Long Beach is packed with festive events leading up to Christmas, from cookie decorating and photos with Santa to holiday shopping sprees that support the community.
Local holiday traditions include a boat parade throughout Naples Island Saturday night and a family-friendly holiday bike ride starting at Pixie Toys Sunday morning. Guests can also enjoy a historic home tour of the Bembridge House, live holiday music, professional gift wrapping and traditional meals.
A festive race and holiday dining options will be available on Christmas Day, ensuring plenty of ways to celebrate community, creativity and the joy of the season.
Friday 12/19
A Green & Grumpy Holiday Night Market: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Families and community members are invited to 456 Elm Ave. for a holiday market featuring local vendors, festive treats, music, and holiday cheer. Free admission.
Live Band Karaoke Party: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Ballast Point Long Beach (110 N. Marina Drive) will host a holiday karaoke night accompanied by live music. Guests are encouraged to wear an ugly sweater for 10% off their bill. Free admission.
Saturday 12/20
Food & Toy Distro: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Own It Today nonprofit is hosting its monthly grocery distribution, also featuring toys and clothing at Christ Chapel of Long Beach (3935 E. 10th St.). All are welcome, and children must be present to receive a toy. No registration is necessary. Free.
Solstice Sound Bath: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Neighbor to Neighbor invites you to pause, reflect, rejuvenate and connect with your community at this semi-annual Solstice Soundbath at Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.). There will be a Willow walk from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by a sound bath and guided meditation from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., a solstice viewing at noon and a ukulele performance from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. from the Long Beach Ukulele Club. Free.
Cookies with Santa: 10 a.m. to noon. Families are invited to Ramona Park (3301 E. 65th St.) for a festive morning featuring cookie decorating, photos with Santa, balloon crafts and light refreshments, plus rides on a trackless train for young children. Free.
Food & Supplies Distro: Join Norfside LB Outreach for their monthly food and supply distribution in North Long Beach to support your unhoused neighbors. Volunteers can either help cook and put together distribution bags, or walk around the community handing out food and other needed items. RSVP @norfsidelb_outreach on Instagram. Free.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’: 11 a.m. On Saturday and Sunday, residents can enjoy a Christmas classic amongst their fellow cinema lovers with the 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life” on 16mm at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.). Tickets are $13 and can be purchased online or at the door.
Winter Fest: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents and families are invited to enjoy winter-themed games, arts and crafts, hot chocolate, cookie decorating, face painting and photos with Santa at Lincoln Park (101 Pacific Ave.). Free.
On The Corner: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This music lovers meet-up at Twelves (746 E. Seventh St.) is hosted by Long Beach physical media music nerds, encouraging people to enjoy albums in their entirety, followed by a Q&A session with Trish Toledo, Isaak Navarro of Good Luck Vinyl Club and Little Son prompting further discussion about the music. Fergs Coffee will be on sale, and those who bring a toy to donate will receive 20% off their drink purchase.
Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade: 6 p.m. Spectators can line the bridges and waterfront walkways around Naples Island to watch decorated boats and watercraft glide through the canals during this local tradition. Parking is available at Mother’s Beach and Basin 4, with the island closed to non‑resident traffic during the event. Free.
Sunday 12/21
Bird Walk: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Novice and seasoned bird watchers can join staff at the El Dorado Nature Center (7550 E. Spring St.) for a morning walk to hopefully spot rare birds. The program is free, but parking is $8. Visitors are asked to pre-register by calling (562-570-1745).
Pibble Christmas Photo Op: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families and dog owners are invited to Heartwell Park (near Ruth Bach Neighborhood Library, 4055 N. Bellflower Blvd.) for a pre-holiday photo opportunity with their pets, hosted by Los Angeles Responsible Pitbull Owners. All breeds are welcome. Participants can dress up their dogs or use costumes provided at the event (sizes may be limited). All dogs must remain on secure leashes and dog-to-dog contact/socialization is not allowed. Attendees should bring water for their dog and themselves, treats and plastic bags to pick up their waste. Only one dog is allowed per person, no exceptions. Free.
