Local residents have a wide array of events to be thankful for in the coming week. Kick off Thanksgiving early on Wednesday with a Friendsgiving dinner featuring fresh, locally grown ingredients at Olive & Rose. The following day, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille will host special holiday meals appropriate for all ages.
Long Beach residents can get a head start on holiday shopping at two festive markets this weekend. On Friday, local vendors will be selling their wares at a night market in Alder & Sage. The next day, the Shop Small-iday Festival at Sports Basement will showcase fair-trade artisans, a holiday fashion show, karaoke and dozens of vendors offering a wide variety of products.
Film enthusiasts can choose between a pair of screenings on Saturday. The Celluloid Crypt Movie Club at Wicked Wolf offers a double feature of two horror films of the same name along with live commentary, trivia and prizes. Meanwhile, cinephiles can see Macaulay Culkin in person during a screening of “Home Alone” at the Long Beach Terrace Theater, or hear from Oscar-winning director Sean Baker (“Anora,” “The Florida Project”) after a screening of “Left-Handed Girl” at The Art Theatre of Long Beach.
Friday 11/21
Needful Things Night Market: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local vendors will be selling their wares at Alder & Sage (366 Cherry Ave.), including ceramics, books, handmade items, fresh flowers, holiday wreaths, wine and more. Free.
All Björk No Bite: 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Celebrate Björk’s 60th birthday with a special drag tribute night at Wood Coffee Co. (2728 E. 10th St.). A costume contest will be held, and attendees are encouraged to come in their best Bjork-inspired costumes for a chance to win. A community food drive supporting Long Beach Community Table will also be held simultaneously, and attendees are encouraged to bring canned food, produce and hygiene items to donate. Doors open at 7 p.m. Attendees are required to wear masks during this event. Tickets can be purchased for $14.64 on Eventbrite or $12 in person.
Saturday 11/22
Bixby Knolls Tree Planting: 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are invited to help plant new trees in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood (4499 California Ave.). No experience is needed. All supplies will be provided. Participants are encouraged to arrive early. Those interested in volunteering can register through the City’s online event calendar.
Ocean Boulevard Architectural Walking Tour: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the history and architecture of Ocean Boulevard with Long Beach Heritage during this walking tour starting at Terrace Theater Plaza (300 E. Ocean Blvd.). This guided walking tour will educate participants on the history of the former Pike amusement park, the Long Beach Arena, the Ocean Center Building, the Sovereign apartments and more. Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $17.85.
Shop Small-iday Festival: Noon to 3 p.m. Fair Trade Long Beach will host this market at Sports Basement (2100 N. Bellflower Blvd.). The event will feature fair-trade artisans, an ethical fashion show, holiday karaoke with DJ HB Jukebox and more. Thirty vendors will be selling handcrafted goods, clothing, coffee, chocolate and more. Free admission.
Q&A with Sean Baker: 1:55 p.m. Independent film enthusiast and Oscar-winning director Sean Baker will speak to audiences during a Q&A following a screening of “Left-Handed Girl” at The Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.). Tickets are $13 and can be purchased online.
Paste & Press: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone over the age of 10 can learn to create layered, mixed-media art during this hands-on workshop at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Participants will practice gel printing and collage techniques. No prior experience is required. All materials will be provided. Free.
The Celluloid Crypt Movie Club: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Movie fans are invited to a double feature screening at Wicked Wolf (2332 Pacific Ave.), hosted by the Long Beach Geeks. The group adds a light-hearted twist with commentary, trivia and prizes. This month’s screening features two films titled “House,” both the 1977 Japanese cult horror classic and the 1985 U.S. haunted-house comedy. Guests are encouraged to arrive around 5:30 p.m. so they have time to order before the 6 p.m. start time. There’s no cover charge, but attendees are asked to support the venue by purchasing a drink or snack.
A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin: 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to a screening of the classic holiday film “Home Alone,” followed by an interview featuring leading actor Macaulay Culkin at the Long Beach Terrace Theater (300 E Ocean Blvd.). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $68.35 on Ticketmaster.
