A Winter Wonderland : Snow and Fun Are in the Laguna Beach Festival Forecast

Jennifer Apea had never seen snow before. But the 7-year-old from Walnut knew just what to do when she founder herself in it Saturday at the Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy.

She slipped on her mittens, rolled up her sleeves and nailed her best friend, Allie Johnson, in the face with a world-class snowball.

Jennifer and Allie were among 3,000 people at the festival’s fifth annual recreation of a Yuletide mountain village scene, complete with Victorian carolers, wreath-makers, artists of every stripe and, of course, five tons of freshly pressed snow.

More than 150 artists exhibited their wares, from ceramic pots to oil paintings, in small rustic booths scattered throughout the three-acre eucalyptus grove.

“I grew up in California, so I don’t really miss having snow. But I think it’s fun for kids to see,” said Jennifer’s mother, Diane. “This is a great family day because it’s fun to be outdoors and see all the arts and crafts.”

At the other end of the fair, Matt Collins sat in his booth beating softly on a hand-carved African drum called a kalimba as a small crowd gathered around. The Laguna Beach man taught passersby how to play some of the percussion instruments he crafts.

“I was percussionist in a band a few years ago when I came to this festival and saw a man playing these instruments,” he said. “Now I make them.”

Five years ago, Jeannie Adams began painting rocks for a living. A black bison from a cave drawing in Spain, a green lizard and panda bear were among the many paintings covering oddly shaped rocks on her table.

“I realized I hated my clerical job,” said Adams, who lives in San Diego. “So now I paint rocks and I make a living--not a killing, but a living.”

For Jennifer Apea and her friend, the best part of the day was the snowball fighting.

“It’s funny. We bought her gloves so she wouldn’t get cold today and I bet she’ll never have occasion to use them again,” said her mother, pointing to the fuzzy blue mittens.

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The festival, at 935 Laguna Canyon Road, runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Dec. 1- 3. Admission is $3; children younger than 13 get in free.