If Halloween weekend snuck up and you need ways to celebrate, Long Beach has events for everyone in the family, from the smallest candy-seeker to the furriest critter.
For family fun, Signal Hill is throwing its annual Halloween Carnival on Saturday, complete with games, candy and a costume parade. Little ones can transform into little zombies at Bixby Knolls’ annual zombie bike ride on Sunday, and all ages are welcome at two separate Día de Los Muertos kick-off celebrations at the Museum of Latin Art and Ranchos Los Cerritos.
Entertainment seekers have several spooky options this week, such as a “War of the Worlds” radio show performance Friday through Sunday, a 1954 thriller in 3D at the Billie Jean King Main Library Saturday, a scary movie and paint night at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library on Tuesday, and the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual screening of the original “Nosferatu,” accompanied by a live orchestra.
Other Halloween events include a spooky night at the Aquarium, a historical cemetery tour, the annual Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade and three local trick-or-treat events the night of Halloween on 2nd Street, the 2nd & PCH shopping center and at the Mark Twain Library.
Friday 10/25
Arts Film Series: 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. In celebration of World Opera Day, the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) will host a screening of “Pavarotti” (2019), an award-winning biographical documentary directed by Ron Howard. The film delves into the life and legacy of opera icon Luciano Pavarotti, showcasing his remarkable career and achievements. A brief introduction will precede the film, followed by a discussion. Free.
Night Dive: 7:30 p.m. The Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) will host Fright Dive, a Halloween-themed evening featuring live music by local band Fart Barf, DJs spinning in the Aquarium’s galleries, and a spooky cocktail menu at Cafe Scuba. Halloween costumes are encouraged, with bonus points for Aquarium-themed outfits. However, overly gory costumes, toy weapons, and full-face masks are prohibited. Attendees must be 18 or older. Tickets are $44.95 per person on the aquarium’s website, and early purchase is recommended as the event tends to sell out.
War of the Worlds: 8 p.m. Long Beach Shakespeare Company is bringing back its tradition of playing this infamous sci-fi radio show that shocked the world in 1938. “War of the Worlds” will run for three days at the Helen Borgers Theatre (4250 Atlantic Ave.). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.
Underground Open Mic: 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The stage at the Edison Theatre (213 E Broadway) will be open to local talent with eight-minute sets for those 18 and older. Free.
Saturday 10/26
28th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Historical Society of Long Beach will host its 28th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour at Long Beach Municipal Cemetery and Sunnyside Cemetery (1095 & 1151 E. Willow St.). This all-ages event features live performances by community theater actors, who portray historical figures buried at the cemeteries. The event will also include performances on a Día de los Muertos installation, talks by local historians, author book signings and more. The tour is self-guided, with performances lasting 10 minutes and repeated every 20 minutes. Pre-sale tickets are currently sold for $25 on the Historical Society of Long Beach’s website.
3D Film Series: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) will host a screening of “Dial M for Murder,” a suspenseful 1954 thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, and Robert Cummings. This 3D showing of the classic film, in which a former tennis star arranges the murder of his unfaithful wife, includes rare footage of the RMS Queen Mary. A brief introduction will precede the film, followed by a discussion. Limited 3D glasses available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free.
Community Quilt: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Long Beach Public Library is hosting Hilos de Sueños y Recuerdos: Sew it Goes, a community-based sewing lab series that is open to people ages 12 and older and those with no prior sewing experience. Attendees are encouraged to bring family photos to scan, transfer to fabric and sew into the quilt at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). Participants are also encouraged to bring their own sewing machines. While supplies will be provided, they are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration is required to attend, and Spanish language support will be available.
Local History Lecture Series: 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) will host a lecture on the history of Long Beach’s RMS Queen Mary, presented by John Thomas, the ship’s Historic Resource Advisor. The presentation will cover the ship’s construction, its role in World War II, conversion into a Long Beach attraction and the ship’s future. Paranormal stories rumored to have taken place on the ship will also be shared. Free.
Halloween Carnival: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Signal Hill will be hosting a Halloween celebration at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.). The event will include trunk-or-treating, carnival games, a bouncer, activities, a costume parade and laser light show. Children over the ages 1 need a wristband to participate in activities. Wristbands can be purchased on the City’s website or in-person the day of the festival. Adults enter for free.
Sunday 10/27
Sensory-Friendly Family Mixer: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Families with children of all abilities are invited to this Halloween and jumping mixer at Sky Zone Cerritos (10755 South St.) to celebrate the holiday and LBC Hero Squad’s eighth anniversary. Children can enjoy two hours of jumping for $20, trick or treating, activities, a swag bag, free food and drinks while families connect with one another. Visit skyzone.com/cerritos/lbcherosquad for tickets with the code “HeroSquad24.”