Sunday 11/23
LB Home & Holiday Show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited to this festive marketplace for homeowners and holiday lovers at the Long Beach Convention Center, Hall A (300 E. Ocean Blvd.). This will be the second day of the event. Attendees can peruse local vendors, home improvement solutions, seasonal décor, unique gifts and more. Free admission.
Live Comedy: 7 p.m. Comedian Tom Segura’s stand-up tour is coming to the Terrace Theater (300 E. Ocean Blvd.). Ticket prices start at $65.20 on Ticketmaster.
Monday 11/24
Beach Fitness Walk: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Join the Long Beach chapter of the Sierra Club for a brisk 4-mile walk along the shore. Attendees will meet in the Belmont Pier parking lot, on the side closest to Termino Avenue. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver before the walk begins. Free.
Printmaking Mondays: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This beginner-friendly space invites people to create what their heart desires, with all supplies provided by PLACE LB (2172 Pacific Ave.). This is a pay-what-you-can event, and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds, but there is a suggested donation of $1-5.
Tuesday 11/25
Wine Tasting on the Bay: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Boathouse on the Bay will be hosting its final wine tasting of the season (190 N. Marina Drive). Guests 21 and older can enjoy a specially selected lineup of wines paired with appetizers while looking over the waterfront at Alamitos Bay. Tickets start at $57 per person on the online platform Tock.
Autumn Joy: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Adults are invited to unwind before the holiday rush at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). This gathering will offer attendees time to reflect on the season while creating a personalized gratitude jar. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is for those over the age of 18. Free.
Beginner-Friendly Driving Range Night: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Beginner golfers are invited to a relaxing practice session at Skylinks at Long Beach (4800 E. Wardlow Road) hosted by local realtor David Sanchez. Contact 562-537-9206 for more information. Free to attend.
Wednesday 11/26
Teen Animanga Club: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teens and tweens are invited to bond over their love of manga and anime during this monthly event at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.). This month, participants will review their favorite manga series and create a craft using discarded manga pages. Free.
Friendsgiving Market Dinner: 5 p.m. Celebrate an early Friendsgiving at Olive & Rose (255 Atlantic Ave) with a festive market dinner featuring seasonal ingredients from local farmers. Industry workers will receive 10% off their purchase. Prices vary. Reservations are available through the online platform OpenTable.
Ha Ha’s at The Hare: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy a night of comedy at The Hare (1800 E. Broadway), featuring a lineup of comedians seen on Netflix, BET and Amazon Prime. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Foodbank of Southern California. There is a suggested donation of $10 at the door.
Thursday 11/27
Thanksgiving Lunch: 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Celebrate Thanksgiving at the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) with a festive buffet-style holiday meal and the chance to see over 12,000 animals, including sea otters and puffins. Reservations are available in one-hour blocks beginning at your selected time. The meal includes butter and herb-basted turkey with pan au jus gravy, cranberry orange relish, red smashed potatoes with chives, house-made stuffing with onions, celery, fresh thyme, sage and dried cranberries, candied yams topped with marshmallows and candied pecans, garlic lemon roasted Brussels sprouts, spinach and artichoke dip casserole, and dessert bars and fresh baked cookies. Admission to the Aquarium is included with each reservation. Tickets can be purchased for $95 per adult (ages 12+) and $72.50 per child (ages 3–11) on the aquarium’s website.
Thanksgiving Dinner & Live Music: Noon to 9 p.m. Celebrate Thanksgiving at Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille (423 Shoreline Village Drive, Ste. A) with a festive holiday meal and live music. Local band Babylon Rockers will play from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dinner specials will include traditional turkey, applewood hickory ham, or a combination of both for $26. Each meal includes cornbread stuffing, sweet potato hash, mashed potatoes, gravy, a cranberry dinner roll and cranberry sauce. Dessert is available for $7.50, including pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
