There’s plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit this coming week. Attendees can craft sustainable winter wreaths and design miniature winter-themed dioramas at neighborhood libraries, enjoy a sensory-friendly visit with Santa at a shopping complex, and attend a holiday tea time downtown.
The weekend kicks off with two opportunities for some holiday shopping on Friday evening, with yuletide night markets in Bluff Heights and Bixby Knolls.
As the week goes on, there will be opportunities to learn about local government initiatives at two upcoming public meetings, one focusing on District 3 and the other on the ongoing homelessness problem.
Friday 12/5
Needful Things Night Market: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local coffee shop Alder & Sage (366 Cherry Ave.) will hosts its second seasonal night market, featuring local vendors selling their goods, including books, ceramics, flowers, natural wine, holiday wreaths and more. Free.
Uptown Village Market Holiday: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Holiday shoppers are invited to explore over 100 vendors during this festive market at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.). Attendees can also enjoy live music, food trucks and craft stations. This market will take place during the monthly First Fridays art walk in Bixby Knolls. Free.
Adult Beginner Salsa Class: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Learn to salsa dance at En Point Dance & Fitness (713 Termino Ave.). This beginner-friendly salsa class is for adults trying dance for the first time or anyone curious about salsa. Tickets cost $20 for one person or $32 for a couple on Eventbrite.
Saturday 12/6
Rose Park Neighborhood Meetup: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Neighbors and friends are invited to this meetup at Rose Park at 2720 E. Eighth St. There will be an eco-friendly craft, a rose medallion workshop, a trip to the 4th Street Farmers Market and lunch for attendees. Free.
Long Beach Plant Fest: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plant lovers are invited to the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.) for a festive market featuring a wide variety of plants, holiday-themed workshops and local vendors. General admission tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $12.51.
Author Talk and Book Signing: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to a discussion on the book “Plain Jayne” featuring author Jayne Kennedy at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Journalist Jackie Rae will moderate the conversation. Free.
Found Family Vendor Mart: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Shop small at this queer and trans marketplace hosted by Long Beach Forward (2217 E. Sixth St.). Curated goods from local vendors will be sold, and visitors can receive free STI/HIV testing and PrEP/Pep. There is a $5-10 suggested entry that will go to immigrant families.
Sustainable Winter Wreaths Workshop: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to create their own seasonal wreaths during this workshop at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.). Attendees will learn about the local habitat and eco-friendly practices while designing their own winter wreath using sustainable materials. This event is appropriate for adults and teens. Free.
Dark & Roasty Winter Beer Fest: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Long Beach Beer Lab (518 W. Willow St.) will host its first-ever winter beer festival. Those over the age of 21 can try samples of dark lagers, black IPAs, stouts, barleywines, porters and other seasonal brews from local and national breweries. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food vendors and pop-up makers. General admission tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $44.52.
Sunday 12/7
Silent Santa: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Families are invited to a quiet, sensory-friendly meet up with Santa at 2ND & PCH (6400 Pacific Coast Hwy.). Designed for children and adults with sensory sensitivities, this event offers a calm environment before stores open, giving guests the chance to meet Santa without overstimulating noise or crowds. Admission is free, but registration through Eventbrite is required. Each reservation includes about five minutes of one-on-one time with Santa. Holiday photo packages will be available for purchase starting at $29.99.
Made in the Neighborhood: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to a day of art and community at MacArthur Park (1321 E. Anaheim St.). Attendees can try their hand at papermaking, screen-printing, recycled fashion, custom chainstitching and more. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Free.
Latino Comics Expo: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual event at the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.), brings together Latin American comic creators and enthusiasts. The expo will include an artist alley, panels, children’s workshops, food vendors and more. Free.
Holiday Tea Experience: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guests are invited to enjoy a festive afternoon tea featuring a three-course tea service and live entertainment in downtown Long Beach (105 W. Pine Ave.). Attendees can also create their own fascinator at the onsite hat cart. Tickets can be purchased starting at $87.21 on Eventbrite.
International Tamales Festival: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tamales from different cultures will be highlighted and devoured at this cultural festival at the Scottish Rite Event Center (855 Elm Ave.). There will be tequila tastings, food and retail vendors, live music dancing, a kids zone, a full bar, a tamale contest and more. General admission is $12 and can be purchased online.
