Juried OC-only fine-art exhibition sharing Irvine Bowl grounds with the Pageant — opens July 7, 2026.
Festival of Arts is a juried fine-art exhibition in Laguna Beach where 100+ selected OC artists display and sell original paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and functional crafts. Unlike Sawdust (open entry to Laguna residents) or Art-A-Fair (international jury), Festival of Arts is curated with application review and restricted to Orange County artists, so the work is vetted and hyperlocal. It shares the Irvine Bowl grounds with the Pageant of the Masters. 2026: opens July 7 and runs through September 4.
The juried selection means you're seeing vetted work rather than tourist-market art. Painting quality is notably higher than general street festivals. If you collect or want to buy a piece from an established artist while getting to know their practice, the artist-direct format makes this straightforward. Arrive early in the run for the best selection.
Open July–September during the same window as Pageant of the Masters. Day admission is modest. Many pieces are priced for serious collectors (works range from the mid-hundreds into the thousands), so don't assume everything is accessible. Plan 2–3 hours to see it thoroughly. Parking: On-site and shared with the Pageant venue, or use the free Summer Breeze trolley from the Act V lot. Passport to the Arts bundles one-time entry to all three Laguna Canyon festivals plus one-time free Act V parking—usually the best-value play if you're hitting more than one. Ticket prices and schedules subject to change—confirm current pricing on the official event site before you go.
It skews upscale in both art and clientele. If you're looking for affordable art, prices are steep—Sawdust next door is the more accessible option. Many works are one-of-a-kind and not easily replaceable, so there's pressure in browsing and decisions. The polished gallery-style experience contrasts nicely with the raw charm of Sawdust and the international breadth of Art-A-Fair.