With Fourth of July past us and the Pride parade still on our minds, this week has big shoes to fill. But even without pyrotechnics and a huge rainbow parade, there’s still lots to do in Long Beach—after all, it’s a big place.
Mid-July has plenty to offer, especially with summer in full swing: movie screenings of The Goonies and Space Jam 2, local music performances and a film festival hosted by Long Beach Opera—talk about high brow, we hope you like subtitles!
If nothing here piques your interest, there’s always the beach. Try out Long Beach’s new floating play structure off the coast of Alamitos Beach. Don’t forget sunscreen, the summer UV is brutal—as our managing editor Emma DiMaggio found out last weekend when she was burnt to a crisp.
Saturday, July 16
Long Beach Opera Film Festival: Noon to midnight. The Long Beach Opera’s Inaugural Film Festival is back this year at The Art Theatre Long Beach (2025 E 4th St.). Screenings include: “Dorian Gray in the Mirror of the Yellow Press,” 1984, with German subtitles from noon to 2:30 p.m. “Eika Katappa” 1969, from 2:50 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. “Oh My Homeland” (2019) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. “Salome” (1976), time unknown, featuring a live original score performed by Dorian Wood. “Pasiphae” world premiere (2021) from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. with a live performance by Ron Athey, Xiu Xiu and Anna Schubert. “Son of Sam and Delilah” and “The Pow’r of Life is Love” premiere and a surprise film with live performance from 8:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. “Space is the Place,” 1974, from 10:30 p.m to 11:50 p.m. Tickets available at longbeachopera.org. ($45)
‘Space Jam 2’ at Signal Hill Park: 6:30 p.m. A screening of Space Jam 2 (Rated PG) will take place at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.) as part of their Movies in the Park summer series. Enjoy a bounce house and free popcorn. Sponsored by the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks. Free.
‘The Goonies’ at the Pike Outlets: 7 p.m. A screening of “The Goonies” will take place at the Pike Outlets. Movie-themed selfies will begin at 7 p.m. The film will be screened at 8 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets. Free.
Sunday, July 17
Family Fun Festival at 2ND & PCH: 11 a.m to 6 p.m. In collaboration with Creative Communal, 2ND & PCH (6400 Pacific Coast Hwy) will host a Family Fun Festival with 35 local makers, face painting by Karen’s Face Painting, activities for kids and live music. Free.
Long Beach Opera Film Festival: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Long Beach Opera’s Inaugural Film Festival is at The Art Theatre Long Beach (2025 E 4th St.). Shorts will be screened from 2 to 2:45 p.m. “Gallant Indies,” 2021, in French with English subtitles, from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets available at longbeachopera.org. ($45)
Tuesday, July 19
Long Beach Municipal Band: 6:30 p.m. The Long Beach Municipal Band will perform at Bluff Park (2500 E. Ocean Blvd.). The theme of the week is “Let’s Dance.” Fan-favorite Tony Galla returns with the studio band as the featured jazz artist. Free.
Paper Monarch Butterfly Workshop and Documentary Screening: 2 to 3 p.m. The Long Beach Public Library Bach Neighborhood Branch (4055 N Bellflower Blvd) will have a community screening of the PBS documentary “My Garden of a Thousand Bees,” which follows a wildlife filmmaker during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown as he starts to notice the intricate and complex lives of the bees in his garden. This film screening is part of the #plantwildflowers initiative and attendees will take home a Southwest Mix seed packet to encourage backyard pollinators. After the film, attendees will learn how to make an articulated paper butterfly from the Museum of Latin American Art education team. Free.
Moonlight Movies at the Beach: 8 p.m. Watch a screening of “Dirty Dancing” at Granada Beach. The event will feature pre-show entertainment from local bands. The event is part of the summer-long Moonlight Movies at the Beach series. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit on. Food trucks will be present. The movie screenings are family-friendly and pet-friendly. The event is sponsored by Long Beach Transit. Free.
Wednesday, July 20
Long Beach Municipal Band: 6:30 p.m. The Long Beach Municipal Band will perform at Los Cerritos Park (3750 Del Mar Ave.).The theme of the week is “Let’s Dance.” Fan-favorite Tony Galla returns with the studio band as the featured jazz artist. Free.
Signal Hill Summer Concert Series: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy tunes from ‘80s cover band Knyght Ryder at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave). Bring your own chairs, blankets and picnic-style dinners. The concert is part of Signal Hill’s summer-long concert series. Free.
Wrigley Pie-Making Contest: 7 p.m. Residents are invited to flex their baking skills at a pie-baking contest in the front yard of Wrigley resident Bill White (2490 Maine Ave). Residents can enter one pie for judging, though they’re welcome to bring more. Anyone can judge the competition and spoons will be provided. Free.
Thursday, July 21
Preview Show of “The Cripple of Inishmaan”: The Long Beach Playhouse (5021 E. Anaheim St.) will celebrate the opening night of their performance of “The Cripple of Inishmaan” on July 23. But on Thursday, July 21, community members are invited to preview the play at a discounted price. The “pay what you can” model lets residents pay whatever they can afford to see the play. The play follows Inishmaan, a small, rocky island off the Irish coast whose residents are “painfully impoverished” farmers and fishermen. Bring a mask, proof of vaccination, and remember that the Studio Theater is on the second floor and is only accessible by stairs. Tickets available at www.lbplayhouse.org or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1. Regular tickets range from $14-24. Prices range.
Long Beach Municipal Band: 6:30 p.m. The Long Beach Municipal Band will perform at Marine Stadium (255 E. Paoli Way). The theme of the week is “Let’s Dance.” Fan-favorite Tony Galla returns with the studio band as the featured jazz artist. Free.
