1932 FIRST FESTIVAL OF ARTS
The first Festival of Arts, produced by local artist John H. Hinchman, was held in downtown Laguna, August 13-20, 1932. Los Angeles Olympic Games were also held that summer, July 30-August 14. The Festival was held on El Paseo, near Hotel Laguna. With no permanent location, the Festival was held at various venues during the next seven years.
Unattributed poem published in the South Coast News, August 19, 1932
Now comes the Festival of Arts,
Laguna’s great event!
The visitors are coming in,
On quest of beauty bent;
For many weeks committees
Have labored hard and long
To spread the news around the land
And bring a mighty throng
To visit in Laguna Beach,
To see our works of art,
To watch our Thespians at work,
To shop around our mart.
The streets are gay with banners,
The twinkling lights give cheer,
Flags are waving in the breeze
For Fiesta Week is here!
And may the Festival of Arts
Grow like the green bay tree,
‘Til all the Southland know the fame
Of Laguna-by-the-Sea.