saturday, which will feature other celebrity guests including Donna Mills, Jerry Mathers, Sarah Drew and the cast of the hit series, “Criminal Minds.”
The exclusive red-carpet event will offer guests a private viewing of the Festival’s fine art show, music, dancing, silent auction and the summer’s popular Pageant of the Masters “Eat, Drink & Be Merry” performance. Attendees will also have a chance to win an Acura ZDX valued at more than $49,000.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Festival of Arts Building Fund, a nonprofit that produces California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the pageant, whose mission is to support the arts and arts education.
*
Scavenger hunt
Festival of Arts-goers will also have a chance to enjoy a scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the final day of the festival, which is sure to bring a day of fun as well a chance to win tickets to next year’s show.
Based on a practical joke among the artists, the Scavenger Hunt of Parodies will challenge patrons to find 35 or more parodies located throughout the grounds within the booths of the exhibitors.
All hunters will receive a gift just for playing the game, and the first two people that find at least 35 parodies will receive two tickets each to the 2011 pageant, “Only Make Believe.”
Tickets to the gala range from $25 to $350 depending on seating. For a complete list of the weekend’s events or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.foapom.com or call (800) 487-3378.
*
Sawdust prize drawing
Sunday is the day patrons of the Sawdust have been waiting for all summer, when the drawing for the winning ticket of the 2011 Honda CR-Z raffle will take place at 4 p.m. on the Main Deck.
The festival will also continue some of aspiring artists favorite classes throughout the weekend, including Mandalas with Kristi Smith from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. today; earring design from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday with Sandra Callisto; and Chinese brush painting from 1 to 3:30 p.m. with KC Horng on Sunday at the Sawdust Studio.
Some of Laguna’s favorite musicians will be back to close the house down with their best performances yet; rock the last nights away with Missiles of October from 5:30 to 9:45 Saturday at the Main Deck. World Anthem will get down at the same time and place on Sunday.
“Overall, the season has proved to be much more successful than last year,” Marketing Director Cynthia Fung said. “With our many marketing initiatives and collaborative work with the other two festivals, the LBVCB and the city, there are many factors that play a role in the increase in attendance.
“It’s been a great summer.”
For a complete list of closing events, visit https://www.sawdustartfestival.org.