This love-filled week offers chances to connect with neighbors and friends, romantic date nights and ways to give back to the community in Long Beach and Signal Hill.
Traditional Valentine’s Day-themed outings include a jazz concert in the serene garden, a night at the Aquarium, a paranormal evening and dinner aboard the Queen Mary, all Friday night, or a chocolate and wine festival Sunday. Non-traditional ways to celebrate the season of love include a space for grieving among the community Friday night, an anti-oil Valentine’s Day card writing event Saturday or a vinyl listening party Sunday night.
Those who feel the most love for nature and animals can give back by counting birds at the El Dorado Nature Center Sunday morning or playing pickleball to benefit pups on Sunday. Festivals and celebrations this week include a Lunar New Year Celebration at 2ND & PCH Saturday afternoon, an Afro-Latinx Festival Sunday and a Origami Festival Sunday.
Friday 2/14
Valentine’s Day Jazz Concert: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden (Earl Warren Drive) at Cal State Long Beach will host a romantic jazz concert. Guests can bring a blanket and picnic to enjoy in the scenic garden. Admission is $50 per pairing, with an option to upgrade to a table with two chairs for an additional $25. Tickets can be purchased on the university’s website. Complimentary parking is available in Lot G4.
Art for Grievers: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The community is invited to this space for those grieving, so they can be in community, use creativity to tend to their hearts and connect with others at Birth Workers of Color Collective (1635 E. Anaheim St.). This time will be used for sharing and connection, a tea ritual, light snacks, painting meditation and a love note writing exercise. There is a sliding scale of $25-40 for entry, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Haunted Hearts – Paranormal Date Night: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Take a two-hour guided paranormal tour of the Queen Mary (1126 Queens Highway) with Officer Paul Jacek (“Officer Spooky”). Explore the ship’s most haunted areas, hear ghost stories and finish the night with a Valentine’s Day dinner. To make reservations, call 562-499-1616. This event costs $164.30.
Valentine’s Night Dive: 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. This event at the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) will include a live band, DJs, a photobooth, Valentine’s Day crafts and more. Those 21 and over will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages. This event is only for those 18 and older. Tickets can be purchased for $44.95 on the aquarium’s website.
Art After Dark Series: 10 p.m. Residents can catch one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, “Anora,” which has already garnered six Oscar nominations and the Palme d’OR, for one night at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door.
Saturday 2/15
Latina Baddie Run: Local Latinas are invited to this monthly run, open to all levels, either in Long Beach or at Echo Park in Los Angeles. Those interested will receive the location of the run after RSVPing at @pueblitatortillas on Instagram. This run will be between 2 and 6 miles, and attendees can run, jog or walk.
Bilingual Storytime: 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Young children can enjoy a story and songs in English and Spanish in the garden of Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 N. Virginia Road). Benches will be provided, but families are encouraged to bring blankets, strollers and snacks for added comfort. Free.
Film Screening & Director Q&A: ‘Time Passages’: 11 a.m. Visit the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E Fourth St.) for a screening of “Time Passages,” followed by a Q&A with director Kyle Henry. The 2024 film explores the director’s relationship with his mother, Elaine, through the lens of family archives as she battles dementia. Tickets are $13 and can be purchased on the theater’s website or at the door.
Lunar New Year Celebration: 1 p.m. Celebrate Lunar New Year at 2ND & PCH (6400 E. Pacific Coast Hwy) during this event, featuring lion dancers, live music, lantern riddles, origami, kid’s crafts, a market and the unveiling of the Lunar New Year Artbook by Children of Long Beach and Qindao. Free.
Breaking Up with Big Oil: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Climate Brunch and the Sierra Club Los Angeles will host a family-friendly event at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.) to inform the public about their campaign to end Signal Hill’s reliance on oil. Attendees will write Valentine’s cards to Signal Hill City officials asking them to “break up with big oil” and then deliver these cards to Signal Hill City Hall. Free.
16mm Film Club: 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Join 3TON Cinema for an evening of 16mm films at Place LB (2172 Pacific Ave.), featuring a mix of analog cinema selections from the 20th century. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and movies begin at 8:00 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $5 to $10 at the door, but no one will be turned away because they can’t pay.
Sunday 2/16
Great Backyard Bird Count: 9 a.m. to noon. El Dorado Nature Center (7550 E. Spring St.) needs help counting the local feathery friends to help scientists understand more about Long Beach’s bird populations and migrations. No experience is necessary, and the event is open to all ages. For more information call 562-570-1745. Free.
