From niche night markets to beginner-friendly workshops, this week has fun things to do for everyone in Long Beach and Signal Hill.
Plenty of family-friendly events offer entertainment and resources, such as a picnic and game day at Reservoir Park Friday, the sixth annual Celebration of the Young Child event in downtown Long Beach Saturday, Touch-A-Truck near Granada Beach on Sunday, a positive affirmation workshop for kids Wednesday night or a wellness workshop Thursday night.
Long Beach’s vibrant creative scene is on full display this week with events like Compound’s ceramicist artist residency opening reception and workshop on Saturday afternoon, a trinket and zine swap at Recreational Coffee Saturday night, an intro to improv workshop at Improv for Life Sunday morning and a community mosaic mural Thursday afternoon.
There’s a space for a variety of niche interests, such as a Hello Kitty Dodger night market Friday, an Avril Lavigne-themed drag show Friday night, a Holland Festival Sunday, a South Coast Orchid Society meeting Monday or a Dungeons & Dragons three-day campaign for teens from Tuesday to Thursday.
Friday 4/25
Virtual Reality Experience: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Residents can immerse themselves in the virtual reality travel platform “BRINK Traveler VR” at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Free, but advanced registration is required by calling 562-989-7323.
Family Picnic and Games: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join other families for an hour of games at Reservoir Park (3315 Gundry Ave.). Free.
Los Cerritos Elementary School Centennial Celebration: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. This open house is open to the entire community, celebrating 100 years of learning at Los Cerritos Elementary School (515 W. San Antonio Drive), with games, crafts, food and history exhibits. The school will also be fundraising to revitalize their urban garden. Free.
Hello Kitty Dodger Night Market: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Browse through vendors selling unique items, meet Hello Kitty, purchase food and drinks and take part in fun photo ops, all while the Dodgers vs. Pirates game is shown at Partake Collective (456 Elm Ave.). Free entry.
Avril Fools Drag Show: 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Head to Wood Coffee Co. (2728 E. 10th St.) for “Avril Fools,” an Avril Lavigne-themed drag show celebrating the pop-punk icon. This performance will feature drag queens Peppa Bysmal, Ronnie Rotic, Mondo Cool and Vlad the Impaleher. Come in your best Y2K outfit for a chance to win a nostalgic fashion contest. This event will also include a raffle, livestream option and $10 in-person tickets available. Doors open at 7 p.m. Attendees are required to wear face masks. Tickets can be purchased for $12.51 on Eventbrite or $10 at the door.
Saturday 4/26
City Nature Challenge: 9 a.m. to noon. Take part in an international event organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County by exploring Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.) and contributing images of plants, animals, fungi and more to the iNaturalist app, and see what others are finding in their community. Free.
Food Finders Celebration: 9 a.m. to noon. This community marketplace at Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.) will celebrate the growth and impact of nonprofit Food Finders, which saves 1.3 million pounds of food each month to distribute to those in need. The event will offer community resources, activities for kids, pet adoptions, low-cost pet vaccines and a youth soccer clinic. Food distribution will begin at 10 a.m. Free.
Celebration of the Young Child: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This annual Long Beach celebration works to connect parents and children with important educational, developmental and health resources. There will be a sensory exploration area for children, music and movement for toddlers, story times, performances and early screenings focused on development, speech and eyesight at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) and Lincoln Park (101 Pacific Ave.). Free.
Cambodian Open Market: Noon to 6 p.m. In celebration of Cambodian Heritage Month there will be an open market at 2nd & PCH (6400 E. Pacific Coast Highway) with over 45 local vendors, Hanuman and Bamboo dances by Chanchaya Khmer Culture Heritage, an interactive audience dance, Khmer and English classic songs, a martial arts demonstration and plenty of food options. Free.
Record Fair: Noon to 6 p.m. Music lovers can peruse through various vendors selling vinyls and swap records at Ambitious Ales (4019 Atlantic Ave.) while listening to live sets and enjoying craft beer. Free to attend.
Artist Residency Opening Reception: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local ceramicist Beth Bowman is unveiling her residency at Compound’s gift shop (1395 Coronado Ave.) with a workshop featuring Jordan Tracy of Clay Day, followed by a reception at 1 p.m. with light refreshments. Free tickets can be reserved on Eventbrite.
Trinket and Zine Swap: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Donate, trade and receive new stickers, zines, costume jewelry and other trinkets at this swap hosted by Biggest Little Zine Fair at Recreational Coffee (237 Long Beach Blvd. Suite A). There will be a giveaway table, or people can take part in 1:1 swaps with one another. Free.
Sunday 4/27
Touch-A-Truck: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public can look through, sit in and touch about 100 large trucks, tractors, military, public safety and construction vehicles at this annual event at a beachfront parking lot (5000 E. Ocean Blvd.). Attendees are asked to bring a jar of peanut butter or other canned foods. Free.
