La Habra Heights : 29th Annual Festival of Fine Arts to Open Friday

The 29th annual Festival of Fine Arts opens Friday at Hillcrest Congregational Church in La Habra Heights. More than 200 artists from California and other parts of the country are participating in the event, which runs through Sunday and usually draws crowds of more than 20,000 people, festival organizers say.

Sculptor John Jagger, whose steel, bronze and copper works decorate several corporate buildings throughout the country, is this year’s featured artist. Also present will be the Martinez family, descendants of Maria Poveka Martinez and Julian Martinez of the Ildefonso Tewa Pueblo in New Mexico, which is famous for its black-on-black pottery.

The array of artwork in the festival includes painting, sculpture, ceramics, basketry, etching, jewelry, photography and weaving. Friday and Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Starving Artist Cafe will be open for lunch on all three days.

Admission to the festival is free. The church is at 2000 West Road. Free parking is available at the church and free shuttle service to the church is also available from the shopping district at the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Santa Gertrudes Street.