As nice as it is to be outside for a hike, often times, in the summer, it’s just too hot to trudge up a dusty trail in the blazing sun, or venture into the desert. There are a lot of neat places in the desert, but they should be discussed in the cooler months, not now, when the prospect of getting out of an air conditioned car to walk around in 125 degree heat does not sound like a vacation at all. Winter is truly the best time to visit the old west towns and other curiosities of the desert, so please keep it in mind for later…
There does exist a small place, outdoors, in Orange County, that we enjoy visiting every summer. It is the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach. Just down the street from the ocean, and shaded by a hillside, trees, and awnings, the Sawdust Festival (as we call it) is an annual summer gathering of various local artists. On display are paintings, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, blown glass, and other handmade works of art. Why is it called the “Sawdust Art Festival?” The pathways are filled with sawdust. According to festival history, the sawdust was brought in to keep the ground dust to a minimum. Whatever the reason for using it, the sawdust does have an appealing and memorable scent and it adds to the ambiance year after year.
And we have been going for several years now; it truly is part of our summer tradition. Perhaps the reason it became a standard for us is because it is so close to Laguna Woods (Leisure World), where Grampa lives. We can drive down mid-morning on a Sunday, pick up Grampa, and continue on another ten minutes to the Sawdust Festival. Grampa isn’t much for walking around, but he enjoys looking around, mostly from the raised patio at the back of the festival area. He takes a seat on a bench on the patio and listens to the folk music or watches the balloon animal artist, or whatever is going on. We bring sandwiches and drinks for lunch and eat with Grampa. Then we all watch the glass blowing artists who have amazing demonstrations throughout the day. It’s not often that we get to see glass in a malleable state being blown and spun into colorful vases.
Each artist at the festival has a booth to display his or her works, with some artists reappearing year after year and some new ones to discover. We like to peruse all the booths and find one thing we like to bring home from the Sawdust that year. One time it was a handmade ceramic beehive honey pot that we used for Rosh Hashana. Another year it was a stoneware dish with a lid that was, and continues to be, well suited for cholent. Last year it was a little handblown pink and green vase that just appealed to us.
There are a few different booths for children to make their own crafts. Last year, Grampa got a kick out of watching our daughter use a potter’s wheel to shape her own clay bowl. Ultimately, the festival is just a nice atmosphere to be together and see some interesting things.
This year happens to be the 40th anniversary of the Sawdust Art Festival, and the summer show only goes from June 30th to September 3rd, so please take a day out to enjoy the arts and crafts, and spend time with family.
Notes:
Sawdust Art Festival, June 30 – September 3, open every day 10am – 10pm. Admission: $7.00 Adult one-day $6.00 Senior one-day (65 yrs & up) $3.00 Child one-day (6-12 yrs) Free Age 5 yrs & younger. Address: 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, phone: Phone: 949 494-3030. www.sawdustartfestival.org