ESCONDIDO -- Flames may have delayed her debut, but the majestic sculpture of Queen Califia and her whimsical garden will finally be presented to the community on Saturday.

The grand opening for Queen Califia's Magical Circle, the final project of world-renowned French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle, was scheduled for Oct. 26 at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, but was canceled after the outbreak of the Cedar and Paradise wildfires.

Though the art garden has been open to the public since the end of October, hundreds of people are expected to turn out for Saturday's event, which includes a Family Arts Festival.

Escondido Mayor Lori Pfeiler and de Saint Phalle's granddaughter will preside over the dedication ceremony which begins at 1 p.m.

The Family Arts Festival will be held from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the sculpture garden. Posters and T-shirts will be available for purchase. Admission is free.

Susan Pollack, the city's public art consultant, said the festival will include many activities for children. Crafts such as yarn painting, creating a miniature sculpture of Queen Califia and crafting collage totem poles will all be related to the garden.

"The garden exposes them (children) to some of the finest artwork available," Pollack said. "We hope it expands their imagination and lets them think, 'I can do this; I can become a great artist like she was.' "

The Escondido Library bookmobile will be on site, and storytellers will act out books, including de Saint Phalle's book, "The Meany Meany."

Queen Califia's Magical Circle has been a project nearly five years in the making, involving de Saint Phalle, her team of sculptors and the city of Escondido.

The garden -- located in the Iris Sankey Arboretum at Kit Carson Park -- includes nine brilliantly-colored mosaic sculptures and a mirrored maze encircled by a 400-foot-long wall of tiled snakes. In the center of the garden stands a 13-foot-tall eagle, a golden egg fountain resting beneath the five-legged bird. In the garden's center stands the regal Queen Califia, a mythical Amazon warrior and probable inspiration for the name California.

De Saint Phalle designed the sculptures before she died in June 2002 in San Diego at the age of 71.The sculpture garden is her largest single piece of artwork in the United States, comparable only to her other sculpture collection, the Tarot Garden, located in the Tuscany region of Italy.

Closer to home, her colorful artwork and fantastic mosaic creatures can be seen at Balboa Park in San Diego, Poinsettia Community Park in Carlsbad, the Solana Beach Train Station, UC San Diego and at the California Center of the Arts, Escondido.

An exhibition of de Saint Phalle's works is the premiere show at the North County Satellite of the Mingei International Museum, which opens Friday afternoon in downtown Escondido.

The city and local residents have eagerly awaited the Queen's debut, Pollack said. Even though the grand opening was canceled, almost 300 people showed up on that smoky Sunday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the garden.

"People have been there every day," Pollack said. "It's so exciting and heartwarming to see families playing and using it in the way Niki wanted it used."

Queen Califia's Magical Circle and Family Arts Festival

1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Kit Carson Park, Escondido.

Kit Carson Park is located at Bear Valley Parkway and Mary Lane.

For photos of the project, visit www.queencalifia.org

The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. until sunset.