What's up Laguna! Hurricane Genevieve is sending real waves our way this week. Great to watch from the sand, serious rip currents if you go in.
It's also the last full week for all four festivals. Below you'll find this week's events, ways to give back, spots coming soon, the conditions, some local news, and a bit of Laguna lore.
This Week
Wednesday 8/26
A free storytime hour for toddlers with live hawks and owls from the OC Bird of Prey Center. Free; RSVP at
visitlagunabeach.com.
Thursday 8/27
A film and conversation night with Steve Hawk, the former editor of Surfer magazine, and surf filmmaker Ben Weiland, with a book signing after. Free; RSVP at
visitlagunabeach.com.
Friday 8/28
A concert by Artur Menezes, the award winning Brazilian slide guitarist, in the small downtown listening room. Tickets at
visitlagunabeach.com.
Saturday 8/29
A surf documentary about Souleymane Sidibé, the Ivory Coast's first pro surfer, and the surf culture growing up around him. Free; RSVP at
visitlagunabeach.com.
All week
All three art festivals
All three on Laguna Canyon Rd Daily
The last full week for all of them. Residents with ID get in free at the Festival of Arts and Art-A-Fair every day, and at the Sawdust on Thursdays.
An art festival where 180 Laguna artists sell handmade work, with live music, glassblowing, and a beer garden under the eucalyptus. Opens 11am daily through Sep 6.
An art show where 120 juried OC artists sell their work, many painting right at their booths so you can watch. Through Sep 3; opens 4pm weekdays, 11am weekends.
An art festival with artists from around the country, plus margaritas and drop in classes. The mellowest of the three; through Sep 6, open 10am daily.
A stage show where real people hold perfectly still inside life size recreations of famous paintings, and somehow it works. Through Sep 4; tickets at
foapom.com.
Weekly Favorites
The weekly farmers market and maybe our favorite hour of the week: local produce, flowers, and prepared food. Figs and grapes still peaking, and the first early apples are starting to show.
Free live music on the resort's patio, every single night, fire pits included. Order a drink and stay a while.
Drop in art classes at the Sawdust: throw a pot, blow glass, print a shirt, and take home the thing you made. Schedule at
sawdustartfestival.org.
Live music at the restaurant's ocean view patio. Go before sunset, thank us after.
Tickets On Sale Now
The Pageant's one night season finale, hosted this year by Esai Morales: a Beatles tribute on the Festival Green at 6, then a special 8:30 Pageant where the living pictures finally break pose and move. Tickets at
foapom.com.
The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center's homecoming weekend caps with a fundraising gala, after a free open house that Saturday. Gala tickets at
shacc.org.
Rivian theater + Irvine Bowl Oct 16 to 25
The adventure film festival returns with three nights of live music in the Irvine Bowl Oct 23 to 25. Passes are limited and on sale at
eventive.org.
The chamber's big food and music night: bites from Laguna restaurants, drinks, and live bands. Prices climb as it fills; tickets at
lagunabeachchamber.org.
Give Back to Laguna
All week
James Dilley Preserve and the canyon wilderness Six sessions Tue to Sun
Volunteer habitat mornings and free guided hikes in the canyon, six slots this week, including an easy family hike to Barbara's Lake on Sunday. All free; pick a session and RSVP at
lagunacanyon.org.
Tuesday 8/25
A volunteer group that sews dresses and shorts for kids in need around the world. Basic sewing skills needed, bring your own machine; cotton fabric donations welcome too.
Weekday mornings
Volunteer shifts at the free grocery pantry: sorting food and handing it out to neighbors. Ages 14 and up; application first.
Signups open now
The Laguna Ocean Foundation trains the volunteers who stand at Heisler and Shaws Cove teaching visitors what they're looking at. Ages 18 and up, two shifts a month; sign up now for the next training at
lagunaoceanfoundation.org.
Coming Soon to Laguna
Loomey's Toys, new home
The toy shop is counting down to a new storefront and teasing the reveal on their door. No address or date announced yet.
Laguna Longevity Lab
A new wellness studio cuts its ribbon September 10 with the chamber.
Truly Bagels
The team behind Truly Pizza is still building out the bagel shop at 31727 Coast Hwy in South Laguna, the old Ti Amo space. No open date yet.
Local Conditions
Surf
Hurricane Genevieve's swell arrives late Tuesday and peaks Wednesday and Thursday: chest to head high at the south facing breaks with bigger sets, then a second pulse Saturday into Sunday. Rip currents will be strong all week and lifeguards are staffing up; watch from the sand unless you know what you're doing. Water around 73.
TUE 8/25 3-4ft 16s | WED 8/26 4-6ft 17s | THU 8/27 4-6ft 16s | FRI 8/28 3-4ft 14s | SAT 8/29 3-5ft 15s | SUN 8/30 3-5ft 13s | MON 8/31 3-4ft 12s |
Weather
Patchy morning fog, then sunny: 80 Tuesday warming to the mid 80s Thursday, holding near 80 Saturday, then easing to the mid 70s Sunday and Monday. Nights in the high 60s.
TUE 8/25  80° 68° | WED 8/26 82° 70° | THU 8/27 84° 70° | FRI 8/28 82° 70° | SAT 8/29 80° 69° | SUN 8/30 76° 68° | MON 8/31 74° 67° |
Crowds
| School's in, so weekdays stay mellow. The weekend is the busy part: the festivals' last full weekend, warm beach weather, and a hurricane swell that always pulls spectators to the coast. | Tourist-O-Meter  |
In Season
Figs and grapes still at their peak, melons and sweet corn everywhere, and the first early season apples arriving at Saturday's market.
Local Wildlife
Grunion runs are back: expected Friday through Sunday nights, roughly 10:30pm to midnight on the flatter sandy beaches. Dolphins keep working the surf line off Heisler in the morning glass.
(facts only) Laguna News (facts only)
• The art museum turns 108 Laguna Art Museum marked its founding year and named Kim Manfredi the commissioned artist for this fall's Art and Nature festival.
Laguna Lore
| A part of Laguna a lot of people don't know about: the city runs a free ride service called Laguna Local. It's on demand with no fixed route: a shared hybrid shuttle connecting the residential neighborhoods to more than 150 stops around town, running daily 9am to 11:30pm through September 7. Book it with the Laguna Beach Transit app or just call dispatch at 949.497.0766 and they'll come get you. Free means free; tip your driver anyway. |  |
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