Art fans flock to Winter Fantasy at Sawdust Festival
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It felt a lot like Christmas at the Sawdust Art Festival on Saturday, as guests walked through the gates into an enchanting outdoor marketplace with festive holiday reminders throughout.
Winter Fantasy, which runs through Dec. 19, offers an opportunity for art collectors and enthusiasts to, once again, interact with more than 150 artists and shop for their work.
The winter showcase, now in its 31st year, has seen the return of the public to the Sawdust Art Festival grounds following the traditional festival season.
Winter Fantasy opens its doors weekends only, making it a hot commodity with a total of 11 days of access. There will be three days remaining as of Sunday.
“I feel like it’s been a really popular season,” Franky Duschane, director of marketing and public relations for the Sawdust Art Festival, said. “Everybody’s hungry for unique art, for unique gifts, and of course, people are coming together for the holidays again.
“They’re seeing their families and their loved ones again, so I think they’re trying to commemorate them with special unique gifts, and especially experiences, so they’re coming here and having a lovely experience outside in the canyon with the arts.”
Nikolai Erngren, who said he has shown his work at the Sawdust Art Festival for more than 20 seasons, had an assortment of mixed media creations, including heart-shaped magnets, nature’s creatures and clocks, some with wagging tails ticking off the seconds.
“I learned fairly early, when I came to this country, I had to invent a job for myself,” said Erngren, who is Swedish. “I’ve never been employed, nor will I ever be, because the thought is awful. I made myself an artist. I made a decision that I’m going to try to live off my wits.
“I also realized that in order to sell a lot easier, it helps if it’s immediately obvious what it is I’m selling. I made peculiar shapes that I couldn’t sell if they didn’t have a function, and then I realized when I put the clockwork in, then they become a functional thing that people can immediately relate to.”
Suzi White and Courtney Finch shared a booth after operating as neighbors at prior festival appearances. Their stand drew a crowd, as White had colored Santa hats furnished from yarn, and Finch had an assortment of handcrafted jewelry available.
“The Santa hats started about four or five years ago,” said White, who added she has shown her work at Winter Fantasy for nine years.
“Ever since then, it’s just taken over, and it was actually a lot of the artists who were wearing them, which was kind of cool. It’s just so fun seeing people walking around with some. It just makes it so festive and just super fun and cute.”
Admission to Winter Fantasy is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children between 6 and 12. Attendees also have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa.
Live musical performances take place from three different stages, with space dedicated for an audience to sit and watch.
A crowd stood next to the entrance on Saturday afternoon, as the El Morro Elementary Honors Chorus lit up the facility with its rendition of various holiday singalongs, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells.”
Eric Smith of Monterey Park shared his experience at Winter Fantasy, indicating that it was a case of both mutual and independent interests driving his trip to Laguna Beach. While his partner comes for the shopping, he enjoys taking photos of the atmosphere and the artwork on display.
“My significant other is shopping for herself,” Smith said. “I do a little shopping. I’m a photographer, so I walk around, take some candid shots and sit and listen to music while she’s shopping.”
Smith also remarked that Winter Fantasy is returning to form, leaving parking spots in high demand for those looking to attend the festival.
“It’s surprising,” Smith said. “Last time, we came down around the same time, around 10 o’clock, and we found easy parking. This year, we came down the same time, and we had to park in one of the lots and take a shuttle, which is fantastic and easy, but I’m surprised at the number of people that showed up this year.”
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