The countdown to Halloween continues, and with it comes a new slate of seasonal events to haunt, terrify and entertain residents citywide.
Saturday brings Downtown Long Beach’s Fright Fest on Pine, Long Beach Community Media Art’s Film Spooktacular at PLACE LB and the free annual Halloween Carnival at Signal Hill Park. The following day, celebrate Día de los Muertos at Good Luck Vinyl Club’s 4th Street Mercado and the Museum of Latin American Art’s Day of the Dead festival. Plus, celebrate classic science fiction stories with Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s radio production of “War of the Worlds,” happening Friday through Sunday, and a Rocky Horror Night at Alex’s Bar Wednesday.
Fortunately, scaredy cats will still have plenty to do over the weekend. This Saturday and Sunday, the Long Beach Open Studio Tour heads Eastside, volunteers can join a beach cleanup at the Peninsula Saturday morning and Sunday’s Belmont Shore Book Fair will showcase the local literary scene. During the week, enjoy free events such as a tai chi class for Signal Hill seniors on Monday, Tuesday’s Family Dental Fair at the Family Resource Center and a movie trivia night Thursday at the Art Theatre of Long Beach.
Friday 10/23
Shoreline Showdown: 1 p.m. Formula Drift returns to Long Beach for its eighth and final race of 2026. But before Saturday’s main event on the downtown streets, gearheads can gather at and around the Long Beach Convention Center (300 E. Ocean Blvd.) for a sneak peek at the cars during practice and qualifying. Tickets are $69 online.
Pop-Up Concert: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. San Pedro-based publisher, artist and musician James Preston Allen will play with harmonic player Erik Kingshaug at the Long Beach Music Museum’s upcoming pop-up at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach (200 South Pine Ave.). During the show, Allen will play tracks from his 2020 album “Apparitions: Ghost on Pacific Avenue.” Free.
Fourth Fridays: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Every fourth Friday in Retro Row is celebrated with pop-ups, live music and an array of food and drink specials. Special festivities on Fourth Street to check out include local activist groups selling stickers and tote bags in front of Gusto Bread (2710 E. Fourth St.) and Page Against the Machine (2714 E. Fourth St.), as well as a bake sale fundraiser at Bel Canto Books (2106 E. Fourth St.), with proceeds going towards rent and medication for Gaza resident Amjad. Free.
‘The War of the Worlds’: 8 p.m. Experience an annual Halloween tradition at Helen Borgers Theatre (4250 Atlantic Ave.) via the Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s production of “The War of the Worlds.” On stage, this science-fiction classic plays as a radio broadcast, paying homage to Orson Welles’ seismic 1938 reading. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Performances are also on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the same location. Tickets are $21.50 online.
Saturday 10/24
Beach Cleanup: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. To help clean up the Peninsula following recent El Niño-related storms, several local businesses are hosting a beach cleanup at Claremont Beach & 54th Place. Cleanup supplies will be provided, along with breakfast burritos, coffee, café de olla, fresh fruits and snacks while supplies last. Volunteers are encouraged to bring reusable gloves, buckets and trash grabbers if they have them. RSVP on Eventbrite. Free.
Mega Community Resource Fair: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Whole Systems Learning (161 W. Victoria St.) is transforming its parking lot into a one-stop shop for community engagement during its inaugural Mega Community Resource Fair. Visitors can expect live music, a trunk-or-treat, giveaways, food vendors and a kids zone with a jumper and a DJ. Plus, service providers, job and employment resources and chances to connect with local organizations. RSVP online. Free.
Beauty, Brains, & Beats: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local youth ages 7-17 can sign up for an educational workshop centered on female empowerment and the art of DJ’ing at World Famous VIP Records (1028 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.), hosted by the VIP Family Foundation. Presenters include four women artists from LBC Park Jam and Grammy Award-winning emcee Rapsody. Registration is required to attend. Free.
Open Studio Tour: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For the final installment of this year’s Long Beach Open Studio Tour, local art admirers can peruse several creative studios and workspaces on the Eastside this Saturday and Sunday. For the full list of participating locations, check out the tour’s interactive map. Free.
Big Gayborhood Gathering: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Long Beach Proud and Hello Long Beach are teaming up for a day of inclusive camps, interactive artwork, LGBTQ+ makers and memorable performances for all ages at Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.). The event will have an official after-party at The Hare (1800 E. Broadway), beginning at 9 p.m. Free.
