12th Annual Fête de la Musique to fill the streets of Laguna Beach with music and fanfare

On Saturday, June 15, 2019, the streets of Laguna Beach will be filled with music and much fanfare when the 12th Annual Laguna Beach Fête de la Musique presented by Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association (LBSCA) takes place. The day’s festivities start at 12 p.m. at Main Beach with The Laguna Community Big Band playing their first swing/jazz set. From 12 - 12:30 p.m., youngsters can get face painted and costumed for the Children’s Parade that starts at 12:30 p.m. Starting on the Main Street Cobblestones, kids will march up and down the boardwalk, and finish with dancing on the cobblestones.

Opening ceremonies with local dignitaries take place from 1 - 1:20 p.m. on the cobblestones, with welcoming speeches by a Laguna Beach City Councilmember, Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett and Karyn Phillippsen, founding president of the LBSCA. The U.S. national anthem will be sung by 13-year-old Lauren Kimball, and La Marseillaise (the French national anthem), will be sung by April Walsh, accompanied by the Community Band.

Additional performances take place at Main Beach throughout the afternoon, including a second set by the Community Band; The Andersons, a five-piece soft rock band; JJ and the Habibis (Laguna Beach belly dancers); Corazones Alegres Folkloric Dancers; and a band yet to be determined. Throughout the streets, artists will perform from 1:30 - 4 p.m. at approximately 48 locations, with most along Ocean and Forest avenues, and along Pacific Coast Highway. A few musicians will be located in the HIP District, further south along PCH.

This year, among the popular returning performers are The Budrows playing their unique cigar-box guitar music in the Kush Gallery alcove; The Montones with their island-inspired melodies at Wells Fargo Bank; The Andersons, a five-member band from LA, performing on Main Beach; April Walsh, chanteuse, on the steps of 2bella Boutique; The Agave Brothers at Skyloft; the bluesy guitar/vocals of Yael & Vlady in the Lumberyard patio; Charles Fullwood inside Hobie Sports; student performances in the Presbyterian Church garden; Elvis; and our French mimes, to name just a few.

Some of the outstanding new performers for this year are: The Black Tongued Bells, playing “swamp music” in the Water District Garden; Cillian’s Bridge Irish Band at the Art Center; singer/songwriters Michael Ubaldini and Chris Murray; singer/guitarist Andrew Corradini; ‘80s cover band The Cover Ups; Maddy Vance, 19-year-old singer/songwriter/keyboardist; French café singer Mignonne Profant; opera singer Sheryl Lynne Smith; and Sugar Sugar, female singing duo. Expect lots of new surprises! Look for the red, white and blue balloons delineating where the performers are located.

Closing ceremonies will take place on the cobblestones at 4:15 p.m. with music yet to be determined. A two-night stay at The Ranch at Laguna Beach will be available as an opportunity drawing prize! Register online prior to the Fete for $20. The drawing will be held and the winner announced at the Closing Ceremonies at 4 p.m. Winner need not be present.

Originating in France in the 1980s, the Fête de la Musique, also known as the International Day of Music, celebrates the beginning of summer and the close affiliation Laguna Beach has with its sister city, Menton, France. The day’s events are free, and promote the lively arts through music by a variety of musicians, singers and performers.

Partners include OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, City of Laguna Beach, Visit Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and OCVA (Orange County Visitors Association). Sponsors include Cox Communications, Mozambique, Skyloft, Sparkle Films, Bill Atkins Design & Illustration, Surf & Sand Laguna Beach, OC Register, The Ranch at Laguna Beach, C’est La Vie, The Hive, KX 93.5 FM, The UPS Store, Shot Hunters and Saddleback Golf Cars.

For Laguna Beach parking information, visit www.VisitLagunaBeach.com/parking and download the Visit Laguna Beach app for a real-time Trolley Tracker.

To view photos and videos from past Fêtes and to register for a chance to win the two-night stay at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, visit www.lagunabeachsistercities.com/fetedelamusique.

Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association has three sister cities: Menton, France; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; and St. Ives, England. Since its inception, Laguna Beach Sister Cities, established in 2008, has been focused on cultural, educational and social exchanges. It is a broad-based, Laguna Beach City Council approved, all volunteer, non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID # 80-0188779. Contact information: P.O. Box 1011, Laguna Beach, Calif. 92652. Call 949.492.0883, visit www.lagunabeachsistercities.com and view their Facebook page.

 

Media Contact:
Lana Johnson
Johnson Media
949.212.1499
lanajohnson@me.com