Waiting For The Pageant To Start At Festival Of Arts

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—Whether you arrive by trolley or automobile to the Pageant of the Masters, come early to enjoy the Festival of Arts grounds. Live music, luxe wines and artisan ales, dinner or snacks, and the fine art for sale are just part of the fun. Find a spot to sit and enjoy the people-watching and the golden hour before sunset.

Remember to save your ticket! It will get you back in for free all summer long.

The first thing that caught Patch's attention on a recent Wednesday evening was the Junior Art Exhibit. Since 1947, student artists from all over Orange County have submitted their work to the juried exhibition. Not only does it champion the youngsters’ skill and talent, but it also provides tangible proof of the value of arts education.

As we took a close look at the 200 works on display, including prize winners in each grade level from K-12, the sounds of live music provided the soundtrack. The Miskey Mountain Boys were onstage playing for so many people it was hard to find a seat.

Two women and three men make up the Miskey Mountain Boys, providing strong vocals, lively musicianship and unique arrangements.

Once their set was over, we headed over to the Pageant entrance, where performers were checking in at the stage door after getting their temperature checks.

Musicians were arriving to join the orchestra already tuning up in the pit.

Then an interesting display caught our eye just outside the Irvine Bowl's entry. It sported a large American flag and was festooned with handwritten message on uniform tags. One side was blank for writing a message, the other side was printed with the stars and stripes, and stamped with this year's Pageant theme: Made in America.

We asked the nearby festival volunteer with the temperature wand what it was about. The entire cast wrote messages of gratitude, he explained, in honor of the return of the Pageant after last year's cancellation. The only other time the performance has been cancelled was for 4 years during World War II.

A closer read of the tags reveals some personal notes about healthy babies born, a mention of In-N-Out burgers, as well as patriotic declarations.

The message board is mounted above a permanent stone tribute to longtime Festival of Arts volunteer Stuart Durkee (1910-1989).

And then it was time to take our seats for "Made in America: Trailblazing Artists and Their Stories."

Have you gone to the Pageant of the Masters this year? Let us know your thoughts on the event in the comments below or by emailing your Patch Editor.