Halloween Carnival: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy carnival games, bounce houses, a trunk-or-treat and more during this family-friendly event at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.). Carnival wristbands are $5 for residents, $7 for non-residents and $7 for all who purchase them the day of the event; kids ages 1 and older must have a wristband to participate in all activities. Wristbands can be purchased at Signal Hill’s Parks, Recreation & Library Services office (1800 E. Hill St.) until Oct. 23.
Party to the Polls: Haunted Mansion: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The only thing scarier than Halloween? Figuring out ballot measures ahead of an election. That’s where Khmer Girls in Action and We Are California come in. During the Party to the Polls event at the Youth Movement and Education Center (2217 E. Sixth St.), residents can become informed voters through a ballot party, community resources and an educational haunted maze, plus enjoy a trunk-or-treat. RSVP online. Free.
Fright Fest on Pine: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. From East Broadway to Third Street on Pine Avenue, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance will have plenty of frights in store. This seasonal block party will feature local makers, spooky cocktails, a haunted house, a horror pop-up market, EZ Sip locations and paid activations. VIP passes, limited to 350 people, are $60 online and $80 the day of. Free entry.
Conscious Cinema: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Black Lives Matter Long Beach invites all to a screening and community discussion of Dr. Karen Baptiste’s Emmy Award-winning documentary “Preschool to Prison” at BLU Art & Wellness Gallery (580 Pine Ave.). The film outlines how the school-to-prison pipeline impacts Black and Brown children, especially those with disabilities, from an early age. RSVP at blmlongbeach.org/rsvp. Free.
PLACE LB Film Spooktacular: 8 p.m. Following in the frightening footsteps of Echo Park Film Center, Long Beach Community Media Arts (LBCMA) will host a spooky film night at PLACE LB (3923 Long Beach Blvd.). The programming will include selections on Super 8 and 16mm film, including spooky cartoons, along with live soundtracks by the LBCMA Film Club. Costumes are highly encouraged. There is a $6.66 suggested donation, but nobody will be denied entry due to lack of funds.
Sunday 10/25
QVC Mini Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for pottery, zines, books, plants, crochet masterpieces and much more during this monthly makers market from Queer Vegan Club, hosted at Wood Coffee Co. (2728 E. 10th St.). Free.
Belmont Shore Book Fair: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lovers of all things literary can converse with and purchase items from local writers, publishers and poets in the parking lot at Chase Bank (5200 E. Second St.). Attendees can discover new works, add to their collections and hear from community voices through poetry readings and panel discussions. Free.
Day of the Dead Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum of Latin American Art’s (MOLAA) 30th anniversary celebrations will continue with its annual Día de los Muertos celebration. The festivities at MOLAA (628 Alamitos Ave.) will include food vendors, genre-bending sets from DJ Caveman, traditional dance performances and a decorative catrina/catrin contest. RSVPs are required to attend. Free.
Trinketween: Noon to 4 p.m. The fourth annual iteration of its spooky season picnic from Momo’z Sonny Club will feature a community scrap swap table, a human and trinket costume contest, raffles, themed desserts and more at Heartwell Park (4055 N. Bellflower Blvd.). RSVP on Partiful. Free.
Zine and Collage Club: LA Zine Fest Prep Edition: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ahead of LA Zine Fest on Nov. 7, Studio Cerebellum will host an informative zine-making session at PLACE LB (3923 Long Beach Blvd.). Beginners are welcome to peruse the zine library and express themselves via this accessible medium. Free supplies and community-priced printing services will be available. Free.
4th Street Mercado: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Good Luck Vinyl Club is collaborating with 4th Street Long Beach and @valeriametzz on another edition of the 4th Street Mercado at 2105 E. Fourth St. Themed “Una Noche Bajo La Luna” (A Night Under the Moon), this event will commemorate Día de los Muertos and La Cosecha. The mercado will feature over 25 artisan and record vendors, art installations, all-vinyl DJ sets, live cumbia tunes and a pet costume contest (5 p.m.). Free.
Spooky Sunset Skate: 5:30 p.m. Long Beach Skate Club invites local women and non-binary skaters to its upcoming spooky-themed skate, with costumes and fall festive attire encouraged. Skaters will meet in front of Gaucho Beach (780 E. Shoreline Drive, Ste. B) before rolling out. Free.
