You MUST SEE Festival of Art of Laguna Beach CELEBRATING ITS 90th year among the finest Juried Art shows in the United States. Laguna's phenomenal two months of art shows and the stunning Pageant of the Masters is now open. If you visit southern California don't miss the festival it is epic. While in Laguna the best dinning includes Terra on the festival grounds, Sapphire and Lumberyard. Use the Trolly to get around town. Park just out of down town and save your money for fun.

My wife drug me to one of these shows about 12 years ago. We have been going ever since, I am still in awe every time. The transformation of people into works of art is pretty dang amazing. Tips, go early, park your car, walk around town, get something to eat or go to the park area with your own snacks and drinks (Yes they will allow you to bring wine into the venue) Bring binoculars, bring a seat cushion if your but can't stand sitting for a long time, check the temps and bring a blanket or light jacket as it can get chilly. Get LOGE tickets if you can afford them, don't sit in the first three or 4 rows as it's too close to appreciate the art on stage at that range and you will miss some things that happen on the sides of the stage. Don't show up late and try to find your seats, it will frustrate you and really irritate those who have to be interrupted in the opening moments of this great show.

We experienced a Pageant of the Masters performance a number of years ago and I thought it couldn't get any better. I was wrong. This year's performance set a new bar. Brilliant production, fabulous music, sets, costumes, and volunteer actors! There is not one bad seat in the audience.

I have come to the Pageant of the Masters/Festival of the Arts for years and became a member because I believe in what they do. Each year I bring family and friends, get a VRBO and enjoy! Over the years I have loved the history I learn about art pieces....last year I got the full scoop on Nellie Bly! I loved it all. We come and bring wine and a charcuterie and enjoy the live music. Then we enter the theater which is always magical with the stage, full orchestra and narrator. The 1 st time I ever came, the narrator was the voice of "Tony the Tiger". What fun! I appreciate all the artists and those in the pageant. It is a special time each year.

This was our fourth or fifth year to come to this production. Unfortunately this year didn’t measure up to our previous experiences. The extent to which the artwork pieces ‘came to life’ was much reduced over previous years. We love pieces like when the lady with the parasol moved/came to life near the end of that selection. The ‘oh….ah…’ across the audience is audible in those great scenes. There wasn’t enough of that this year. We felt the entire production was not up to the level of previous years. Artwork selection, music selection, movement in the artwork - all lacking. We’ll come again, hoping the quality returns to what we have experienced in years past. If not, we’ll hold on to fond memories from the past.

We go to the Pageant every summer. The production is excellent and there is always a new twist every year. Snack bar is mediocre but you can probably find something you like. Only complaint is the seating. The seats are metal old-style theatre seats which is ok since the Pageant is outdoors. The problem is they are too small so you’re elbow to elbow with your neighbor, and you have to stand up to let someone pass.