July 8, 2022
Each week, Arts Orange County and Voice of OC are excited to deliver to you this look at the stories and events happening in our arts and cultural community.
♦ Marquee ♦
Laguna Playhouse presents the stage version of the legendary 1979 film with its iconic portrayal of New York disco culture and the music of the Bee Gees. MORE
♦ Visual Arts ♦
It’s that time of year again: time for the endless backup on Laguna Canyon Road/State Route 133, for the hungry and teeming crowds along the coast, and for the summer art festivals in Laguna Beach.

In fact, the big three – the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, the Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Art-A-Fair – are already in motion. The Sawdust opened first on June 24; Art-A-Fair opened on July 1; while the Festival of Arts opened July 5 and its crown jewel, the Pageant of the Masters, kicked off July 7.

In the story, there is an overview of the Laguna art festivals this summer, with particular attention paid to local history and what’s new, different or worth checking out.
♦ Culture ♦
With school finished for the summer and warmer weather rolling in, summer concert series are kicking into high gear. With a variety of free events for outdoor family friendly fun, there’s something for everyone, even those with busy schedules.

Bring a lawn chair and grab some snacks while enjoying some dynamic outdoor movies and concerts at any of the following events.
Each week, we recommend a variety of events and experiences from the listings at SparkOC.com, our free website for Orange County's arts and cultural community. We always suggest you be mindful of the most recent health and safety guidelines in California, Orange County, and the venue for the listing.
♦ Local Spotlight ♦
The Wayward Artist in Santa Ana opens Jen Silverman's absurdist contemporary theatrical exploration of love, identity, and femininity as seen through the stories of five people who share a name but very different experiences MORE
♦ Wallet Friendly ♦
The great American art form is the center of this month's edition of Bowers Museum's free family festivals, including live performances and art-making activities for all ages MORE
♦ For the Family ♦
This weekend sees the opening reception for this unique joint exhibit from the Huntington Beach Central Library, Friends of the Library, and the Huntington Beach Art Center showcasing the evolution of artwork created for classic youth literature MORE
♦ Wildcard ♦
Over 50 local and regional artists working in painting, sculpture, video and more are featured in this group show at the Irvine Fine Arts Center - with awards being announced at Saturday night's opening reception MORE
"I am so appreciative of Arts Orange County which played a big role in securing relief funds during the COVID-19 for our arts community. The dedication and endless effort truly touches me. They are the champion!"
- Charles Zhang,
Arts Patron
Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom with a mission to consistently deliver fair, focused and thorough journalism on critical quality of life and local issues for Orange County communities.
Arts Orange County builds appreciation of, participation in and support for the arts and arts education throughout Orange County. Event information provided by SparkOC, an Arts OC program.