Things to do in Long Beach: Long Beach Film Festival, classic car night, comedy fundraiser and more!

With the stage lights flashing, Long Beach Film Festival board members pose center stage on August 6, 2026. The festival will be on Aug. 29 and 30, which features four feature films and four short-film vlogs. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)

Residents can spend the week volunteering in their community, supporting local artists or moving their body with intention. 

Wellness events this week include an overdose awareness fair at MacArthur Park and a low-cost cat vaccination fair in the westside, both Saturday. Finish your weekend strong biking or running with separate clubs Sunday morning, or the afternoon with yoga and sound healing at KUBO LB later. KUBO will also host an evening yoga session Wednesday evening. 

Local art takes the spotlight with three live music performances throughout Long Beach and Signal Hill Friday, a two-day film festival at The Art Theatre, a mini market featuring community artists Sunday, and a comedy night and fundraiser Thursday. 

Volunteer opportunities this week include food distribution to the community at Bixby Park on Saturday, as well as a native seed organizing and packing event at Harte Neighborhood Library or a food drop-off with ÓRALE Tuesday. 

Blue backlights illuminate the sign for the Signal Hill Public Library on the night of Nov. 30, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Friday 8/28 

Under the Stars: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy mocktails, snacks and live reggae music at the Signal Hill Public Library’s Zinnia Courtyard (1800 E. Hill St.). This event is $8 for residents and $10 for non-residents. For ages 18 and older. To purchase tickets, call 562-989-7330. 

Rhythm & Blues: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy a live performance of blues music from The Mystic Chiefs, along with fresh food and refreshing beer at ISM Brewing and Kitchen (210 E. Third St.). Free. 

Fourth Fridays: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Fourth Street corridor will come alive with live music, food and drink specials, vendors, artist pop-ups, flash tattoos, tarot readings, free popcorn and much more at this monthly activation. Free. 

Movie Night: 7 p.m. Care Culture Collaborative will host a movie night at Wood Coffee Co. (2728 E. 10th St.) featuring the 1995 film “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” which follows three New York City drag queens on a road trip. Masks are encouraged and will be provided. Food and drinks will be sold, but attendees can also bring their own snacks. Free. 

A modified 1941 Ford 3/4 Ton Delivery Panel truck was the oldest vehicle on display at the Rainbow Car Show in Long Beach on Sept. 19, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Saturday 8/29 

Long Beach Film Festival: Times vary. The inaugural Long Beach Film Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Long Beach Art Theatre (2025 E. Fourth St.), which showcases eight feature films. Tickets are $10 for a single showing and weekend passes vary by category. Tickets can be purchased online

Cat Vaccines: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Little Lion Foundation will provide low-cost vaccine services to friendly or owned cats at 1175 E. Wardlow Ave. Vaccines include rabies, tapeworm, roundworm and more, as well as microchip services, ranging from $10 to $55. Schedule an appointment at lbccatclinic.org

Book Launch: 10 a.m. to noon. The United Cambodian Community and Khmer Parents Association is hosting a book launch and storytelling sessions at 2201 E. Anaheim St. (Ste. 102). Call 562-433-2490 for more information. Free. 

Overdose Awareness Fair: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This community resource fair at MacArthur Park (1321 E. Anaheim St.) will connect attendees to overdose prevention and harm reduction resources, mental health and recovery support, free HIV and STI testing, naloxone and rescue breathing demonstrations, complimentary food and giveaways and a memorial wall to honor and remember loved ones lost to overdoses. Free. 

Back-to-School Supply Fair: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Wrigley Neighborhood Association and Westland Realty Group are hosting this back-to-school fair at the Westland Realty Group Parking Lot (520 W. Willow St.). This event features live music, a bounce house, school supplies, games, crafts and a skateboard pop-up. Free. 

Food Distro: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Care Culture Collaborative will be stationed every Saturday at Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.) passing out hot meals to neighbors and chatting about things going on in the neighborhood. Volunteers are needed and anyone is welcome to show up and help out. Sign up through the link in the bio of @careculturecollab_lb on Instagram. Free. 

