LAGADELIC Music Festival, Laguna Beach, CA
Last Saturday we headed into Laguna Canyon for Lagadelic, a grassroots music festival tucked just across from the Pageant of the Masters. Though still relatively young, the festival already feels like a fixture in Laguna Beach's creative landscape, blending punk energy, psychedelic aesthetics, and the laid-back spirit of a Southern California beach town known for its deep roots in art and culture.
From the moment you arrive, Lagadelic embraces its quirky identity. A giant inflatable mushroom towers over the grounds while the festival's wizard mascot—featured prominently in the event artwork—roams the crowd, serving as both master of ceremonies and unofficial ambassador of the day's good vibes.
The festival is the brainchild of local favorites Spliffriff, a band we've followed since catching them play back-to-back Halloween shows in a packed apartment courtyard just a mile from the current festival grounds. Watching them grow from intimate neighborhood performances to headlining their own festival is a testament to the thriving local music scene that Lagadelic celebrates.
The grounds are filled with local vendors, cold drinks, and a crowd that perfectly reflects the festival's personality—young, beautiful, energetic, and ready to dance from the first note to the last. The atmosphere is welcoming and unpretentious, with plenty of skanking, smiling, and sun-soaked camaraderie throughout the day.
We arrived in time to catch the final three main-stage performances from Pearl, Spliffriff and Frankie and the Witch Fingers. Each act brought something entirely different to the stage, yet all three delivered the kind of high-energy performances that kept the audience engaged from start to finish.
Lagadelic keeps the music moving with minimal downtime between bands. Combined with two stages and a full day of entertainment, the ticket price feels more than reasonable.
Our advice? Eat before you arrive, grab a cold beer once you're inside, and spend the day supporting the local businesses that help make events like this possible.
Lagadelic may still be growing, but it already feels like something special—a community-driven festival that celebrates music, art, and the creative spirit that makes Laguna Beach unique. We'll definitely be back next year.
Check Out Our Highlight Reel Above.