School is out, the sun is beaming, flowers are blooming and Long Beach and Signal Hill are delivering with the return of widely loved concert series, movie screenings and community gatherings.
Nothing says summer in Long Beach like watching a movie on the sand with the waves crashing in the background, or grabbing takeout and plopping down at a park (or parking lot) to listen to live music surrounded by neighbors and friends.
We’ve rounded up the top five summer series, all free to attend and running from now through late August. So pull out your calendar, dust off the lawn chairs and blankets, call your friends and make some summer memories.
Concerts in the Park(ing) lot – select Mondays from June 24 to Aug. 19
Back for its 15th year, Bixby Knolls’ Concerts in the Park(ing) lot will transform the Bixby Joe Coffee & Tea parking lot into a dance floor, stage and place of connection. Five concerts are scheduled so far, with genres ranging from Latin and ska to ‘70s R&B and classic rock.
Attendees are encouraged to purchase food from the surrounding restaurants and support local businesses, which usually have less foot traffic on Monday nights. Families, friends and friendly pets can come equipped with coolers, drinks, food, lawn chairs, blankets and of course, their best dance moves.
All shows will begin at 6:30 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to show up early for a good seat. Unless stated otherwise, all concerts take place at the Bixby Joe Coffee & Tea parking lot at 4245 Atlantic Ave.
Residents can follow the @BixbyKnolls Instagram page and check the Bixby Knolls website for more details. The schedule so far includes:
June 24 – Yari Moré Latin Band, playing upbeat salsa, merengue, cumbias, etc.
July 22 – Seville and The Ohio Trio, playing 70’s Soul + R&B
August 2 – David Bowie Tribute by MOVE, playing the best of David Bowie at First Fridays
August 12 – AbSOULute, playing Soul, Funk, R&B and Classic Rock
Sponsored by Councilmember Al Austin
August 19 – WST Ska Orchestra, playing upbeat Jamaican Jazz
Howard CDM lot, 3737 Long Beach Blvd.
Long Beach Municipal Band – Tuesdays through Fridays from June 25 to Aug. 2
The 115th season of the Long Beach Municipal Band carries a theme of “Music to My Ears,” featuring patriotic tunes, famous film scores, pop, jazz and more. Many of the musicians in the band, as well as conductor Kurt Curtis, have been members for decades, carrying with them the summertime song traditions.
The concerts will take place Tuesdays through Fridays at various parks throughout Long Beach such as Whaley Park, Bixby Annex Park, Los Cerritos Park, Recreation Park and El Dorado Park West. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, food, drinks and whatever else they need to enjoy the music.
All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m.
The schedule for the Long Beach Municipal Band concerts is as follows:
June 25 through June 28 – “Night at the Movies” with vocalist Nicole Kubis:
- Tuesday, June 25 – Whaley Park, 5620 Atherton St.
- Wednesday, June 26 – Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.
- Thursday, June 27 – Recreation Park, 4900 E Seventh St.
- Friday, June 28 – El Dorado Park West, 2800 N Studebaker Road
July 2 through July 5 – “Spirit of America” with vocalist Mark Kopitzke:
- Tuesday, July 2 – Whaley Park, 5620 Atherton St.
- Wednesday, July 3 – Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.
- Thursday, July 4 – NO CONCERT
- Friday, July 5 – El Dorado Park West, 2800 N Studebaker Road
July 9 through July 12 – “For the Sport of It” with vocalist L. Young
- Tuesday, July 9 – Bixby Annex Park, East Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue
- Wednesday, July 10 – Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.
- Thursday, July 11 – Recreation Park, 4900 E Seventh St.
- Friday, July 12 – El Dorado Park West, 2800 N Studebaker Road
July 16 through July 19 – “Maestro – Music of Leonard Bernstein” with vocalist Meloney Collins
- Tuesday, July 16 – Bixby Annex Park, East Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue
- Wednesday, July 17 – Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.
- Thursday, July 18 – Recreation Park, 4900 E Seventh St.
- Friday, July 19 – El Dorado Park West, 2800 N Studebaker Road
July 23 through July 26 – “Constellation of Stars” with vocalists The Swing Kittens (Nicole Perreira, Kaley Griffith and Nicole Kubis):
- Tuesday, July 23 – Bixby Annex, East Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue
- Wednesday, July 24 – Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.