Portal Night: Ghost Stories Magick Candle Dressing: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Channel Halloween energy, share ghost stories and craft magic candles with herbs and oils during this event at Twelfth House Tea Sanctuary (1950 W. Willow St.). All materials will be provided. Reservations are $27 on their website.
Monday 10/26
Tai Chi: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Residents ages 55+ can flow through a gentle tai chi class, led by instructor Angie Sierra, inside the Community Room of the Signal Hill Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Registration is required due to limited space. For more information, call 562-989-7330. Free.
Horror Movie Night: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Horror film fans can stop by The 4th Horseman (121 W Fourth St.) for the bar’s final silver screen scare of October and an all-night happy hour. Before the screening begins, the film will be introduced by curator Nick Kruse. Free.
Tuesday 10/27
Housing Committee Meeting: 2 p.m. Join Long Beach Residents Empowered (LiBRE) for the next Housing Committee Meeting at Long Beach City Hall (411 W. Ocean Blvd.). LiBRE plans on presenting Just Cause recommendations and invites community members to advocate for stronger protections to prevent displacement, share their stories and demand city leaders make necessary changes for residents. The nonprofit will host a virtual prep session on Monday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. for those who’d like help preparing for their public comment or want to learn more about the Just Cause campaign. RSVP for the prep session at bit.ly/justcauseprep2026. Free.
Family Dental Fair: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate Dental Hygiene Month with the Children’s Dental Health Clinic at the Family Resource Center (1301 Pine Ave.). Local families can stop by for oral health resources, complimentary dental screenings and oral care goodie bags for the first 50 attendees. Walk-ins are welcome, but early registration at tinyurl.com/FRCFamilyDentalFair is encouraged. Free.
Wednesday 10/28
Flu Vaccine Clinic: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Receive a free flu vaccination while supplies last, courtesy of the Long Beach Health Department, during this clinic at Burnett Neighborhood Library (560 E. Hill St.). Appointments are not required. Free.
Move & Groove Fitness: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a beginner-friendly workout in the Signal Hill Library’s Community Room (1800 E. Hill St.), featuring light strength training, low-impact cardio and dance-inspired movements. All fitness levels are welcome and no dance experience is required. To learn more or register, call 562-989-7330. Free.
Food Pantry: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those in need of food can pick up produce and groceries during the open pantry at Long Beach Community Table (151 W. Victoria St.). Open pantries are also held weekly on Tuesdays (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), Fridays (noon to 4 p.m.) and Saturdays (noon to 4 p.m.) at the same location. Additionally, hygiene products can be donated during this event. To give a monetary donation, visit Bit.ly/give-lbct. Free.
Rocky Horror Night: 6:30 p.m. To celebrate the legacy of the original Dr. Frank-N-Furter, actor Tim Curry, Alex’s Bar (2913 E. Anaheim St.) is hosting a “Rocky Horror Show”-themed party with all-night drink specials. The evening will begin with Rocky Horror trivia for teams of 4-6 people, followed by a dance party (starting at 9:30 p.m.) featuring DJ Mystere and live performances by the Bit of Mustard shadow cast. Trivia sign-ups start at 5:30 p.m. RSVP on Dice. Free.
Thursday 10/29
Family Cooking Class: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees will learn how to prepare nutrient-dense meals for the whole family through cooking demonstrations during this culinary class at the Long Beach Community Resource Center (5599 Atlantic Ave.). Walk-ins are welcome; call 562-256-9810 for more details. Free.
Sit and Sew: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hang out and work on your sewing projects alongside fellow sewers at PLACE LB (3923 Long Beach Blvd.). Radical Sewist will be around to answer any sewing questions during this community-informed event. Free.
Movie Trivia Night: 9:30 p.m. Cinephiles can head to the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.) to partake in its monthly film trivia event. Hosted by the theater’s film programmer, Kenna Wong Ghaill, the trivia will consist of five rounds, each with ten questions, plus chances for bonus points. Trivia contestants can play solo or in teams of up to 10 people — just no phones allowed. Prizes for winners and runner-ups include free tickets to upcoming shows and exclusive posters. Sign up online. 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.