Intro to Improv Workshop: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Try something new with this improv comedy workshop hosted by Held2gether at Improv for Life (4321 Atlantic Ave.). Open to adults 18 and older, this two-hour session is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to get back into improv. No experience necessary. Free.
Holland Festival – Dutch King’s Day LA: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate Dutch King’s Day at the 35th annual Holland Festival at Long Beach POA Park (7390 Carson Blvd.), an Amsterdam-style outdoor party honoring the birthday of King Willem Alexander. Enjoy traditional Dutch foods like kroketten, bitterballen and poffertjes, as well as Indonesian street fare, Dutch games, a flea market, photo ops and a lively Heineken beer garden. Tickets are $10 per person; children 12 and under are free.
Fixit Clinic: Noon to 3 p.m. Rather than throwing out broken items, bring them to this clinic at Sports Basement (2100 Bellflower Blvd.), where coaches can teach you how to repair them. Bring items such as small appliances, toys, electronics, clothing, jewelry and bicycles. Free.
Death Cafe – Spring Rebirth: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Discuss themes of rebirth, renewal and living in the present during this open conversation hosted by Fair Trade Long Beach (4105 N. Bellflower Blvd., Unit B). Part of the global Death Cafe movement, this gathering invites adults over the age of 18 to share stories, ask questions and explore philosophical ideas about death in a supportive environment. Light refreshments will be provided. Free.
Monday 4/28
Senior DIY Craft: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Residents 55 and older can create a beautiful spring wreath out of flowers and leaves at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Free, but registration is required by calling 562-989-7330.
Community Feedback Meeting: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Residents are invited to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.) to share their ideas and feedback on proposed changes to the library’s garden space. The event will feature participatory planning boards, a garden design activity, updates on the space and light refreshments. Free.
Candlelight Meditation: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join Peace Point Meditation for a serene, family-friendly evening of meditation under the stars at East Granada Beach (5374 E. Ocean Blvd.). This meditation session will be led by a Buddhist monk. The event includes a guided meditation, candle lighting and complimentary snacks. Chairs will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own blanket or seat. Free, but donations are welcome.
South Coast Orchid Society: 7 p.m. Orchid enthusiasts can learn from Tim Culbertson on “The Journey of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum from Its Discovery to the Present” at the Whaley Park Community Center (5620 E. Atherton St.). Attendees can learn the long history of this particular orchid, learn how to read orchid labels and see orchids grown by other members of the society. Free.
Roadcats Moto Club: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This club meets once a month for those in the LGBTQ+ community who want to meet other motorcycle riders and allies. This month’s meeting is at The Crest (5935 Cherry Ave.), a local gay bar. The front parking lot will be reserved for bikes on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees can enjoy pizza and finger foods. Cash is recommended, but cards will be accepted. RSVP online is encouraged. Free.
Tuesday 4/29
Meditation: Noon to 1 p.m. This mindful meditation session will be led by Heidi Girling, the coordinator for health and wellness promotion for Student Health Services at Cal State Long Beach, in the Carolyn Kleefeld Campagna Contemporary Art Museum. (1250 Bellflower Blvd.). Free.
Dungeons & Dragons: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids in the 6th to 12th grades are invited to embark on a fantasy adventure at El Dorado Neighborhood Library (2900 Studebaker Road) through Dungeons & Dragons, a collaborative tabletop role-playing game. Players will solve mysteries, battle monsters and complete quests over three consecutive days, from Tuesday through Thursday. Attending all three days is encouraged but not required. Registration is required due to limited space—sign up on the City’s online calendar or call 562-570-3136. Free.
Wednesday 4/30
Affirmation Seed Planting for Kids: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. School-age children are invited to celebrate Earth Month with this uplifting activity at Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.). Kids will write positive affirmations on seed paper, then plant their affirmations in a pot to take home. No registration required. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Free.
Community Board Games: 6 p.m. Every week, board game lovers 21 and older meet up at The Wicked Wolf’s (2332 Pacific Ave.) upstairs den. Local vendor Bocaditos will be selling tacos. Free entry.
Thursday 5/1
Senior Walking Club: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Seniors can meet up and make connections with an hour of light walking at Reservoir Park (3315 Gundry Ave.). Free.
Community Mosaic: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Neighbors can contribute to a mosaic-style mural being created in the alleyway behind Safe Refuge, north of Seventh Street from Obispo to Freeman Avenue, at this workshop hosted by the Rose Park Neighborhood Association. Residents can come to Rose Park (Eighth Street and Orizaba Avenue) and put pieces on the mural. Free.
Launch Wellness Workshop: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Join the Children’s Institute at Future LB (508 W. Willow St.) for a workshop focused on promoting mental and emotional well-being. Learn mindfulness practices, stress management techniques and self-care routines designed to support overall wellness. Free.
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