Approaching its sixtieth year — the Sawdust Art Festival’s holiday edition turns the canyon grounds into a handcrafted gift village, with artisan booths, carolers, puppet shows, a petting zoo, and twinkling pine-lined pathways every weekend through December.
Each November and December, the Sawdust Art Festival grounds at 935 Laguna Canyon Road run their Winter Fantasy holiday edition — a transformation of the same eucalyptus-and-pine grounds Laguna’s art community uses all summer into a handcrafted gift village. The festival is approaching its 60th year and is one of the most genuinely artist-driven holiday markets in Southern California.
The village is a walk-through grid of artist booths with original ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, textiles, painting, and woodwork — every piece made by the artist on-site. Carolers move between booths, puppet shows entertain the kids, a petting zoo runs through the grounds, and the canyon evening light filters through the trees for an effect no shopping mall can replicate. Live music threads through the day.
The Winter Fantasy runs weekends (Friday–Sunday) from mid-November through late December. It’s ticketed and the ticket gets you a full day on the grounds. It’s one of the most distinctively Laguna Beach holiday experiences and pairs naturally with a Hospitality Night evening in the village for a full Laguna Beach weekend.
On the Sawdust Art Festival grounds at 935 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach — the same site used for the summer Sawdust Festival, transformed for the holidays.
Weekends only (Friday through Sunday) from mid-November through late December, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Check the official Sawdust page for the current year’s exact weekend dates.
Yes — the ticket covers full-day access on the grounds. Children’s pricing is separate; buy in advance for weekends to skip the box-office line.
Yes — that’s the whole point. The artists are local, the booths are juried, and the work is original. Many of the same artists return year after year, and the grounds reward repeat visits.
Santa visits are a typical feature throughout the festival’s weekend hours, alongside the puppet shows and the petting zoo. Check the current year’s calendar for specific Santa hours.
The Sawdust Art Festival grounds at 935 Laguna Canyon Road occupy three acres in Laguna Canyon — about a half-mile inland from the village. The grounds are owned and operated by Sawdust Art Enterprises, a nonprofit founded by Laguna’s artist community, and have hosted Laguna’s signature juried summer art festival since 1965. The eucalyptus-shaded grounds and the artisans’ booth village share their setup with the neighboring Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters venues directly across the canyon road.
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
