Winter Fantasy holds final weekend

The 18th annual Winter Fantasy will celebrate its final weekend of “A Season of Dreams” Saturday and Sunday on the Sawdust Art Festival grounds, decorated in a holiday style. Some 150 artists and artisans will show their wares amid special activities and entertainers.

Closing weekend activities and entertainment will include:

?T-shirt contest winner. The winner of the T-shirt design contest will be announced at 3 p.m. Saturday. Children 12 and younger have been submitting their T-shirt designs to the Children’s Art Spot to enter the chance to be the official designer of the 2009 Sawdust children’s T-shirt. The winner will also receive a $100 savings bond and two Annual Season Passes to the Sawdust Art Festival.

?ArtisTree ornament fundraiser. Contribute to the Sawdust Art Education Fund and purchase a handcrafted ornament donated by 2008 Winter Fantasy exhibitors. The ArtisTree is on display in Towne Square and ornaments can be purchased at the Information Booth.

?Yuletide Carolers OC, a group of women carolers dressed in festive costume, will stroll the Winter Fantasy grounds and sing your favorite holiday carols from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

?The Lil’ Dickens Carolers will rove the festival grounds and close out the 18th Annual Winter Fantasy with harmonious carols from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

?Final weekend community performances will be given by El Morro Honors Chorus on Saturday and Laguna Beach Jazz Ensemble on Sunday. Both performances will be 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the Main Entertainment Deck.

?Acoustic rock band Frame of Mind will help celebrate closing day and entertain the crowd on the Main Entertainment Deck from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

?One Warm Coat donations. The final weekend to donate freshly laundered, gently worn coats to the One Warm Coat drive, organized by Girl Scout Troop 575, is this weekend. One free admission per coat will be offered at the Sawdust Box Office.

?Back by popular demand, local Latin Jazz group Pi will perform on the Main Entertainment Deck from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

?Poul Pederson, lead singer of Missiles of October, will entertain visitors with feel-good rock ‘n’ roll tunes at the Tavern from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

?Guests are welcome to visit Santa’s House in Towne Square from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $6; seniors $5, age 65 and older; $3 for children 6 to 12; children younger than 5 get in free. The festival is at the Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road. For more information, visit www.sawdustartfestival.org or call (949) 494-3030.

“” Cindy Frazier