The community will be welcome free of charge at the Long Beach Unity Festival (LBUF) at Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave., on Saturday, June 9 from 10am to 5pm. Pre-festival kick-off activities will include a 9am Unity March/Walk led by Westside residents, Long Beach Police Department Explorers, Cabrillo High School Junior ROTC, Junior Beach Runners, Let’s Move Long Beach, and LBUSD students, along with live music and dance.
With the support of LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser and Board President Dr. Felton Williams, LBUF will continue its tradition of hosting the Unity High School Star Search Competition, which will highlight 10 finalists from Long Beach high schools. Special guest judge for the competition is Barry Fasman, multi-platinum music producer and CEO of Shelter from the Storm Records, and other music-industry professional artists and entertainers. (Final auditions will take place at Admiral Kidd Park from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday, May 26.)
The Unity Festival stage will feature a full line-up of local artists, bands, dance troupes, choirs, and community performers throughout the day including: R&B vocalist Cheron, NeverWonder, Spanish Rock, COR-Ale Church Choir, Thy Squid, Boys & Girls Club Band, and the LBUF Dance Spectacular, which highlights local dance ministries, professional dance companies and special guest artists.
There will also be special performances from the LB WRAP after-school enrichment program, the Long Beach Community Action Partnership’s MMAC (Men Making A Change), and the San Do Kai Martial Arts Troupe, which together represent hundreds of local students and families across 68 LBUSD schools.
This year’s Festival will also include: a pet zone hosted by Long Beach Animal Control, who will provide low-cost animal vaccinations; a kids zone hosted by Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine in partnership with the Long Beach Boys & Girls Club, who will provide fitness games, sporting competitions, and bouncers; and a wellness zone hosted by Charter College Downtown Long Beach and the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department, who will provide nutrition/health stations and food sampling, career counseling, free massages, and medical screening to promote Healthy Active Lifestyles. The newly formed Westside Green Goods Farmers Market will also be on-site at the Fest, along with food trucks and local vendors with a variety of cultural dishes.
More Information
lbunityfestival.com
