THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2024
City of Laguna Beach to Host 4th of July Drone Show from Heisler Park!
Join us for the 2024 City of Laguna Beach 4th of July Drone Show celebration! The drone show begins at 9:00 p.m. from Monument Point in Heisler Park on Thursday, July 4. Large crowds are anticipated for the July 4th holiday and the City is requesting the public’s cooperation to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for residents and visitors.
Areas of Heisler Park, including the Lawn Bowling Green and Monument Point area will be closed all day on Thursday, July 4. Additionally, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the area of Heisler Park from Myrtle Street to the Rockpile Beach stairs at Jasmine Street will be closed to the public to allow for the 4th of July drone flyover beginning at 9:00 p.m.
After the drone show ends, expect heavy traffic as many visitors will be leaving via Laguna Canyon Road and Coast Highway. For traffic and emergency updates, sign up for Nixle by texting 92651 to 888-777.
Transit Services Operating Under Modified Schedule
Reminder: All Fireworks are Illegal in Laguna Beach
Condor Squadron Will Fly Over Laguna Beach on July 4th!
The Public is Expected to Observe All City Park and Beach Ordinances, Including:
- No fireworks of any kind are allowed in Laguna Beach
- No alcohol on the beaches
- No smoking in public places
- No single-use plastics are allowed on beaches, trails, or in parks
- No private drone use from Main Beach to Crescent Bay
- No canopies, awnings, umbrellas, tents or covers over six feet in height or wider than six feet square on or in any public beach, park. Any canopy, awning, umbrella, tent or cover installed, shall have no more than one side closed to public view
- No portable barbecues are allowed in City beaches or parks
- No dogs are allowed on City beaches from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the summer season, which extends from June 15 through September 10
- All OC Parks trails will be closed at sunset
- The Laguna Beach Police, Fire, and Marine Safety Departments will be strictly enforcing all the ordinances
Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!
New Video Podcast: Stu New's Fair Game with Tom Johnson & Mayor Sue Kempf
In this week's Fair Game podcast with Tom Johnson, Mayor Sue Kempf looks forward to tomorrow’s 4th of July drone light show at Heisler Park, encourages the community to visit the amazing Art Festivals, and talks about summer parking in Laguna Beach.
Mayor Sue Kempf Cuts Ribbon Cutting for 58th Annual Sawdust Art Festival! 🎨
Festival of Arts Fine Art Show is Officially Open! ✨
Photo Courtesy of Scott Brashier
As one of the nation’s oldest and most highly acclaimed juried fine art shows, the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts has offered a breathtaking showcase for artists and art lovers for 90 years.
Set in a beautiful open-air gallery, this highly acclaimed juried fine art show features the work of over 100 award-winning Orange County artists. From paintings, glass, ceramics, photography and more, the Festival showcases a variety of mediums and artwork styles for avid collectors and festivalgoers to browse and purchase directly from the artists.
From early July through the end of August, the Festival of Arts opens its doors daily for visitors to not only enjoy the award-winning work of exhibited artists, but also art demonstrations, live music performances on select days, opportunities to meet the artists and more.
Experience "A Festival Without Borders" by the Laguna Art-A-Fair
Laguna Art-A-Fair invites you to immerse yourself in a festival experience that knows no bounds or limits. The festival features 115 award-winning fine artists and artisans from around the world. Two-dimensional media include oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, encaustic, pastel, charcoal, colored pencil, photography, and printmaking. Three-dimensional media include jewelry, ceramics, glass, mirrors, fiber art, wood craft, sculpture, gourds, and more.
The Great North Special Kicks off the Music In the Park Concert Series This Sunday at Bluebird Park 🎶
Music in the Park is a free public concert series held Sunday evenings in July and August, at Bluebird Park. Concerts start at 5:00 p.m. Set up is not permitted before 3:00 p.m. No dogs allowed at Bluebird Park (LBMC 6.16.020). No smoking (LBMC 7.40.030). No display or sale of merchandise (LBMC 18.04.015). Low-seating beach chairs are encouraged. Alcohol is permitted for guests 21 or older, but must be accompanied by a full meal. Solicitation of any kind is not permitted at City events.
New Citywide Plan to Enhance Safer Streets in Laguna Beach
Safer Streets Laguna Beach is a citywide plan to enhance safety for all users of the City’s streets –residents and visitors alike. The plan focuses on reducing collisions proactively with a data driven approach, creating strategies to implement safe designs that account for public stakeholder and community input, and setting the City up for success to pursue external funds for safety improvements.
Citywide Safety Action Plan Project Goals
- Improve roadway safety outcomes and eliminate collisions that result in fatalities or severe injuries.
- Identify local roadway safety trends and strategies to target those trends.
- Engage the local community through a series of in-person events and online surveys.
- Develop effective and equitable projects, policies, and processes tailored to Laguna Beach that integrate the Safe System Approach.*
Join Us at the July 6 Farmer's Market to Learn More
Phase 1 Complete for Laguna Canyon Road: Protect & Connect
The City of Laguna Beach is happy to report on Phase 1 of public engagement for the Laguna Canyon Road: Protect & Connect project. The goal of Phase 1 was to inform the community about the project and to gather input from residents, local businesses, community members, and out-of-town visitors on preliminary roadway improvement concepts, including an off-street bike path or on-street bike lanes.
A summary of the in-person outreach, the online survey, and a Frequently Asked Questions document are available on the project website.
The Laguna Canyon Road: Protect & Connect project aims to improve safety for all users, enhance sustainability, and manage congestion along one of the only direct routes to Laguna Beach - the Laguna Canyon Road (LCR) corridor (SR-133). The project is focused on addressing safety concerns, plans to underground utilities, and considering multi-modal transportation options. This corridor provides residents, businesses, and visitors critical access to the city from Interstate 405 (I-405) and State Route 73 (SR 73) and serves as an evacuation route.
Questions related to the Laguna Canyon Road: Protect & Connect project can be directed to Assistant Director of Public Works, Tom Perez at tperez@lagunabeachcity.net.
Promenade on Forest Project Update
The City Council Ad Hoc Committee for the Promenade on Forest project, consisting of Mayor Sue Kempf and Councilmember Mark Orgill, has been interviewing residents interested in serving on the resident focus group for the project.
The City received great interest in this opportunity for residents to provide feedback on the Promenade's future design. The City has been conducting a utility assessment to better understand the project area and potential limitations to the project’s future design.
The Promenade on Forest is a pedestrian plaza in Downtown Laguna Beach that provides a mix of uses, including outdoor dining, shopping, and community gathering. The Promenade was created by the City Council in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn More About the Seagrave Restoration
The City of Laguna Beach is looking at the possible restoration of a 1931 Seagrave fire engine, with efforts being led by City Councilmember George Weiss. The 1931 Seagrave fire engine was the first fire apparatus purchased by the City of of Laguna Beach for $7,500.
Since its retirement in 1962, the Seagrave fire engine has served as a public-facing symbol of the Laguna Beach Fire Department, making appearances at hundreds of parades, pancake breakfasts, and community gatherings. Over time, the Seagrave fire engine has naturally deteriorated and has been placed behind Fire Station 2 awaiting restoration.
Say Hello to Charlie! ✨
Charlie is a sweet one-year-old short-haired orange tabby. He’s a neutered male who loves nothing more than some quality cuddle time. If you’re looking for a friendly, attention-loving companion, adopt Charlie today! 🧡
The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible. The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. For any questions, please call (949) 497-3552.
Have an Amazing and Safe 4th of July Holiday from the City of Laguna Beach! 🇺🇸
Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.