End of Summer Classic Car & Bike Night: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Multiple car, motorcycle and Chicano cultural groups are hosting this end-of-summer party at 2430 Lewis Ave., featuring vendors, a live DJ, food, games, raffles and tattoos. Free.

Lance Santiago looks towards the camera while he makes his way up the Skyline Trail in Signal Hill that leads to Hilltop Park on March 21, 2022. He follows the Long Beach Running Club Monday route of 5 miles of winding hills around Hilltop Park. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Sunday 8/30 

Bikes and Coffee: 9 a.m. Bike Long Beach invites residents to this 12-mile bike ride along calm streets, beginning and ending at Gaucho Beach (780 E. Shoreline Drive). Attendees are invited to eat and hang out at Gaucho’s afterwards. Free. 

Run Club: 10 a.m. Pueblita Tortillas, Prime Run Club, Downtown Runners and Long Beach Run Club are teaming up for this run to support immigrant communities. The run will start at Ambitious Ales (4019 Atlantic Ave.), with a 5K run or 2-mile walk option. 100% of the proceeds will go to ÓRALE. RSVP at the link in @pueblitatortillas Instagram bio. Free.

QVC Mini Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Queer Vegan Club will host a stacked vendor lineup at Wood Coffee Co. (2728 E. 10th St.), selling pottery, crocheted items, zines, stickers, baked goods, books, plants and more. Free. 

Ebbing and Flowing Wellness Day: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. KUBO Organizing Project is hosting an afternoon of restful healing through art, movement, yoga and sound healing at 3976 Atlantic Ave. This event is free, but donations are encouraged and can be made online or in person. 

Seed pods are seen among the blooms of a jacaranda tree at Recreation Park in Long Beach on June 12, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Monday 8/31

Seed Packing: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Love Your Block grant recipients are hosting a native seed education activity on Sept. 8 and are seeking volunteers to help pack seeds into envelopes to give to residents. This volunteer event will take place at the Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.). Those interested can sign up online. Free. 

Album Release Party: 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Be among the first to hear Son Rompe Pera’s new album “Marimbazos De Oro” at this party at Alex’s Bar (2913 E. Anaheim St.). RSVP for free at the link in  @alexsbarlbc Instagram bio. Doors open at 8 p.m. This event is for those 21 and older only. 

Michael Remley, who has been volunteering with Food Finders for ten years, taps a produce box filled with donated veggies into place in the back of his truck on the morning of Sept. 23, 2022. The food he is procuring is bound for the Long Beach Senior Center and will mostly be used up the day it’s delivered. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Tuesday 9/1

Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.) farmers market takes place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, offering residents the chance to buy local produce, homemade goods and more. Free. 

Volunteer with ÓRALE: Times vary. ÓRALE is seeking volunteer drivers to help transport food to mutual aid sites in Long Beach and Wilmington. The two shifts needed are between 7-8:30 a.m. and 1011:30 a.m. Volunteers must be able to lift at least 20 pounds and have a medium or large vehicle for transporting boxes. Sign up at bit.ly/lbmutualaid.com. Free. 

A yoga mat is rolled up, from Pexels.com.

Wednesday 9/2

Listening Session: 6 p.m. The Equity and Human Relations Commission is hosting this listening session at its regular meeting at City Hall (411 W. Ocean Blvd.) for schools, youth-serving organizations, community-based programs and residents to share their experiences and highlight barriers existing for historically marginalized communities. Residents can also attend the meeting via Zoom. Free. 

Community Yoga: 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. KUBO LB and Liza Gesuden are hosting this restorative, trauma-informed yoga class at KUBO (3976 Atlantic Ave.). Visitors can bring their own yoga mat or borrow one. There is a suggested $10-25 donation, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Register online

With produce bags in their hands, residents browse the different isles at the Bixby Knolls Farmers Market on July 9, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)

Thursday 9/3

Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Bixby Knolls farmers market takes place every Thursday at 4580 Atlantic Ave., offering residents the chance to purchase local produce, homemade food, crafts and more. Free. 

Comedy Fundraiser: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy a lively night of comedy with sets from five comedians at Good Time (1322 Coronado Ave.), with all proceeds going to ÓRALE. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by scanning the Venmo link on the event flyer through @goodtime.lb on Instagram. 

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