Pageant of the Masters
| Pageant of the Masters | |
|---|---|
Entrance to the Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts Fine Art Show | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Festival |
| Begins | July 6 |
| Ends | August 30 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Laguna Beach, California, United States |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1933 |
| Most recent | 2024 |
The Pageant of the Masters is an annual festival held by the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California, United States.
The event is known for its tableaux vivants or "living pictures" in which classical and contemporary works of art are recreated by real people who are made to look nearly identical to the originals through the clever application of costumes, makeup, headdresses, lighting, props, and backdrops.
The first Festival of Arts was produced in 1932, and the first presentation of the Pageant was done in 1933. Since then, the two events have been held each summer, apart from a four-year interruption caused by World War II, and another one-year interruption in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 91st season of the Pageant of the Masters opened on July 6, 2024 and will run until August 30, 2024. The pageant hosts more than a quarter million people each year.