2008 Event Calendars

This is the Place to Be!

Not only is there great art to discover at the Festival of Arts, but also the opportunity to enjoy some amazing special events all summer long. Most events are free with admission. There's something for everyone…so come back again and again!

2008 Special Events

ART GOES GREEN:  PLANET * PEACE * PURPOSE
Saturday, July 26, 1 pm - 4 pm

Participate in educational events, cultural activities and increase your awareness of environmental issues to help save our planet.  Events throughout the day will show Festival visitors how they can contribute on a daily basis to “Go Green”.

“Green” Artist Tours - Take a docent led tour around the Festival grounds and gain insight into the creative world of the artists' usage of sustainable, recycled, ecologically safe and recovered materials.  Artists will demonstrate how their materials and subject matter reflect the theme of ecology and world peace.

Art Miles Mural Project - This community project seeks social change through the power of creating art through peace. Thousands of art banners have been painted all over the world promoting peace. In 2010 in Egypt, the banners will be brought together to build the "Pyramid of Peace and the Exhibition of the Century" with 12 miles of murals and modern technology.   Festival guests and artists will paint three of these murals on July 26th.

Art Shoes - Festival-goers and artists will have the opportunity to participate in Shoes of Hope project. Donated shoes will be painted and shipped internationally to children in need in Africa. Shoes of Hope recipients include: babies, children and youth at refugee centers, orphanages and schools. Special hand-written message of peace and hope are tucked into every shoe.

String Planet will perform during the day.  The group includes violist Novi and Stick player Larry Tuttle. “In their music, classical chops and inventive composing meet an exotic and eclectic pop groove - it's 'world music from another world' - fun, loose, vibrant, beautiful and ever-so-slightly twisted.”

Haute Trash - Creating fashion out of trash - You won't want to miss this fashion show!  One man's trash is another one's couture?! You bet! We are creating fashion out of trash to encourage people to think about how to conserve and save energy in your daily life.

Download our Art Goes Green flyer.

Youth Arts education Days in collaboration with Laguna Outreach for Community Arts
Every Wednesday, July 9 - August 20, noon - 2 pm, $10 per child

Encourage budding artists to learn at the feet of the masters.  Famous local artists will share some of their creative techniques in a fun and friendly environment. Registration is limited to 20 children for each session with a small materials fee of $10 per child required; children ages 6-12. Registration for classes is accepted at the Festival of Arts by calling (949) 464-4234.

ART, JAZZ, WINE & CHOCOLATE: WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
Logos: KENDALL-JACKSON AND DOWNEY'S CHOCOLATES
Every Thursday, July 10 - August 28, 2008, 5-8 pm
There is a $12 fee for the chocolate and wine pairing in addition to the Festival of Arts admission ($7). Participants must be 21 years of age or older.

Jazz music and wine tasting are the perfect pair - Then add chocolate and you'll want to come bac. Live performances will take jazz from sultry to soulful, as Festival guests enjoy different pairings of wine and chocolate while listening to a live Jazz band.

Download our Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate flyer.

See our Music & Entertainment Schedule for more info.

Events Free with Festival Admission:
ART OF COOKING: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEF SERIES & BOOK SIGNING
Every Sunday, July 13 - August 24, 1 -2 pm

Nationally and internationally recognized chefs demonstrate easy summertime cooking recipes and let you sample their delicious dishes. After dazzling the crowds with their unique cooking techniques the chefs will give you recipes to take home and you can pick up a signed a copy of their book. 

The Art of Cooking series features:

July 13, Sunday - Zov Karamardian whose cookbook Zov Recipes & Memories from the Heart leads the reader on a journey from her childhood in the Middle East to her world travels.  She is the well-known owner of Zov's Bistro in Tustin, one of the most recognized restaurants in Orange County. 

July 20, Sunday - Amelia Saltsman is a television host, cooking teacher, and author of The Santa Monica Farmers' Market Cookbook: Seasonal Foods, Simple Recipes, and Stories from the Market and Farm.  She demonstrates how to shop in season for ingredients and how to use them to create easy and fresh recipes.

July 27, Sunday - Judy Bart Kancigor comes from a family of legendary cooks in Brooklyn/Long Island who are the influences behind her book Cooking Jewish: 532 Great Recipes from the Rabinowitz Family.  She is a contributing feature writer and food columnist for the O.C. Register and cooking teacher of Jewish cooking and family life.

