Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy
Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy returns to Laguna Beach from November 20 through December 20, 2026. Held Fridays through Sundays, the holiday festival combines original art and gift shopping, live entertainment, demonstrations and seasonal activities on the Sawdust Festival grounds.
The Winter Sawdust Festival is where you’ll find amazing hand-crafted art that will fit every budget and cater to every whimsy... gorgeous blown glass, quirky hand-sewn stuffed monsters, meticulously crafted ceramics, tile art, one-of-a-kind wearables and more. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to enjoy the Winter Fantasy Festival in Laguna Beach, California.
Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy
Sawdust Art Festival Website
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Address: 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Dates: November 20-December 20, 2026
Days: Fridays through Sundays
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tickets: Single-day 2026 pricing will be posted by Sawdust; the 2026 Annual Pass is $49.50 and includes Summer and Winter Fantasy.
Parking: Lot 16/Act V at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road is $5, with trolley service to the festival.
Tickets
Purchase admission through the official Sawdust Art Festival ticketing system. Check the festival website for current 2026 single-day pricing and availability before visiting.
Buying online in advance is the simplest option, especially on busy holiday weekends.
Group tickets: Groups of 10 or more can inquire with Sawdust about current group admission rates.
Single-day 2026 Winter Fantasy admission prices have not yet been posted. The 2026 Annual Pass is $49.50 and includes admission to both the Summer Art Festival and Winter Fantasy. Veterans receive free admission with military ID, and groups of 10 or more can inquire about group rates. Check the official Sawdust ticket page for current single-day pricing before your visit
What is the Winter Fantasy Festival?
When the long, hot days of summer end, the Sawdust Art Festival grounds are transformed into three acres of winter wonderland, with holiday decorations, lights, artist booths, demonstrations and seasonal entertainment. Specific performers and activities vary by year.
Seasonal entertainment and special appearances vary by year; check the 2026 schedule for Santa and other holiday programming.
Piggybacking off the ridiculously popular Sawdust Art Festival (July through to September), the Winter Fantasy Festival at the festival grounds on Laguna Canyon Road provides Victorian holiday cheer, fabulous handmade art, and a rollicking holiday time, all set against the gorgeous hills framing Laguna Beach. Whether you’re a novice or a longtime lover of all things artistic, there’s definitely something for you at the Winter Fantasy festival.
Did You Know? While the Sawdust Festival was created to feature local Laguna Beach artists, the Winter Fantasy Festival happily accepts non-resident artists. If you’re not lucky enough to live in Laguna Beach, you’re not out of the running for showing off your stuff at the next Winter Fantasy.
Shopping at the Winter Fantasy Festival
Winter Fantasy is a popular place to shop for original holiday gifts while meeting the artists who make them. Expect a changing selection of ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles, photography, mixed media and other handcrafted work.
Shop Local. Real Local.
Local, unique, and personal, the Winter Fantasy festival offers instant shopping gratification for most of your shopping needs. If you’re looking for gifts that nobody else is going to think of, much less duplicate, this is where you want to go.
Buying from a local Southern California artisan means that you won’t have to worry about shipping times and whether or not that perfect gift will arrive on time. Besides, where else will you be able to find the perfect present and talk to the artisan who made it?
Pro-Tip: The Winter Fantasy festival isn’t just great for shopping. It makes for a unique holiday-themed date night or girls’ night out, too!
So what kind of art will you find at Winter Fantasy?
Anything from mosaic art to handmade knitwear, the fabulously eco-friendly gourd dolls at Gourdy Girls to hand-sewn friendly monsters, jewelry, photographic and mixed media art, gorgeous hand-blown glass, and more.
The artist lineup changes each year. Browse the official Sawdust artist directory for the current exhibitors and look for the 2026 Winter Fantasy lineup as it is published.
One of the highlights of Winter Fantasy is meeting artists and learning about the process behind their work. Exhibiting artists are expected to be onsite and demonstrate their art during the event.
Free Activities at Winter Fantasy
Purchases aren’t necessary but if you can make it through all the artist booths without buying something, you’ve got more willpower than we do. That being said, there are several free activities for you to enjoy.
On-site Art Classes
If watching the artists do their thing in their beautifully decorated booths has you itching to try creating something yourself, there are complimentary art classes for everyone.