2ND & PCH Holiday Market: Noon to 6 p.m. 50+ vendors will be selling unique gifts for last minute shopping needs that support small businesses at 2ND & PCH (6480 E. Pacific Coast Highway). There will also be a hand-drawn photo booth, a mobile bookstore, a paint your own plant pot workshop and live music. This market is kid and pet friendly. Free.
Kidical Mass Bike Ride: 11 a.m. to noon. Riders of all ages are invited to meet at Pixie Toys (3914 Atlantic Ave.) in their ugly holiday sweaters for this annual holiday-themed, family-friendly group bike ride through the neighborhood. Helmets are required. Free.
Native Sol Anniversary: Noon to 5 p.m. Local business Native Sol (2018 E. Fourth St.) is celebrating 20 years in Long Beach with a party, art show, fashion show and in-store specials, followed by a community potluck from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free.
Christmas Walk: 5 p.m. The Long Beach Walking Club will host a Christmas pajama walk along Daisy Lane, Long Beach’s own Christmas Tree Lane. The walk will be about 2 miles long on a flat surface with plenty of stops along the way for photos. After the walk, attendees are welcome to head to the Long Beach Beer Lab (518 W. Willow St.) for a holiday social. RSVP at the link in the bio of @longbeachwalkingclub on Instagram. Free.
Monday 12/22
Dumpling Night: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Got Your Back and Fong’s Illegal Dumplings are teaming up for a pre-Christmas community dinner with dumpling and wine specials at Selva (4137 E. Anaheim St.).
Heritage Holidays: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Long Beach Heritage invites the public to tour the festively decorated Bembridge House (953 N. Park Cir.) during this holiday tradition featuring seasonal décor, music and cheer. Admission is $20. Children accompanied by an adult are free.
Live Holiday Music: 7:30 p.m. The Long Beach Camerata Singers present their annual performance of Handel’s beloved oratorio at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church (5195 Stearns St.). Tickets can be purchased for $80 on the Long Beach Camerata Singers’ website.
Tuesday 12/23
Rancho Storytime: 10 a.m. to 10:30 am. Parents and caregivers are invited to bring young children to listen to a story read out loud at Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Road) Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, strollers and snacks. Free.
Adult Book Club: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Brewitt Neighborhood Library will host a discussion of the book “Squeeze Me” by Carl Hiaasen, a mystery novel set in the gold coast of Florida. This event is only appropriate for adults. Copies of the book are available at the library. Free.
Food & Toy Distro: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Long Beach Community Table’s weekly food distributions also include toys for low-income families, as well as clothes, shoes, books and more at 3311 E. 59th St. Free.
Wednesday 12/24
Holiday Gift Wrapping: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) to get holiday gifts wrapped professionally. Wrapping paper, gift bags, boxes, ribbon and tags will be provided while supplies last. There is a limit of five gifts per person. Free.
Feast of the Seven Fishes: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Celebrate Christmas Eve with a four-course Italian seafood dinner led by Chef Giuseppe Musso at Nettuno (210 E. Ocean Blvd.). The traditional holiday menu is $95 per person. Reservations are required and can be made through the online platform OpenTable.
Thursday 12/25
Jingle All the Way Christmas Day Run: 7 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. Celebrate Christmas morning with a festive 5K, 10K, half marathon or kids dash along the coast. Runners will meet at 5400 E. Ocean Blvd. All runners will receive a holiday medal and race swag bag. Registration starts at $46.57 on the online platform Run Signup.
Christmas Shenanigans: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Don’t feel like cooking on Christmas? Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille (423 Shoreline Village Drive) will be serving breakfast starting at 10 a.m. or a special 9-ounce prime rib dinner starting at 6 p.m. Local bands will provide live music. Breakfast prices vary and dinner will be $32.
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