The Sunset Beach Art Festival has been a Mother’s Day weekend tradition that is now entering its 47th year.
The event raises funds for the Sunset Beach community and the festival sponsor, Las Damas, one of the longest-running women’s service organization in the west Orange County area. Money raised goes to local charities for the homeless, at-risk teenagers and the mentally ill. It also aids local schools support their arts programs, and to students through the Las Damas scholarship program.
In addition to all of the festivities – including food sales, music and eye candy in the form of arts and crafts booths and art galleries including the works of local artists of all ages and levels, there is “The Quilt.”
The raffling off of The Quilt is the traditional, highly anticipated climax of the two-day event that runs Saturday and Sunday in Sunset Beach. Created by members of Las Damas, The Quilt is raffled off during the festival on Sunday.
The work of art features quirky local scenes as well as more traditional beach scenes, of waves, sea creatures and palm trees. Raffle tickets are $5 each and can be found in front of the Nobles Family Community Building at 16861 12th Street in Sunset Beach. The building was remodeled from the former home of the defunct Sunset Beach Volunteer Fire Department; the winner doesn’t have to be present at the drawing held at the end of the festival.
Other raffle opportunities are at the raffle booth on 12th Street, where items donated by vendors can be won for $1 a ticket. Raffles are held at various times during the festival, which tends to add a bit of excitement to the overall event.
If you’re looking for a great way to honor your Mom on Mother’s day, bring her to the 47th Annual Sunset Beach Art Festival which takes place on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Visitors to the festival will enjoy browsing along the greenbelt which runs through Sunset Beach, where they will find more than 150 craft booths selling everything from jewelry, leatherworks, glass and woodworks, to those featuring clothing, furniture, and decorative and useful items for the home, and for play.
All the offerings are original and hand-crafted, and can’t be found in stores or shopping malls. The artisans are talented and enthusiastic about their products, and eager to explain the details of their art.
Fine arts are on display and for sale in the Firehouse Gallery on 12th Street, where graphic arts using oils, acrylics, pen and ink and lots of imagination and beauty can be enjoyed by serious art lovers.
Family fun is also the name of the game at the festival this weekend. The Kids’ Zone, located in front of the former Firehouse, is spectacular this year. Kids can make a special mother’s day present from seashells that have been collected along local beaches; they can draw and paint, participate in games, jump in a bounce-house, win prizes and have their face painted.
Eating and drinking are the big activities in the 12th street Community Center area where visitors will find delicious bacon-wrapped hot dogs, fish tacos, hot and cold sandwiches, salads and a new favorite, Hawaiian shaved ice. A variety of drinks is also available, including beer and wine. Local bands will be entertaining throughout the day.
