Things to do in Long Beach: Home Gurl Swap, film and photography meetups, drawing club and more!

Rigel Gutierrez crouches to get a shot of some blooming red flowers during the photo walk on May 10, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Events across Long Beach and Signal Hill are just as fun, exciting and diverse in 2026 as they’ve ever been, with options to relax, connect with neighbors or dive into hobbies among the community. 

Residents looking for some friendly competition can attend two gaming events at local libraries this week, either to face-off over chess boards Friday afternoon or play a variety of card and board games in a child-free environment Saturday afternoon.

Connect with nature in a variety of ways this week, with a sunrise walk along the beach on Friday, a sound bath Monday early evening, or do-si-do at an outdoor shopping complex on Wednesday. Entertainment this week includes a film and meet the filmmaker at the Art Theatre Saturday morning, Long Beach Playhouse’s new comedy “The Club of Broken Fasts,” a vinyl shop and social at Beachwood Brewing Sunday night and a craft and karaoke afternoon Tuesday. 

A father holds up his child while they learn to skate during the midday session at Pigeon’s Roller Rink in Long Beach on Dec. 22, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Siganl Tribune)

Friday 1/9

Roller Disco: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Skaters and beginners can enjoy a roller disco night at Pigeon’s Roller Rink at 2ND & PCH (6480 Pacific Coast Highway). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Pigeon’s website. 

Community Movie Night: 7 p.m. Join mutual aid group Care Culture Collaborative for a movie night at Rose Bar at the corner of Lindero Avenue and Broadway to watch “The Big Short,” a dark comedy that explores the 2008 housing and economic crash. Free. 

The neon lights and marquee of the Art Theatre of Long Beach illuminate the the sidewalks of 4th Street on Feb. 28, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Saturday 1/10

Free Food and Marketplace: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Food Finders is hosting a Community Marketplace and Food Distribution at Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.), where residents can get free food and access to resources. 

Good Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop from local vendors while sipping on coffee at Good Time’s (1322 Coronado Ave.) monthly market, featuring vintage goods, books, art, clothing, jewelry and more. Free. 

Screening & Meet the Filmmaker: 11 a.m. Film lovers are invited to the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.) for a screening of “Rebel With a Clause.” The documentary follows the story of grammar expert Ellen Jovin on a road trip across all 50 states, setting up tables to give grammar advice while using debates on punctuation to foster connection. Jovin will host her Grammar Table for 45 minutes before the screening, followed by a post-film Q&A with director Brandt Johnson and Jovin. Jovin will also be signing copies of her book. Tickets can be purchased on the theater’s website for $13.

Club Graphite: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Artists of all skill levels are invited to sketch together at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Participants can bring a work in progress, start a new drawing or just doodle. During this session, participants will explore blind contour drawing. Supplies will be provided. Children must have an adult with them. Free.

Saturday Social – Cards & Classics: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adults are invited to Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) for a grown-up game night featuring card and board games such as Uno, Phase 10, spades and dominoes. The event offers a relaxed, childfree environment. Free.

Nearly every wall in PLACE Long Beach’s workshop space serves a purpose, either spotlighting art from the community, promoting local resources or providing materials to create zines, posters and more. Though the studio was empty on May 6, 2025, art materials and free resources adorned the space. (Samantha Diaz | Signal Tribune)

Sunday 1/11

Running Sucks Club: 8 a.m. This running club is meant for people of all skill levels and enthusiasms, starting and ending at Sala Coffee and Win (3853 Atlantic Ave.). Free. 

Scrap & Yap: Noon to 4 p.m. Drop by PLACE (2172 Pacific Ave.) for a no bounds creative session to create collages using scraps, stickers, and found ephemera. This is a pay-what-you-can event and all supplies will be provided, though visitors are free to bring their own as well. 

Home Gurl Swap: Noon to 4 p.m. This sustainability-friendly event encourages people to bring in clean clothing, shoes, craft supplies, books and much more to swap with other people or simply take what you need at 425 E. First Street. Vinyl DJs will be playing sets, and all leftover donations will be taken to non profits and given directly to homeless communities. Free. 

