Children can let their imaginations run rampant
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Whether your child wants to be a pirate, a princess or a pterodactyl, there’s a place for them at this year’s Imagination Celebration.
Now in its 26th year, the Imagination Celebration is dedicated to bringing the visual and performing arts to Orange County’s children, through a seemingly endless variety of free or affordable exhibitions and performances.
Would-be swashbucklers are invited to the Laguna Playhouse’s 90th anniversary family event, a Pirate Adventure, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The day includes storytelling, stage combat demonstrations, face painting, pirate hat making, a treasure hunt, lunch and a matinee performance of the playhouse Youth Theatre’s “Treasure Island.”
Tickets are $25 per person for the event or $18 to $20 for seats at the play’s other performances, which will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, or 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday.
This year’s Imagination Celebration offerings also include opportunities to paint with professional artists, enjoy an adaptation of a Jane Austen classic and goggle at synchronized swimmers.
The celebration is perhaps best known for the thousands of children’s artworks put on view for the month at places like local libraries, South Coast Plaza and Main Place Mall in Santa Ana.
Organizers say the annual event has sparked the creativity of an entire generation of local children at a time when arts funding is at the mercy of severe budget cuts, both in and out of schools.
The 2011 theme is “Let Your Imagination Soar.” Participating venues include libraries, arts organizations, cities and educational institutions.
Read on for this year’s events.
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Thursday
Night of the Arts
Northwood High School Visual and Performing Arts
4515 Portola Parkway, Irvine
When: 5 to 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 887-7793
Friday:
Synch to the Beat!
Meraquas of Irvine synchronized swimmers
4601 Walnut Ave, Irvine
When: 6 to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 459-8142
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Saturday
Art and Movement: Dance lessons and communal art
Orange County Great Park
Sand Canyon Ave. and Marine Way, Irvine
When: 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Appropriate for ages 6 and older
Information: (949) 724-6579
Art Takes Flight: Art projects, games and refreshments
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 494-8971, ext. 207
Princess and Superhero Funday
Festival Ballet Theatre
710 Roosevelt, Irvine
When: 1 to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (714) 962-5440
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Through Sunday
“Treasure Island”
Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre
605 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Party and performance 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; performances 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $18 child, $20 adult
Appropriate for those who watch G or PG movies
Information: (949) 497-2787
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May 7
Imagination Celebration Poster Competition Exhibit, reception
Showcase Gallery
Orange County Fine Arts
3851 S. Bear St., Suite 315, Costa Mesa
When: 5 to 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (714) 540-6430
May Faire
Waldorf School of Orange County
2350 Canyon Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Adults $3; children under 2 free
Information: (949) 574-7775
Young Masters Art Show
Irvine City Hall Plaza
1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine
When: 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 854-1845
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May 8
Target Free Second Sundays
Orange County Museum of Art
850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 759-1122
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May 9
Let Your Imagination Soar Thru the City
Pretend City Children’s Museum
29 Hubble, Irvine
When: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with a piece of hand-made artwork
Information: (949) 428-3900 ext. 224
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May 11 to May 25
1,000 Pieces of Art
South Coast Plaza, Crate and Barrel Wing
3333 Bear Street, Costa Mesa
Student Reception: 10 a.m. to noon May 14
Cost: Free
Information: (714) 663-6363
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May 14
Create and Paint with the Pros
Orange County Fine Arts
3851 S. Bear St., Suite B-15, Costa Mesa
When: 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 951-5971
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May 14 and May 21
The Plein Air Painting Scavenger Hunt
The Crystal Cove Alliance
45 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast
When: 10 a.m. to noon
Cost: free
Information: (949) 376-6200
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May 15
Stories Behind the Music
The Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 6 p.m.
Cost: $9 per person
Information: (714) 876-2343
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Through May 21
K-12 Three Dimensional Student Art Exhibit
Irvine Fine Arts Center
14321 Yale Ave., Irvine
Cost: Free
Information: (949) 724-6889
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May 23
Eastern European Journey
The Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 8 p.m.
Cost: $9 per person
Information: (714) 876-2343
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May 28 and May 29
“Mansfield Park”
South Coast Repertory Teen Players
Nicholas Studio
655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 4 p.m. May 28 and 1:30 and 5 p.m. May 29
Cost: $9 per person
Appropriate for ages 10 and older
Information: (714) 708-5565
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Through May 29
Exhibits of Children’s Art
All Orange County PubliSc Library branches
Cost: Free
If You Go
What: Imagination Celebration 2011When: Through May 29
Where: Countywide
Cost: Free and up
Information: sparkoc.com