The Sawdust Art and Craft Festival, better known as simply the Sawdust Festival, is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting the art created in Laguna Beach. It was originally named the Laguna Artists and Gallery Owners Association. In 1965, the first festival was located on a vacant lot at the bottom of Park Avenue on the Peacock lot with only a few dozen exhibitors. By 1968 the number of exhibitors had dramatically increased and more space was needed, so the festival was moved to its current 3-acre location on Laguna Canyon Road. When the artists spread sawdust on the ground to cover the dust and mud, the media dubbed it the “Sawdust Festival” – and it has been known by that name ever since.
The Sawdust Festival is a local community event because all artists exhibiting in the festival are residents of Laguna Beach, though it draws visitors annually from all over the world. The artists themselves build a unique village of individual booths from the ground up each summer and the architectural designs are as varied and interesting as the artwork they showcase. Live musical acts perform daily, dancers entertain audiences, and there are many different kinds of food for guest to enjoy at food booths such as Deb’s Deli, Frank’s Popcorn, Thasos Greek Island Grill, Tacos Durrell, Sallie’s and The Sawdust Saloon, which offers one of Laguna Beach's largest and coldest draft beer selections, fine wines and other refreshing libations.
Parking can be hard to find in Laguna Beach during the festival, so many park in the city-run ACT V parking lot, located at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road about a half-mile north of the Sawdust Festival. Parking is $7.00 per day and the cost includes free trolley service to the festival. Tickets can be purchased on their website. The Sawdust Festival runs June to September each year.
