Beach Streets is cycling back to Uptown for this year’s iteration of the zero-emissions event, and with an added feature: the City of Long Beach Veterans Day Celebration.
On Saturday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the two typically separate events will be combined to heighten the community celebration and showcase roadway improvements as a result of the Artesia Great Boulevard Project.
“Beach Streets is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, enjoy our beautiful city and celebrate sustainable living,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “This year, we are especially honored to return to Uptown, where Beach Streets began, and also recognize and celebrate oeeeur veterans. I invite the community to join us as we transform our streets into a vibrant space for both connection and reflection.”
The annual Beach Streets event invites residents to put the car keys away while exploring nearby neighborhoods, supporting local businesses and learning more about sustainable transportation. Beach Streets has typically been held in May and first occurred in 2015, with previous locations including Downtown, Bixby Knolls, Cambodia Town and the Wrigley neighborhood.
During Beach Streets Uptown, participants can bike and walk within a safe environment as they explore car-free commuting, while also celebrating Long Beach’s community of veterans and active service members.
The route for Beach Streets Uptown will run in the following areas:
- Atlantic Avenue from South Street to Artesia Boulevard
- Artesia Boulevard from Atlantic Avenue to Cherry Avenue
There will be entertainment hubs along the route at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.), by the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.), and at the corner of Artesia Boulevard and Cherry Avenue, which will serve as the main hub of Beach Streets Uptown.
The event’s welcome ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m., taking place at the main stage of the Artesia Boulevard Hub, with a focus on the improvements made to Artesia Boulevard. There will be live music and resource booths at both the Artesia Boulevard and library hubs.
Construction on the Artesia Great Boulevard Project started in February 2023 and is on track to finish before the end of the year.
The improvements are intended to strengthen roadway infrastructure along three miles of Artesia Boulevard stretching east from Harbor Boulevard to Downey Avenue. A new bike corridor with Class IV bike lanes is anticipated to be completed in the coming weeks as part of the project.
The Veterans Day Celebration will be held at Beach Streets’ Veterans Hub at Houghton Park. The festivities will include a veterans resource fair, aircraft flyovers and a boot camp-esque obstacle course. There will also be live music from Knyght Ryder and The Satin Dollz, food trucks, a beer garden and a skate zone with skate park demos and skateboarding lessons by Skate Dogs.
For the kids at the park, there will be entertainment courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, DJ Mike and the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Aquarium on Wheels, plus additional family-friendly activities.
Another highlight of the Veterans Day Celebration will be the Veterans Recognition Ceremony at 2 p.m. At the ceremony, individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond in serving and uplifting local veterans will be awarded for their efforts.
The 2024 Veterans Recognition honorees include the following:
- JB Jaso – “2024 Veterans Day Celebration Grand Marshal”
- Paralyzed Veterans of America California Chapter – “Outstanding Community Organization”
- Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, California Chapter 33-12 – “Outstanding Community Organization”
- John Oppenheim – “Outstanding Volunteer”
The Veterans Day Celebration is put on by the City of Long Beach with support from the Office of Veterans Support, Long Beach Veterans Commission, Long Beach Veterans Day Committee and numerous community organizations.
To learn more about Beach Streets, visit beachstreets.com, or their social media accounts on Facebook, X and Instagram @BeachStreetsLB.