Kidical Mass Zombie Edition: 11 a.m. to noon. Join local families for a spooky-themed group bike ride, starting at Pixie Toys (3914 Atlantic Ave.) in Bixby Knolls. Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to participate in this family-friendly event. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in your best zombie or Halloween costume, or get “zombified” by makeup artists on-site. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Helmets are required. The event will include free treats and music by DJ Dave. Free.
Day of the Dead Celebration: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave) will host a vibrant Día de los Muertos celebration. The event will begin with opening remarks and music, followed by performances from Ballet Folklorico groups and a calavera contest. Vendors and exhibitions will be open throughout the day. Free.
Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade: Noon to 4:00 p.m. Join hundreds of costumed dogs and their humans at the annual Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade at Olympic Plaza Park (4400 E. Olympic Plaza). Enjoy a fun afternoon watching creative pet costumes at this beachfront park. Free to spectate, and costumed humans are also welcome to join the parade for free. Parade entry for dogs is $10 if purchased ahead of time through community organizer Justin Rudd’s website, or $20 on the day of the event.
Día de los Muertos Celebration: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public is invited to this Día de los Muertos Celebration at Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 N. Virginia Rd.), featuring live music, traditional arts and crafts, altars (ofrendas) and food. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed up as Catrinas or Catrines. This event is appropriate for all ages. Free admission.
Educational Haunted House: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Local nonprofit Khmer Girls in Action is hosting this interactive haunted house that will educate the public on the upcoming election. The haunted house will feature a maze designed to inform attendees on local measures, and outside the maze the public can enjoy food, music and informational booths. This event will be at the Youth Movement and Education Center at 2217 E Sixth St. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in costumes. Free.
Monday 10/28
Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Long Beach Animal Care Services (7700 E Spring St.) and Community Animal Medicine Project will be providing vaccines and services to pets at discounted prices. Services include microchipping, tapeworm treatment, nail trimming, flea/tick treatment and more. All dogs must be on a leash, and all cats should be in a carrier. Please bring the pet’s previous vaccine records. For more information, call 562-570-7387. Prices will vary.
Dog Training: Noon to 1 p.m. Friendly dogs are invited to learn new skills during this outdoor training class at Lincoln Park (101 Pacific Ave.). Free.
Mai Tai Monday: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy a unique music performance featuring Exotica, Latin, Surf, Lounge, Jet Set, and World Music as DJs Lili Bird and Lono Calls set the perfect spooky ambiance at The Bamboo Club (3522 E Anaheim St.). There will be $8 Mai Tais and food available for purchase. No cover charge.
Tuesday 10/29
Digital Literacy – Avoiding Fraud and Scams: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) for this workshop, where participants will learn about various types of online scams, how to recognize them, and how to respond and report fraudulent activity. This workshop is aimed at adults, especially senior citizens. Free.
Movie & Paint Night: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public is invited to the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.) for a screening of the 1971 horror film “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death.” Participants will make artwork inspired by the film while it plays. Materials will be provided. Free.
Wednesday 10/30
Homework Help: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Every Wednesday, the Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) offers free homework assistance for students in grades K-8 during the fall semester. This program provides help to students on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration is required. Free.
Family Storytime: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.) invites children between 5 to 9 years old and their caregivers to enjoy storytime and crafts. Free.
Sensory Education: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Families are invited to learn how their children process sensory information to better understand how they learn about the world around them. There will be childcare, dinner, raffles and prizes as parents learn through play and sensory-based self care. This workshop is available in-person or online and in Spanish as well. Free, but registration is required at bit.ly/4gtJPGM. Call (562) 326-3962 with any questions.
Thursday 10/31
Library Trick-or-Treat: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Families can trick-or-treat at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.) and enjoy games, crafts, prizes and candy. Free.
Trick-or-Treat on 2nd Street: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Trick-or-Treaters are invited to Belmont Shore, where they’ll be able collect candy from participating businesses along Second Street. Participating businesses will have jack-o-lantern signs in their windows. Stop by Chase Bank for a professional photo booth with complimentary photo strips, dance to live music by The Thingz, and enter the Instagram Photo Contest. Post a photo of your costume during the event and tag @belmontshorelb to participate. Free.
Ghouls Night Fall Fest: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Celebrate Halloween and the five-year anniversary of the 2ND & PCH shopping complex (6400 Pacific Coast Hwy) during this family-friendly event, featuring live entertainment, live music, trick-or-treating and costume contests for all ages. Free to attend.
Film Screening with Live Score: 7 p.m. Experience F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent horror classic “Nosferatu” accompanied by an original score by Jack Curtis Dubowsky and his ensemble at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E Fourth St.). Tickets can be purchased for $30 on the theater’s website.
