Don’t let the gloomy skies and chilly winds keep you indoors; there’s plenty of things to do out in the Long Beach and Signal Hill community.
Residents can challenge themselves to run through the city, attend a booze-filled festival, enjoy live music with performances and participate in civic engagement.
Anyone training for the Long Beach marathon in October can use this weekend as training practice. The Wrigley neighborhood is hosting its Wrigley River Run Saturday morning with 5Ks, 10Ks, 10-mile and half-marathon races to raise money for local youth scholarships. Steps for Vets will make its return at the same time at Shoreline Aquatic Park with 5 and 10Ks to raise money for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Another marathon race will take place at Shoreline Aquatic Park the following morning on Sunday to raise money for The Ronald McDonald House Long Beach.
For those who want a more relaxing weekend, they can paint calming landscapes and dress like Bob Ross at Bixby Knolls’ First Fridays event. The Cal Heights Business District will host hundreds of classic cars and live music at a family and pet-friendly car show Saturday. For more adult-centered events, residents can attend a wine festival and a mai tai festival Saturday evening.
Friday 6/2
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 Burnett Neighborhood Library (560 E Hill St.). Free.
Cabaret Show: 8 p.m. The Black Veils will be performing a burlesque show at Harvelle’s Underground (201 E Broadway), featuring dancers, singers and aerialists. General admission costs $15. Tickets can be purchased. To purchase tickets, visit longbeach.harvelles.com/calendar.
Bixby Knolls First Fridays: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Small businesses and local orgs will activate the Bixby Knolls area along Atlantic Avenue. The theme for this month is Bob Ross, the famous landscape painter. One resident will be crowned for a Bob Ross look-alike contest and multiple businesses will be hosting drawing parties. The big red bus will shuttle residents across the participating businesses. Free to attend.
Saturday 6/3
Wrigley River Run: 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. This annual run along the LA River in the Wrigley neighborhood will raise money to give scholarships to local youth. There are a variety of races that runners can participate in including 5Ks, a 10K, a 10 mile and a half-marathon. Participation fees for the adult races range from $55 to $125. There are also two shorter races for small children, which cost $10. To register, visit wrigleyriverrun.com/registration/.
Steps For Vets: 7 a.m. The eighth annual Steps for Vets invites residents to walk, run or roll a 5K, 10K or mile at the Shoreline Aquatic Park (200 Aquarium Way) to raise money to help veterans experiencing homelessness. Fees for the race range from $25 to $45. Register online.
Cal Heights Car Show: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Cal Heights Business District is once again hosting its kustom car show, with over 100 classic cars to view, live music, a scavenger hunt, a shuttle service taking residents to local businesses and a family area at Roxanne’s. The Little Lion Foundation will bring kittens for a meet and greet, and the event is pet-friendly. The car show will take place on Wardlow between Lemon and Orange Avenues. Free to attend.
Book Donation Drop Off: noon to 2 p.m. The Friends of Signal Hill Library invite residents to donate gently used books at the curbside of the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Children’s books are especially needed. Free.
Mai Tai Festival: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees will be able to enjoy mai tais, beer, music, arts, vendors and more during this festival at Rainbow Lagoon (400 E Shoreline Village). General admission costs $35. Tickets can be purchased at maitaifestival.com/.
LA Wine Fest: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will be able to enjoy wine, craft brews, ciders, kombucha, food, exhibitors, live music and more at Harry Bridges Memorial Park at the Queen Mary (1126 Queens Highway). General admission costs $80. Tickets can be purchased lawinefest.com/squadup-tickets/.
An American In Paris: 8 p.m. The Long Beach Symphony will be performing a collection of American songs. Pianist Michelle Cann will be performing the Piano Concerto in One Movement by composer Florence Price. There will also be performances of 21st-century works by Brian Nabors and Nan Schwartz, along with Duke Ellington’s “Harlem” and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.” General admission costs $32. Tickets can be purchased at longbeachsymphony.org.
Sunday 6/4
Walk for Kids: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. This marathon will raise money for The Ronald McDonald House Long Beach, which provides services for kids and families in need. The marathon will be held at Shoreline Park (200 Aquarium Way). Registration costs $25. To register, visit walkforkids.org.
Plein Air Workshop: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Residents can attend this outdoor art workshop held in the Museum of Latin American Art’s corner garden (628 Alamitos Ave.) Admission costs $5. To register for the workshop, visit https://molaa.org/events.
Club Real Ones Day Party: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those 18 and older are invited to this monthly day party at Grey LB (237 Long Beach Blvd.) featuring tacos, beverages, art, music and more. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $20.
Monday 6/5
Meatless Mondays: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. A variety of vegan food vendors will be selling their dishes at Trademark Brewing (233 East Anaheim St.). Free to enter.
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 6/6
Baby Bookworm Storytime: 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Parents and caregivers are invited to bring babies up to 1 year old to enjoy books, songs, rhymes and bounces at the Bach Neighborhood Library (4055 N. Bellflower Blvd.). During the program, babies will be sitting in their adults’ lap and adults will be actively participating in activities. Free.
Homelessness Livestream: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to view a livestream of the City of Long Beach’s meeting on the current response to the homelessness crisis. Mayor Rex Richardson and other public officials will speak on the issue. To watch the livestream, visit www.youtube.com/@LongBeachCityCA/featured.
Wednesday 6/7
Baby & Toddler Storytime: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Babies and their caregivers are invited to Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.) to enjoy stories and playtime. Free.
PRIDE Teen Zine Workshop: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. CSULB Professor Anat Schwartz will guide teens through making their own Pride-themed zines at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). Free.
PRIDE Craft: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teens are invited to create a rainbow keychain, backpack charm, or wall hanging at the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library (195 Bay Shore Ave.). Free.
We Don’t Talk About Crochet Club: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Teens between the ages of 13 to 17 are invited to this weekly crochet club at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). Participants will learn crocheting basics and how to make granny squares. Free.
Thursday 6/8
Budget Workshop: 9 a.m. Long Beach residents are invited to provide input to the proposed utilities 2024 budget at the Long Beach Utilities Administration Building (1800 E. Wardlow Road). The Utilities Board Commission will give an update on planned improvements to water, gas and sewer systems, including pipeline replacements and and water quality enhancements. The budget and utilities rates will be finalized at the June 22 meeting. Free.
Anime Club: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Teens who love manga and anime are invited to the Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W Willow St.) for discussions, activities and screenings. Free.
English Conversation Club: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. English language learners are invited to practice English conversations together at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). This is an informal gathering and a safe space for anyone trying to learn English. Free.
