EVENTS

2025 HERITAGE MONTH Happenings

A city council meeting at Laguna Beach City Hall with five people seated at a long desk, nameplates, microphones, and two television screens mounted on the walls. The American flag is visible behind one person, and a clock is on the wall above.

The City of Laguna Beach alongside the Heritage Committee has designated the month of May as ‘Heritage Month’. These events are organized by the members of the Laguna Beach Heritage Committee. The Committee is an appointed body that advises council and design review authorities about matters pertaining to historic preservation in the city, including requests to place structures on the Historic Register and recommendations of properties for Mills Act contracts.

Explore below for additional information.

Indoor event with people socializing, displaying various items, and a large screen with a mountain landscape. Elegant ceiling with a large decorative light fixture, and a mix of casual and business casual attendees.
Black and white photo of a building with a tall tower, a balcony, and large windows, possibly a theater or historic site.

Opening Night Celebration at Rivian

Friday, May 2, 2025, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Please join us for the opening night kick-off celebration for Laguna Beach Heritage Month! The event will be held on Friday, May 2, in the beautiful revived Rivian South Coast Theater. The evening will begin at 6:30pm and will feature a celebration of the successful rehabilitation of this architectural gem, the historic ties of our city to the film industry, and of the enduring eclectic energy that has made our town, “The Beach That is Different.”

Catering is being provided by 237 Ocean Avenue.

Click here to RSVP
Black and white aerial photograph of a coastal town with houses, roads, and beach along the shoreline, and hills in the background.

“The Beach That Is Different” Trolley Tour

Saturday, May 10, 2025, 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM

The Laguna Beach Architectural Trolley Tour is a popular annual event sponsored by the city’s Heritage Committee. Each year Committee members select several historic buildings in our city that capture the spirit of Laguna. Guests are able to visit these sites from the comfort of one of the city’s trolleys, a truly unique way to enjoy a guided tour.

The theme of this year’s tour is “The Beach That Is Different” and focuses on buildings that reflect the creative spirit of our beautiful town and the sense of “only in Laguna.”

Inside a wooden trolley or bus with large windows, a group of people is seated, some holding printed materials, while a man stands at the front speaking. Outside through the windows, there are trees and a house with black shutters and a red door. The interior features wooden panels and ceiling with round lights, signs that say 'Caution Open Air,' and a metal pole for support.

Reservation Information

Blue trolley bus with large windows and the number 21 on the side.
A vintage trolley bus painted blue with wooden accents and large arched windows.

Join members of the city’s Heritage Committee for the annual Laguna Beach Architectural Trolley Tour. This year’s event is called “The Beach That Is Different” and celebrates the whimsical architecture that makes our city special. Enjoy a guided exploration of some of Laguna’s historic residential and commercial buildings from the comfort of one of our city’s world-famous trolleys. There are two identical tours, each lasting approximately 90 minutes, one starting at 9:00 AM, the second at 11:00 AM.

Tours will begin promptly at the starting point, the Lumberyard Restaurant at 384 Forest Avenue. We will take a short walk from the Lumberyard to the corner of Beach Street and Broadway where we will board a city trolley. The tour will end at the trolley stop on Beach Street by the Whole Foods market.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time to check-in. There is no cost for this event, but seating is limited.

Reservations

ALL SEATS HAVE BEEN RESERVED!
Please sign-up for the waitlist to be alerted of any cancellations.

Explore the tour route below!

  • A vintage photograph of a building with a unique, wavy roof, large windows, and surrounded by trees, labeled 'Laguna Beach Lumber Co., Jos. R. Jahrhaus, Mgr.'

    Laguna Beach Lumber Company

    384 Forest Avenue
    1923

    Photo / Laguna Beach Historical Society

  • Old Post Office

    298 Broadway Street
    1941

    Photo / Orange County Archives

  • White modern building with horizontal vertical lines and large windows, parked cars along street, a person walking, traffic lights, and trees under a partly cloudy blue sky.

    Associated Telephone Building

    295 Broadway Street
    1949

    Photo / Hunter Fuentes

  • A white car parked in a parking lot in front of a large, Tudor-style building with a weather vane on top of a turret.

    The Chateau

    1166 Glenneyre Street
    1937

    Photo / Gregg Abel

  • Olympic Cottage

    168 Mountain Road
    1932

    Photo / Historical Marker Database

  • Black and white photo of a small church with stucco walls, tiled roof, bell tower topped with a cross, and trees in the background.

    St. Francis by the Sea

    430 Park Avenue
    1933

    Photo / Douglas Miller

  • A vintage black-and-white photo of a large, multi-story wooden house with a porch and various windows, surrounded by trees and bushes.

    Wikiup

    451 Hawthorne Road
    1924

    Photo / The History of 451 Hawthorne Road

  • A white, multi-story house with rounded balconies on the upper floors, surrounded by trees and a garden, under a clear sky.

    Ullman Residence

    147 Crescent Bay Drive
    1936

    Photo / Hunter Fuentes

  • Black and white photo of a large, old house with multiple stories, steeply pitched roofs, and tall windows, surrounded by bushes and a mountain hill in the background.

    Crescent Bay Castle

    1280 North Coast Highway
    1926

    Photo / Jeanne Egasse

  • A photo of a house under construction, with a steep roof, large windows, and stone chimney, set on a rocky landscape, possibly at dusk or dawn.

    Witch's House

    290 Wave Street
    1926

    Photo / First American Title

  • Black and white photograph of a large residential building with multiple windows and distinctive architectural features, surrounded by trees and bushes.

    Pyne Castle

    770 Hillcrest Drive
    1928-1935

    Photo / Laguna Beach Historical Society

  • Black and white photo of a house with a sign indicating it is The Cottage Restaurant, with a large tree behind it and some bushes and plants in the yard.

    Skidmore Residence

    308 North Coast Highway
    1917

    Photo / Urth Caffé