- Thursday, July 25 – Recreation Park, 4900 E Seventh St.
- Friday, July 26 – El Dorado Park West, 2800 N Studebaker Road
July 30 through Aug. 2 – “Curtain Call” with vocalist Crystal Lewis:
- Tuesday, July 30 – Bixby Annex Park, East Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue
- Wednesday, July 31 – Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.
- Thursday, Aug. 1 – Recreation Park, 4900 E Seventh St.
- Friday, Aug. 2 – El Dorado Park West
2nd and PCH
Long Beach’s central outdoor shopping center will be hosting a wide variety of free, family-friendly events this summer. The community can enjoy outdoor exercising classes on select mornings, multiple evenings of live music performances, movie screenings and markets.
June 19 – Long Beach Strong Beach
This outdoor workout class led by Purple Yoga will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the center’s grass lawn. The Vuori Clothing store will host refreshments for attendees following the class.
Residents should wear comfortable clothing and bring water and a yoga mat.
Beachside Beats Fest – select dates from June 27 through Sept. 19
This outdoor concert series covers a wide range of genres from ‘80s music and R&B to reggae and cumbia music. Concerts are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and have the following schedule:
- June 27 – Country and pop music with a line dance class, on the grand staircase
- July 11 – TurnTABLES Band, 80’s throwbacks DJ set & performance, on the main stage
- July 25 – HONORE, RnB top hits, on the grand staircase
- August 8 – Duo with Dasha, current top 40 all-genre music on the grand staircase
- August 22 – Reggae/island music on the main stage
- September 19 – Salsa/cumbia music & salsa class on the grand staircase
June 21 – PCH Explorers Kids Club: Tidepool Animal Exploration
In partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific, this class will teach kids about the fascinating marine life that inhabits local tidepools. This hands-on event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and requires an online RSVP on 2ndandpch.com/events.
June 28 – Movies & Moonlight
Families can snuggle up on blankets or plop down in lawn chairs for this screening of the Disney movie “Wish” from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Self-seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Friendly pets are welcome, but must be kept on a leash.
June 29 – Vendor Market
The Unidos Vendor Market: Under the Sea will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and invites the community to shop small and support local artists and businesses. Dozens of artisans and vendors will host booths, and guests can enjoy photo opportunities and live entertainment while they shop.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach
Following a brief scare where it seemed this beloved tradition would be canceled this year, the City and multiple partners stepped in to assure another year of movies on the beach.
Organizations that stepped in to help keep the tradition alive include the Port of Long Beach, LBS Financial, Cambrian Home Care, Long Beach City College Foundation, the Long Beach Local App and Don Temple Storage.
Due to the last minute changes, the lineup for this year’s film screenings are still being chosen, and only one date and movie are confirmed so far. Residents can follow @longbeachstuff on Instagram for updates or visit moonlightmoviesonthebeach.com/.
The first screening of the year will be “Kung Fu Panda 4” and will take place on June 25 at 8 p.m. This screening will be at Granada Beach at 5000 E Ocean Blvd., while other Moonlight Movies screenings will take place at the beach and the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus.
Attendees can bring blankets, chairs, food, drinks and friendly pets. Food trucks will have food for purchase.
El Dorado Nature Center Summer Concert Series
What’s better than a concert at the park? How about a series of concerts in one of Long Beach’s historical nature centers with a beautiful lake-side view.
The El Dorado Nature Center will host five concerts throughout the summer, inviting the community to enjoy the critter-filled setting while the sun sets to some tunes. Residents can bring blankets, lawn chairs and food and drinks from home.
Gates will open at 6:30 for the general public, and nature center members can enter at 6 p.m. Performances will run from 7 to 8 p.m.
June 27 – Big City Hillbillies
July 11 – Corday
July 25 – Sligo Rags
Aug. 8 – JP McDermott and Western Bop
Aug. 22 – Steel Parade
The El Dorado Nature Center is located at 7550 E Spring St. For more information about the El Dorado Nature Center’s 2023 Summer Concert Series, call (562)570-1745.
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