Live Theater: 2 p.m. Theatergoers are invited to the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre (5021 E. Anaheim St.) for a playful stage adaptation of the 1985 film “The Breakfast Club,” reimagined in Shakespearean-style verse under the title “The Club of Broken Fast.” The comedy follows five very different teens stuck in Saturday detention as they joke, clash and connect, under the watch of their vice principal. Tickets can be purchased for $34 on the theater’s website.

Vinyl Shop & Social: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Music lovers are invited to Beachwood Brewing & Distilling (3630 Atlantic Ave.) to dig through crates of vinyl records while listening to vinyl sets. The event  will feature record vendors, DJs and drinks. Free.

Sound bath tools from Pexels.com

Monday 1/12

Belmont Shore Pier SoundBath: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants are invited to a healing soundbath on the sand at 3998 E. Allin St., hosted by Sound on the Sand. The inclusive event welcomes all. Attendees are encouraged to wear layers, and bring blankets and/or yoga mats. Pride flags will mark the sound bath area. There is a suggested donation of $11 to $33, but no one will be turned away if they can’t pay. 

School Choice Virtual Meeting: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Long Beach Unified School District will be streaming this virtual event on its YouTube channel to help families understand options for transitioning 5th graders to middle school.

A view of the front entrance of the Billie Jean King Main Library in Long Beach on May 13, 2022. The library was renamed in dedication to the Long Beach native and tennis player in 2019. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Tuesday 1/13

Family Craft & Karaoke: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Families with school-age children are invited to Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) for an hour of singing and crafting. Participants can choose from thousands of karaoke songs, while making a craft as they wait for their turn. Free.

Ready, Reset Vision Board: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Adults are invited to Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) for this workshop where participants can set their intentions and goals for 2026. Participants will design vision boards to reflect personal growth, career plans and future aspirations in a relaxed, supportive setting. All supplies will be provided. Free.

Sirley Ramirez lines up a shot through a window of a shop on Norse Way during a photo walk on May 10, 2023. Ramirez previously won last month’s contest for the photo walk for her photo matching the pastel theme. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Wednesday 1/14

Playdate for the Planet: 10 a.m. Parents and children can explore the El Dorado Nature Center (7550 E. Spring St.) with a storytime, nature walk and raffled off prizes, hosted by Not Just a Mom Club. Parking is $6. 

Photo Walk: 6 p.m. Budding photographers, professionals and those photo-curious can attend this walk around the Long Beach traffic circle (4400 Los Coyotes Diagonal) to meet other creatives and explore the city together. Free. 

Neighborhood Micro Grant Program Application Workshop: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Members of neighborhood associations and violence prevention organizations are invited to learn how to apply to grant funding provided by the City of Long Beach. The grant funding will be used on events that improve local neighborhoods. This informational workshop will be held at the School for Adults Cafeteria (171 W. Bort St.). Free.

Line Dance Night: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Step and slide to Western, R&B and pop hits at 2ND & PCH (6400 Pacific Coast Hwy.). All ages welcome. No partner needed. Attendees should bring comfortable shoes. Free.

The adult computer lab at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood library on January 4, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Thursday 1/15

Doing Business with the City Webinar: 11 a.m. to noon. Business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to attend this virtual workshop to learn how to work with the City of Long Beach. The webinar will cover the types of goods and services the City purchases, the contracting process, and how to register a business on the City’s online procurement platform. Registration is required through the City’s online event calendar to receive the Zoom link and call-in details. Free.

Long Beach Fire Department Recruitment Webinar: 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Individuals interested in a career with the Long Beach Fire Department are invited to attend this virtual webinar focused on what to expect during the Long Beach Fire Academy. The town hall–style session will feature guest speakers and provide guidance on exam preparation, oral interviews, fitness expectations and the overall academy experience. Registration through the City’s online event calendar is required. The Zoom link will be sent to participants by email after registration. Free.

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