The first weekend in November offers chances to learn new skills, festivals to attend and more free and fun things to do in Long Beach and Signal Hill.
Long Beach will close out the Dia de los Muertos celebrations with a festival and parade Saturday morning, while families can attend an English and Spanish playtime Friday afternoon and residents can enjoy ancient Mexican music Saturday afternoon.
Residents can explore their artistic side by attending a museum tour at the Long Beach Museum of Art Friday afternoon, a charcoal art workshop a couple hours later, a bamboo-based workshop Sunday morning, a poetry workshop Wednesday night or multiple film screenings and discussions Thursday evening.
The week also presents opportunities to appreciate nature, with a walk through Los Cerritos Wetlands Saturday morning, a plant festival Saturday evening, or a native plant sale Tuesday morning.
Friday 11/3
Cuentos y Cantos Bilingual Storytime: Noon to 1 p.m. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring young children to read, talk, sing and play in English and Spanish at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). This event is appropriate for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Free.
Art Chat: Noon to 2 p.m. A weekly discussion of the exhibits at the Long Beach Museum of Art (356 E 3rd St.). Docents will inform attendees about each exhibit currently on display at the museum and facilitate a discussion about them. Participation is included when visitors pay the $12 admission to enter the museum.
Adult Art-Making Workshop: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Instructor Curtis Green will lead students in this oceanfront charcoal art workshop at the Long Beach Museum of Art (2300 East Ocean Blvd.). This workshop is beginner-friendly. Participants will be recreating a still-life subject. General admission tickets cost $50 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Bixby Knolls First Fridays: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Businesses and residents along the Atlantic corridor in Bixby Knolls are invited to this monthly celebration of community. The corridor will come alive with music, art, entertainment, face-painting and more. Free.
Fever Fridays: 10 p.m. Those 18 and older are invited to dance the night away at Hamburger Mary’s (330 Pine Ave.) to music from DJ Paulo Ramirez. The event will feature gogo girls and boys. Free.
Saturday 11/4
Los Cerritos Wetlands Nature Walk: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Residents can explore the Los Cerritos Wetlands and view creatures and parts of the wetlands that are rarely seen with this nature walk led by environmental educators. Attendees should meet in the driveway at the corner of First Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The gate will open at 7:45 and close at 8:10 a.m. with no late entries and no early exits. Reserve a spot through Eventbrite. Free.
Community Health Fair: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local nonprofit Sustainable Health Empowerment will host this health fair with over 100 volunteers at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.) The fair will consist of workshops addressing a variety of topics: women’s health (including breast self-exam), men’s health, children’s health, podiatry, heart health, mental health and more, as well as connect residents to resources. Lunch will be provided. Free.
Dia de los Muertos Grand Parade & Festival: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public is invited to this parade in Downtown Long Beach that celebrates those who have died. The parade will begin at the intersection of Pine Avenue and E. Third Street and conclude at Rainbow Lagoon (400 E Shoreline Dr.). There will be arts & crafts, music, entertainment, food and drinks. Free to attend.
Reading Meetup: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Silent Book Club Long Beach chapter will be holding a gathering of readers at SteelCraft Long Beach (3768 Long Beach Blvd.). Attendees are invited to bring whatever book they’re currently reading. Free.
Long Beach Plant Fest: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A wide variety of popular and rare plants will be for sale at the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.). Attendees will also be able to take educational plant workshops. Food will be available for purchase. This event is organized by Plantiitas and Hella Plants. General admission tickets can be purchased for $10 on Eventbrite.
Music of Ancient Mexico: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Residents are invited to learn about the culture and music of Mexico by singing in the indigenous language of Mexico and playing ancient percussion instruments with musician Martin Espino at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Free.
Sunday 11/5
Plein Air Art Workshop: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Artist Maria Guadalupe will be teaching participants to create art using bamboo and micron pens. The workshop will take place in the garden of the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.). Supplies will be provided. Admission costs $5.
Baddies Box: 11 a.m. to Noon. Long Beach nonprofit Devotion Fitness hosts this weekly beginner-friendly boxing and fitness classes at Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.) Attendees are asked to arrive 15 minutes early if they need help wrapping their hands. Hand wraps can be purchased for $15. Classes are offered at a low cost based on a sliding scale; residents must download the Devotion Fitness app to reserve a spot.
Honoring Our Grief & Our Ancestors: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. During this event hosted by local curanderismo practitioner Claudia Rueda, women of color and nonbinary people are invited to connect to each other, their grief and their ancestors at La Fuente (4647 Long Beach Blvd., Suite B3). Those who attend are asked to bring a photo or item of their deceased loved one, a mug for the cacao ceremony and comfortable clothing. Tickets cost $67, and can be purchased on calendly.com/claudiarising.
Monday 11/6
Mobile Recess: 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kids between the ages of 5 and 14 are invited to participate in sports and arts and crafts in a safe environment during this City-run after-school program at Grace Park (361 E. Plymouth St.). Free.
Read to Dogs: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Young children can practice reading to certified therapy dogs at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Reading to dogs is meant to build a child’s self confidence as they learn to read. Free.
Tuesday 11/7
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 Rd.) Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, strollers and snacks. Free.
California Native Plant Sale: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Native plants will be sold at the El Dorado Nature Center (7550 E. Spring St.) every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday through Nov. 21. Proceeds will go toward the Friends of El Dorado Nature Center’s habitat enhancement programs. Prices vary.
Trivia Night 7 p.m. This weekly trivia night at Beachwood Brewing (210 East 3rd St.) is organized by Thinky Drinky Trivia. Prizes will be given to the winners. Beer is $5. Free to play.
Weekly Group Run: 7 p.m. The Long Beach Run Club invites runners of all levels for a group run. Participants will meet at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Coronado Street. Everyone is encouraged to run at their own pace. The event will conclude with stretching, announcements and potentially a social outing. Free.
Wednesday 11/8
STEAM Lab: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 will work on a STEAM activity together at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Space is limited so registration is required. To register, call (562) 989-7323. Free.
Youth Poet Laureate Poetry Reading: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Youth Poet Laureate Claire Beeli and poet ambassadors Helena Donato-Sapp, Matilda Iem, Kieran Lundy and Sofia Uribe will be reading their work at Kubo LB (3976 Atlantic Ave.). This event is appropriate for all ages and will conclude with a Q&A session. Free.
Thursday 11/9
Preschool Without Walls: Noon to 2 p.m. The nonprofit Preschool Without Walls holds educational events that prepare parents and their children to begin school. During this event at the Burnett Neighborhood Library (560 E Hill St.), children will play and learn together while parents receive helpful information to prepare them to enroll their child and support them in school. This event is geared towards families with children ages 5 and younger. Free.
Lego Club: 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. School-aged children 6 and older are invited to build with Legos at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Legos will be provided. Free.
Film Screening and Discussion: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can watch this documentary by Mandy Lake that tells the story of how a drag show saved a Lawn Bowling Club in North Ipswich, Australia. The film will be followed by a talk and Q&A discussion and will take place at the CSULB University Theater (1250 Bellflower Blvd.). Free, but on-campus parking is fee-based.
‘Singing Earth’ Tour: 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Grammy-Award Winning Producer Barrett Martin will be facilitating an evening of storytelling, film and music at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 East 4th St.). Tickets can be purchased for $20 on Eventbrite.
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