FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
49th Annual Sawdust Art Festival Opens June 26
The 2015 Sawdust Art Festival runs June 26 through August 30, 2015
Laguna Beach, CA – The Sawdust Art Festival celebrates its 49th annual season this summer, opening its doors to the public Friday, June 26 with a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Sawdust President Jay Grant will make the Opening Day announcement and Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow will officially cut the ribbon, kicking off the 2015 summer season. The festival will open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Sunday, August 30.
More than 200 Laguna Beach artists, about 20 of them new, are excitedly anticipating a fresh summer season to present their unique handmade artwork and interact with new and returning festival visitors. The diverse range of artwork featured at the Sawdust comprises nearly all art media, including painting, photography, glass, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, woodwork, textiles, clothing, furniture, mixed media and much more.
The Sawdust attracts more people than any summer art festival in Southern California. OC Weekly has selected the Sawdust as “best art festival” in Orange County, and readers of American Style Magazine chose the Sawdust as “one of the country’s top five festivals.” The Sawdust will be celebrating its golden, 50th anniversary in 2016. Many special events are in the works.
In support of the Sawdust’s mission to educate the public and promote the arts created in Laguna Beach, Sawdust artists are encouraged to share their creative processes with guests, demonstrating how their artwork is formed. Visitors can experience the awe of artwork being created before their eyes, including the large glassblowing enclosure where glassblowers showcase their expertise at the furnace.
A variety of new and exciting arts and crafts projects will be offered at the Children’s Art Booth and Studio One. The updated class schedule will be available at sawdustartfestival.org/classes and on the grounds during festival season. The year-round Sawdust Studio Art Classes will continue to be offered every Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Sawdust studio upstairs. Guests can experience the magic of the Sawdust studio and create their own unique art piece, to wear or to share, in just one two-hour session. For an updated schedule, visit sawduststudioartclasses.com.
The Sawdust Art Festival is happy to welcome a handful of new entertainment groups. The updated entertainment schedule can be found at sawdustartfestival.org/entertainment-schedule.
The annual Artists’ Benevolence Fund Auction, which supports Laguna Beach artists that have experienced a catastrophic event, will take place on Sunday, August 9 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Main Entertainment Deck. The Artists’ Benevolence Fund benefits all Laguna Beach artist residents in need.
Scheduled special events include:
- Hawaiian Surf Day – Saturday, July 11
- Cultural Celebrations Day – Saturday, July 18
- Green Day – Saturday, July 25
- Fashion Shows – Sundays, July 26 and Aug. 23, 4-5 p.m.
- Country Western Day – Saturday, August 8
- Artists’ Benevolence Fund Auction – Sunday, August 9 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Beatles Day – Saturday, Aug. 22
- Tropical Tuesdays – every Tuesday during the day
- Chef nights – every other Tuesday night starting July 7
- Open mic – singer/songwriters Wednesday night
- Sunday nights – dancing nights with an instructor
- Orange County Residents Nights – every Sunday through Thursday after 5 p.m., free admission with ID. Check website for your specific city’s local night.
The Sawdust Art Festival is a nonprofit art organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting the art created in Laguna Beach. To check out more details about the Sawdust Art Festival’s 49th annual summer season and calendar of events, please visit www.sawdustartfestival.org or call 949-494-3030. The Sawdust Art Festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach with free city trolley service to and from the Act V parking lot. Admission prices are: $8.50 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $4 children (6-12), free for children 5 & younger. A summer season pass is $18, and an annual pass $24.
The Sawdust Art Festival thanks its 2015 sponsors, including Regal Wine and Straub Distributing.
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