Sawdust regularly offers hands-on art experiences and demonstrations, but the specific complimentary activities can change from year to year. Check the official 2026 Winter Fantasy schedule before your visit for current Studio One, ceramics and other art activities.
Pro-tip: Did you know that the Sawdust Art Festival offers year-round art classes? Well, now you do! Class offerings range from prerecorded online tutorials to live zoom sessions and cover everyone from Beginner to Advanced.
Other free activities include:
- Seasonal activities, including Santa appearances, vary by year. Check the 2026 Winter Fantasy entertainment schedule for confirmed dates and details.
- Music! There are three stages scattered throughout the festival, playing a wide variety of live music. Get up and dance!
- Free glassblowing demonstrations are intermittent throughout the day. Just follow the roar of the furnace to the glassed-in workshop in the heart of the festival grounds.
Even the Food is Art
After you’ve hiked around the most artistic three acres in Southern California for a bit, you’re going to have worked up an appetite. Lucky for you, the Winter Fantasy Festival has a whole range of options for you to choose from.
Sensory tip: there’s live music at the stage close by, so be aware that this area might pose problems for those on the spectrum or who deal with noise sensitivity.
Food and drink: Vendor lineups can change. Current Sawdust information highlights food options such as AhbA, Taco Loco and The Cove by Starfish. Check the official 2026 event information for the final Winter Fantasy food lineup.
Craft beers, wines and more are available at the famous Sawdust Saloon.
Pro-Tip: Seating in the open-air food court is limited. It might be worth scouting out a table early.
Now that you’ve had a taste of just how much fun the Winter Fantasy festival can be, let us give you all the information you need to get there.
When to Go and How to Get to the Winter Fantasy Festival
The Winter Fantasy Festival is located on the permanent, delightfully quirky Sawdust Art Festival grounds at 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach CA 92651. In 2026, the festival runs November 20 through December 20 and is open Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check here for updated dates and times.
Festival policies: Winter Fantasy is held rain or shine. Pets are not permitted, except service animals meeting federal ADA requirements, and smoking or vaping is not allowed on the festival grounds.
Parking
It’s always good to have options when it comes to parking, and Laguna Beach has several for you to use when you’re headed to the Winter Fantasy Festival.
Parking: Laguna Beach offers metered and public-lot parking with payment options that include cards, coins, pay stations and mobile/QR payment. For Winter Fantasy, Lot 16/Act V at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road is $5 . From there, takeLaguna Beach’s free trolley service to and from the festival grounds. Trolley schedules can change, so check the City of Laguna Beach's current trolley information before your visit. Go here for a map.
Accessibility Tip: Accessible parking is available near the festival grounds. The Sawdust grounds include woodchips, elevation changes and slopes, which may affect wheelchair and mobility-device users.
If Lot 16/Act V is full, Laguna Beach has additional public lots and metered parking. Check the City of Laguna Beach parking information for current locations, rates and restrictions.
Pro-tip: Parking can be tricky, but luckily, there’s an app for that! (go here for Google Play and here for the Apple store). Before you go to the Winter Fantasy Festival, you’ll want to download the Laguna Beach Parking app. It’s the easiest way to find – and pay for – a parking spot during those high-demand times.
Extra Pro-Tip: Go here for a comprehensive list of Laguna Beach’s twenty-one public parking lots, including their rates, times, and number of spaces available.
Accessibility at the Winter Fantasy Festival
Autism/Sensory Awareness Issues
Winter Fantasy is an outdoor event with crowds, colorful displays, artist demonstrations and live entertainment. Visitors who are sensitive to noise, crowds or visual stimulation may want to plan for breaks and bring any sensory supports they normally use.
If you need a quieter break, identify a lower-traffic area when you arrive or ask festival staff about the best place to step away from crowds and entertainment.
Visitors who are sensitive to noise may want to bring hearing protection because the festival can include crowds and live entertainment.
Service Dogs
Pets are not permitted at Winter Fantasy. Service animals that meet federal ADA requirements are allowed.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Sawdust offers two beach-style wheelchairs that may be reserved in advance, subject to availability. Call 949-494-3030 to inquire.
