Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters Celebrating 85 Years of Arts

Every year for about 10 years my friends and family never failed to see this theatrical spectacle Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters during the summer art fest in the beautiful Laguna Beach. Aside from the one-of-a-kind living pictures, it also includes musical theater, a narrator that tells the story behind the art, and a live professional orchestra to add drama to the whole show.

Even if you’re not an art connoisseur, you will become one after viewing the whole show.

Exceptional variety of fine art to peruse and purchase

July 7 marked the opening of the 85th year of Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters. This year’s theme is The Grand Tour. You might ask what is “The Grand Tour?” The name is inspired by those early sea and land travelers of Europe who often risked their lives and limb to stand in the presence of masterpieces. Much of what we know about The Grand Tour is preserved in letters written by inexperienced travelers.The tour includes a trip to Pompeii, Versailles, Florence, Rome, the Carnival season in Venice, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and a lot more.

There are two reasons that make this year special for me:

1. My son is a cast member. He is part of the painting by an American artist Archibald Motley called The Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club

2. This year the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters opened the newly renovated festival grounds and facilities. It’s the first major makeover of the Festival’s facade, facilities, entertainment area and exhibition area.

In addition to the Pageant of the Masters show, the Festival of Arts consist of art tours, exhibits, concerts on the green, family art day, a fashion show, art and story time, art workshops, a music series, and a lot more. The art fest in south Orange county is the Top 5 Art Festival in the nation voted by USA Today readers. It’s a complete art excursion that you don’t want to miss.