Monday 12/8
Coffee with a Cop: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Join East Division officers for coffee and conversation at a Starbucks inside a local Target (5760 E. Seventh Street). Get to know the officers in your neighborhood during this informal gathering. Free.
LBFD P.R.E.P Workout: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Long Beach Fire Department invites anyone interested in becoming a firefighter to this workout that will prepare them for the Physical Abilities Test. The workout will be held at the Long Beach Fire Dept. Station 17 (2245 Argonne Ave.). Participants are asked to wear workout clothes and bring water. Clothing will get dirty during the workout. Registration through the City’s online event calendar is required. Free.
Beer Carols: 7 p.m. Ten Mile Brewing (1136 E. Willow St.) is hosting its annual night of Christmas carols and beer, a sing-along event with music provided by local churches and food sold by Shady Grove Foods. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and singing will begin at 7 p.m. A portion of proceeds will go to the Long Beach Rescue Mission.
Tuesday 12/9
Family Storytime: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Families of small children are invited to the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.) to enjoy stories, songs, crafts and play time. Free.
Writing the Fires: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Teens are invited to a creative writing workshop at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.), where they will write poems exploring themes of wildfires, climate change and the changing world. This event will be led by Nancy Lynée Woo, Poetry Mentor for the Long Beach Youth Poet Laureate program. Participants will read poetry, discuss what they’ve read and write their own poems. No poetry experience is required. Poems written during the session will be eligible for publication in a poetry anthology on L.A. wildfires. This event is open to teens ages 13 to 18. Register through the City’s online calendar. Free.
Filmmaking Open Lab: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Capping off a night of open hours at PLACE (2172 Pacific Ave.), Long Beach Community Media Arts is hosting two hours of open lab time, where filmmakers or those curious about the craft can learn from others and work on projects. Free.
Wednesday 12/10
Preschool Discover Hour: Noon to 1 p.m. Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to participate in hands-on activities and explore different concepts at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Free.
Toy Drive and 5K: 6 p.m. Alley Cat Deliveries and Downtown Runners are hosting this toy drive, holiday run and celebration beginning at the Edison Theatre (213 E. Broadway). Each toy entered in the drive is good for one raffle ticket, and running is not required to attend the party. There will also be a shoe demo, music by J Midnight, live portraits, massages, food vendors, a hot chocolate bar, beer and more. Free.
District 3 Townhall: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents of District 3 are invited to attend this town hall at the Recreation Park Community Center (4900 E. Seventh St.). Attendees are welcome to arrive at 6:00 p.m. to speak with City staff before the meeting begins. A link to watch a livestream of the full meeting is available on the City’s online event calendar. Free.
Thursday 12/11
Bird Walk: 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Ranchos Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Road) will open early to bird enthusiasts to enjoy the space on the second Thursday of each month. This is a guided walk with staff available to answer bird and nature-related questions. Please meet in the parking lot at 8 a.m. for a 90-minute stroll. Visitors are encouraged to bring their binoculars. Free, but RSVP is encouraged.
Winter Holiday Book Nook Dioramas: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The public is invited to a hands-on miniature-making workshop at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). Participants will design and create a tiny winter-themed “book nook” diorama that fits neatly on a bookshelf, using a variety of materials. All supplies will be provided. This event is appropriate for adults and kids over the age of 12. Space is limited to 15 participants. Free.
Hearing Loss Meeting: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Join the Long Beach/Lakewood chapter of the Hearing Loss Association at their holiday party at the Weingart Center (5200 Olivia Ave.). A game or two will be played before attendees get tips on how to navigate holiday situations like finding a quiet place to chat, facing each other and helpful ways to hear better during the holidays. For more information text 213-705-3629. Free.
HOME Community Roadshow: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to learn about the root causes of homelessness, the City’s response strategies and ongoing initiatives to support unhoused residents during this event at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). City staff and community partners will be present to answer questions. Attendees can also take part in hands-on activities, including assembling hygiene kits for outreach efforts. Free parking is available in the Civic Center parking garage. Translation services will be offered in Spanish, Tagalog and Khmer. The City also asks attendees to bring unused hygiene items such as soap, socks, shampoo, razors and toothbrushes to donate. Free.
To submit your event for our weekly Around Town edition, please send all information including date, times, location and pricing to newspaper@signaltribune.com. Submissions do not guarantee publication.
To guarantee promotion for your event, please contact legals@signaltribune.com and ask about our advertising options.
