‘Making dreams come true’

“A Season of Dreams” will unfold Saturday at the 18th annual Winter Fantasy, the Sawdust Art Festival’s holiday happening, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekend through Dec. 14.

Cynthia Fung, public relations and marketing representative for the Sawdust, said the theme is all about doing good deeds.

“We [the Winter Fantasy Committee] really wanted to pull the community together this year,” she said. “It’s about giving back and making dreams come true.”

Opening day Saturday will offer an array of festivities, including a tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. with Mayor Jane Egly and Santa Clause, a performance by the Mariachi Divas from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., performances by Top of the World Honors Chorus, and the Laguna Beach Community Concert Band. Laguna Beach residents with ID will be admitted free from 3 p.m. to closing Saturday.

Winners of the best-decorated booth and community tree display around Town Square will also be announced during Community Night.

The whimsical winter wonderland will host 135 returning artists and 35 new artists who will create and exhibit their work on festival grounds, a Toys for Tots and One Warm Coat drive to help those in need, the second annual ArtisTree Ornament Fundraiser to benefit the Art Education Fund, Santa’s house among other fun places to play, and food and beverages from three outdoor cafes, and musical performances.

Art offerings include hand-blown glass, jewelry, clothing, paintings, sculpture, forged metals, ceramics and woodwork.

“Another new addition for 2008 is our Winter Art Series, where artists will teach 60 to 90 minute art or craft classes,” Fung said. “Courses will be held every weekend and cost between $5 and $10 depending on the project. We will also have a T-shirt Design Contest for children 12 and under. The winner will receive a $100 savings bond, two annual festival passes, and will be the designer of a children’s T-shirt for the Summer 2009 Sawdust Festival.”

Judy Kearby, a seventh-year artist participant who uses her paper angels in shadowboxes creations to benefit Hospice, said she is excited about this year’s theme.

“I began making holiday crafts for the residents at Hospice several years ago, after I lost my brother to illness,” she said. “My angels bring happiness to everyone, because the people who buy them get to enjoy them, and the profits supplement the supplies needed for the Hospice gifts.

“Over the past 14 years, I’ve been able to give over 3,000 gifts through the Rick Kearby Giving Gifts Project,” she said. The project is named after her brother.

Kearby will also teach two wreath-making classes in the Winter Art Series.

David Nelson, a jewelry-maker of 38 years who has served on the Winter Fantasy Committee since its inception 18 years ago, said he looks forward to the winter event every year.

“One thing that’s great about the winter show “” so that it’s not just Sawdust with Christmas lights “” is that it includes artists from anywhere in the world,” he said.

Nelson creates fabricated and lost wax silver jewelry, including rings, bracelets, pins and belt buckles. He is also known for his chip inlay pieces, colored with turquoise, red and black coral, lapis and opal, and for doing custom-made work.

Robert Holton, a painter from Anaheim who is new to the festival, said he is happy to finally being doing a show in Laguna Beach.

“It’s the art mecca of Orange County,” he said. “I’m anxious to come down and be a part of it.”

Holton, who turned to painting as therapy after losing his wife to cancer six years ago, typically enjoys creating retro images from the 1950s and ‘60s. For this event, he focused more on beach images, including those of the Main Beach lifeguard tower, which he thought would appeal to locals and tourists alike.

“I’ve also made smaller prints of the tower for the ArtisTree,” he said. “I’m big on giving back, so I love the idea of this.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Sunday until Dec. 14.

WHERE: Sawdust grounds, 935 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: $3 for children 6 to 12, $6 for adults, $9 for season pass. Children 5 and younger get in free.

MORE: Santa hours, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Walkabout tours at 2 p.m., free with admission.

SPECIAL: Free admission for Laguna Beach residents with ID from 3 p.m. to closing Saturday.

INFORMATION: Call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.