In August, additional celebrations will take place in the city’s parks and libraries, as well as numerous back-to-school events to help families prepare for the school year.
The Signal Hill Public Library is hosting a dinosaur-themed birthday party on Saturday, the Homeland Cultural Center is celebrating its talented students on Friday night, and the Museum of Latin American Art is hosting a cultural summer festival on Sunday.
Movies continue to take over the parks with screenings like “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Mamma Mia,” “Blue Beetle” and “Guardians of the Galaxy III” throughout the city. Residents can also enjoy a wide variety of live music in a park (and parking lot) on Monday and Wednesday nights. Families can get free school supplies and enjoy community celebrations on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.
Friday 8/9
Back to school party: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Children and their families are invited to the 13th annual Back to School Festival in the parking lot of Long Beach City College Veterans Stadium (5000 E Lew Davis St.). Families can enjoy free backpacks filled with school supplies, live musical performances, raffle prizes, eye and dental exams, free haircuts and more. Free.
Dance Festival: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Homeland Cultural Center showcases the talent of its students with performances of break dancing, drumming, poetry, Khmer martial arts, Aztec dance and more at the Chavez Park Amphitheater (401 Golden Ave.). Admission is free.
Movie in the Park: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The public is invited to an outdoor screening of the 2024 film “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.). Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic food. They are also asked to wear funny or unusual socks. The film begins at dusk. Admission is free.
Saturday, 8.10.
Clean-up work in the Hamilton district: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help pick up trash in the Hamilton neighborhood. Volunteers will meet at 1060 E 70th St. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes, comfortable clothing, and sun protection. Free.
Food gift: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. On the second and fourth Saturday of every month, residents can pick up free groceries at Grace Memorial Baptist Church (1021 E 19th St.). No registration is required. Free.
Morning in the park: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Residents are invited to this free, activity-packed morning at Ernest McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.) featuring a live DJ, arts and crafts, toy raffles, games and refreshments. Free.
Maritime film series: 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The public is invited to watch two different surf documentaries at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W Broadway). Viewers can watch the 1966 film “Endless Summer” and the 2003 film “Step Into Liquid.” Each documentary will be preceded by a short introduction and followed by a discussion. Admission is free.
Business Block Party: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shops along Fourth Street and Termino Avenue will be offering food, drinks, pop-ups, giveaways, music, specials and more inside and outside their stores. Admission is free.
Signal Hill Library 5th Birthday Celebration: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.) is celebrating its fifth birthday with a dinosaur-themed party. Families can enjoy a Khmer story time, magic show, escape bus experience, virtual reality experience, face painting, 3D printing, cupcakes and goodie bags, all dinosaur-themed. Register in advance at (562) 989-7323. Free.
Promotional gift for the start of school: From noon to 2 p.m., local nonprofit Adventures to Dreams (903 DeForest Ave.) will give away backpacks, school supplies, school uniform shirts, nutritious snacks and more to students preparing for the start of the new school year. Registration is required. To register, visit https://forms.gle/i4AJGfTko86s7oCy7. Free.
Lecture series on local history: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to hear a lecture on the history of surfing and paddle boarding in Long Beach at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W Broadway). The lecture will be given by Michael Blum, director of the historic preservation nonprofit Sea of Clouds. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free.
Exhibition opening: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The public is invited to the opening celebration of the newest exhibition, “A Deep Well,” at the Dark Art Emporium (427 E First St.). Admission is free.
Sunday, 8.11.
Morning for Autism Families: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) welcomes adults and children with autism and their families for a special morning at the aquarium. Visitors may view all exhibits except the Lorikeet Forest. Advance registration is required. To register, visit the aquarium’s website. Tickets are $12 per person and the event is free for aquarium members and children under 3.
Summer & Taste: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy food, drinks and music in the Sculpture Garden at the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.). A DJ will play music for the crowd, food will be available for purchase and there will be a cash bar. Admission is free.
Open studios: From noon to 4 p.m., Munzón Gallery (1730 E Anaheim St. Unit A) will open its studios to the public. Visitors can view a pop-up exhibition and a variety of unfinished murals. Admission is free.
Open studios: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to view the work of local artists in their studios at the Icehouse Arts Complex (625 W Anaheim St.). Admission is free.
Monday, 12.8.
Family Bingo: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Families are invited to play bingo together at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is free.
Meeting on the Community budget: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to participate in the creation of the city’s next annual budget at Cabrillo High School (2198 Monitor Ave.). Participants are encouraged to provide feedback on how the city should use its funds. Admission is free.
Concert in the park (parking lot): 6:30 p.m. The public can enjoy live soul, funk, R&B and classic rock from abSOULute in the parking lot of Bixby Knolls Shopping Center (4470 California Ave.). Visitors are asked to bring a lawn chair, food and drinks. Admission is free.
Movie in the Park: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The public is invited to an outdoor screening of the 2023 film “Guardians of the Galaxy III” at Drake Park (951 Maine Ave.). Visitors are asked to bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic food. They are also asked to wear funny or unusual socks. The film begins at dusk. Admission is free.
Tuesday, 13.8.
LegoClub: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. School children ages 6-12 are invited to build with Legos at the Alamitos Neighborhood Library (1836 E Third St.). Legos will be provided. Free of charge.
Moonlight movies on the beach: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Catch a screening of “Mamma Mia” at Granada Beach (5000 E. Ocean Blvd). The event features pre-show entertainment from local bands. This screening is part of the summer-long Moonlight Movies at the Beach series. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit on. Food trucks will be on site. The screenings are family-friendly and pet-friendly. Free.
Wednesday, 14.8.
Senior Bingo: 10 a.m. Seniors are invited to play bingo together at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Free.
Concert in the Park: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Local band Pop Vinyl will perform at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.). There will be food trucks, raffles, arts and crafts and more. Signal Hill residents can get a free ride to the concert by calling in advance at 562-989-7330. Free.
Movie in the Park: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The public is invited to an outdoor screening of the 2023 film “Guardians of the Galaxy III” at Heartwell Park (5801 Parkcrest Ave.). Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic food. They are also asked to wear funny or unusual socks. The film begins at dusk. Admission is free.
Thursday, 15.8.
Blood donation campaign: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to save lives by donating blood at the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.). To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the sponsor code MOLAA.
Movie in the Park: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The public is invited to an outdoor screening of the film “Blue Beetle” at Seaside Park (1401 Chestnut Ave.). Visitors are asked to bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic food. They are also asked to wear funny or unusual socks. The film begins at dusk. Admission is free.
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