Pickleball for Pups: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sports Basement Long Beach (2100 N Bellflower Blvd.) will host a two-day pickleball tournament to raise money for Long Beach Animal Care Services and K9 Kismet Rescue. Participants can play pickleball and meet adoptable dogs. Medals will be awarded to the top three teams in each category. Registration is $50 on pickle4pups.org.
Family Artmaking Workshop: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Long Beach Museum of Art (2300 E. Ocean Blvd.) invites families to a hands-on art workshop inspired by the museum’s current exhibitions. Held on the third Sunday of each month, this workshop is open to all ages and skill levels. No sign-ups are required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free.
Afro-Latinx Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.) invites the community to celebrate the cultural impact of the African diaspora in the Americas through music, dance and food. Attendees will hear from artists, scholars and community organizers about Afro-Latinx experiences. Free admission.
Origami Day Festival: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach will host a day of origami and other fun activities (Earl Warren Drive). Free parking is available in Lot G4. Registration costs $10 on the university’s website and covers up to six people.
Chocolate and Wine Festival: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Belmont Shore invites those with a sweet tooth and taste for wine to its annual Chocolate and Wine Festival, with wine, tea, beer or cider tastings, chocolate tastings, live music, a photo booth, homemade dessert contest and free golf cart shuttles. Wine tasting tickets come with a souvenir glass and are $35, while chocolate tasting tickets are $15. Both can be purchased online.
Discos y Vino: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Good Luck Vinyl Club is hosting this night for lovers, with “Unkle Buq” taking listeners through his personal record collection at The Social List (2105 E. Fourth St.). Attendees can enjoy $5 wine pours. Free.
Monday 2/17
Benefit Concert: 7 p.m. The Long Beach Big Band, co-led by saxophonists Pat Sheng and Mike Zilber, will perform a special benefit concert to support victims of the LA fires at Alvas Showroom (1417 W Eighth St.) in San Pedro. All proceeds will go to charitable organizations including the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, MusiCares and the LA Humane Society. Tickets can be purchased for $25 on the Alvas Showroom website.
Wrestling Watch Party: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wrestling fans are invited to Roxanne’s (1115 E. Wardlow Road) to watch wrestling on TV, connect with fellow enthusiasts and discuss all things wrestling-related. Free admission.
Tuesday 2/18
Virtual Author Talk: 11 a.m. Join journalist and author Lee Hawkins online for a conversation about his memoir, “I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free,” which explores his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience. Registration through the City’s online event calendar is required. Free.
Preschool Storytime: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Families are invited to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.) to enjoy stories and foster a love of reading. Children will enjoy stories, songs and phonics activities, followed by a craft or playtime. Free.
Wednesday 2/19
LGBTQIA2S+ Community Gathering & Resource Fair: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Advisory Committee will host a community gathering and resource fair at Bixby Park Community Center (130 Cherry Ave.). Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about draft findings from the CHNA project, provide input and connect with local resources. This event aims to foster community engagement and celebrate LGBTQIA2S+ voices. Free.
Colorado Lagoon Community Meeting: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Long Beach plans to update residents on the ongoing changes it’s making to Colorado Lagoon during a community meeting at the Recreation Park Community Center (4900 E. Seventh St.). During the meeting, City staff will provide an overview of the project’s progress, including completed construction and remaining work. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the conclusion of the presentation. Interpretation services will be available in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.
Thursday 2/20
Grocery Giveaway: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Residents can receive free groceries on the third Thursday of every month from nonprofit Love Beyond Limits and the Food Bank of Southern California at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1133 Rhea E. St.). Free.
Spring Exhibit Opening Reception: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum is hosting an opening reception for the spring 2025 exhibitions. Attendees can enjoy art, music, entertainment, refreshments and a cash bar. Free to attend, but RSVPs are encouraged.
Wrigley Business Improvement District Feasibility Meeting: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department will host a stakeholder meeting at The Cove Hotel (200 E. Willow St.) to discuss the feasibility of creating a business improvement district for the Wrigley business corridor in Council Districts 6 and 7. Residents, business owners and other stakeholders are invited to learn about the proposal and provide input. Register for this event on the City’s online calendar. Free.
Elevate ’28 in District 6 Meeting: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The City of Long Beach’s Department of Public Works will host a community meeting at Dyer Hall on the Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus (1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy) to discuss key Elevate ’28 projects in Council District 6. Elevate ’28 includes dozens of development projects taking place in the city leading up to the 2028 Olympics. Topics of discussion will include the restoration of the VIP Records sign, the development of the African American Cultural District and progress on the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Vision Plan. Interpretation services will be available in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Free parking is available in Lot 2. Free.