August 3, Sunday - Cathy Thomas is an award winning columnist and food editor for the O.C. Register and author of Melissa's Great Book of Produce. This is a manual that explains how to find, store, prepare and serve fruits and vegetables.  Cathy focuses on the fun of cooking and entertaining without spending hours in the kitchen.  

August 10, Sunday - Jamie Gwen is a chef, food correspondent, and lifestyle expert who has demonstrated her cooking talents on radio and TV stations for audiences around the globe.  Her book Good Food For Good Times is an essential reference for all of the special occasions in your life.

August 17, Sunday - David Lawrence knew from an early age he loved to cook, and is now a Beverly Hills private chef, caterer and author.  He recently wrote Boy Eats World! A Private Chef Cooks Simple Gourmet.  The book features 150 fun and easy recipes, helpful hints and simple directions for cooking.

August 24, Sunday - Marcel Vigneron fan favorite and runner-up on season two of Bravo TV's TOP CHEF.  Top Chef The Cookbook. The book features recipes from many of Bravo's Top Chef participants, including Marcel.

Download our Art of Cooking flyer.

See our Music & Entertainment Schedule for more info.

Summer Smooth Jazz Concert Series
Saturdays, July 12, August 2, 16, & 30, 1-4p

The Festival of Arts presents an astounding line up of Jazz musicians this summer at the Summer Smooth Jazz Concert Series on select Saturdays in July and August from 1pm-4pm.  

The Festival has brought some of the top legendary jazz artists known all over the world and you can see them right here in Laguna Beach.  These musicians play for sold out fans and the Festival has the great opportunity to let our visitors see them for Free with their Festival of Arts Admission.

July 12 - Everette Harp has been playing the saxophone, EWI, Flute, Keyboards and singing vocals for over two decades. His musical style is contemporary, smooth jazz.  He has toured with legendary artists such as Luther Vandross, Sheena Easton, Kenny Loggins and many others. Harp commented, “I believe "Smooth Jazz" has its place in the music world. It is a valid form of musical expression. I would say it is a lighter form of the contemporary jazz I loved so much in the late 70's, all of the 80's, and into the early 90's.”

August 2 - East Bay Soul - Band members include Tom Scott, Phil Perry and Greg Adams.  There music is a combination of instrumental funk, rhythm and blues and jazz.  These great musicians have shared several significant music accomplishments and together they will unite on one stage to amaze Festival visitors.  

August 16 - Chris Standring is a British born musician and guitar player who is one of the most in demand and dynamic contemporary jazz performers in our time.  Chris plays a Benedetto custom archtop jazz guitar made especially for him by luthier Robert Benedetto. Standrings' most recent 2008 release "Love & Paragraphs", on the Ultimate Vibe record label in stores in the USA and UK nationwide.

August 30 - Greg Adams - Grammy and Emmy nominated trumpeter will perform unforgettable melodies infused in a mix of jazz, pop and funk played on a soulful trumpet. As 1970's, Adams creates an intimate relationship when performing to sold out shows around the world. His legendary music has contributed to some of the most important recordings in pop culture.

Download our Summer Smooth Jazz flyer.

See our Music & Entertainment Schedule for more info.

BLUES FEST
Every Sunday, July 13 - August 24, 2- 4 pm

At the Sunday Blues Fest, an array of top-flight performers will dig deep and tap into our rich blues heritage. The blues have strongly influenced almost all popular music including jazz, country, and rock and roll.

Download our Blues Fest flyer.

See our Music & Entertainment Schedule for more info.

Beatles' Classics
Every Sunday, July 13-August, 6 - 8pm

Get ready for a “British Invasion” this summer at the Festival of Arts Beatles' Sundays performances with Jason Feddy and Friends. Staying true to the classic pop and rock tunes of this 1960's legendary band, Jason Feddy, John Troy, Bob Hawkins and Evan Stone will perform your favorite Beatles classics. These internationally recognized and award-winning artists will have you singing and dancing to the Beatles' timeless songs that you know and love every week.

Download our Beatles' Classics flyer.

See our Music & Entertainment Schedule for more info.

Arts Education .:. Hands-On Demonstration Calendars

Please note that General Art Workshop and Printmaking activities are free with Festival of Arts paid admission.

Download our Arts Education flyer.

Music & Entertainment Schedule

With such a wide variety of on-site entertainment, you'll find yourself coming back again and again! Be sure to check out our Music & Entertainment Schedule for details.