Spring is making its way around the corner, ushered in with sunny skies peeking through clouds and tons of outdoor activities in Long Beach and Signal Hill.
If you’re in the mood for some premature spring cleaning, there is a Willow Springs restoration day Friday afternoon and a Willmore neighborhood cleanup Saturday morning. After cleaning Saturday morning and munching on free donuts, residents can make their way to Los Cerritos Park for a pet parade and chances to adopt a furry friend.
There’s plenty of chances to celebrate various groups this week, such as the 50th annual Pow Wow Native American festival Saturday and Sunday at Cal State Long Beach, which will be going on all day. There is an International Women’s Day celebration at Long Beach Exchange Saturday night, a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl in Bixby Knolls Sunday afternoon and a Hindu Holi Party at the CSULB rugby field 3 p.m. Sunday.
Friday 3/10
Chess Club: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Chess enthusiasts of all ages and skill-levels are invited to play together at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). Free.
Restoration Friday: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help clean and tend to Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.). Volunteers will be watering native plants, pulling weeds, spreading mulch, picking up litter and more.
Saturday 3/11
Marine Boat Auction: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The City’s Marine Bureau will be holding a boat auction at the Alamitos Bay Marina Office (205 Marina Dr.). Bidding will begin at 9 a.m. Cash, credit cards and debit cards will be accepted.
Neighborhood Cleanup: 9 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help clean the Willmore neighborhood. Cleaning supplies will be provided. Coffee and donuts will be available for volunteers. All volunteers should meet at 347 W 7th St.
Mini-Makers Pop-Up Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local business Adelita’s Revenge (4007 E 4th St.) will be hosting various mini-businesses started by children. Free to attend.
Furry Friends Faire: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pets and their people are invited to march together in a parade at Los Cerritos Park (3750 Del Mar Ave.). Pets in need of homes will also be available for adoption. Free.
Pow Wow: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The 50th annual CSU Puvungna Pow Wow will be returning from a three-year hiatus to celebrate and honor Native American traditions and culture on the Cal State Long Beach campus (1250 Bellflower Blvd.). The event will feature traditional dancing, singing and drumming as various tribes gather from across the country. Vendors will be selling Native American crafts, clothing and food. Free to attend.
The Sweet Life: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local beauty, cosmetic and personal care brand Rooted & True will be having a pop up sale at Plantiitas (2011 E 4th St.). Free to attend.
The 714 Market: Noon to 7 p.m. There will be a celebration of International Women’s Day at the Long Beach Exchange (4150 McGowen St.). Over 40 local vendors will be selling their products. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The event will include live music, children’s activities, face painting and more. This celebration is family-friendly and pet-friendly. Free to attend.
Skondovitch: A Legacy: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Greenly Art Space (2698 Junipero Ave.) will host an opening reception for its newest exhibit honoring the work of Alfred Skondovitch, an abstract expressionist who created art from 1927 to 2011. Free to attend.
Sunday 3/12
Love Letters To My Inner Child: 9 a.m. Therapist Cynthia Perez will be hosting a workshop to help participants connect to their inner child through journaling and meditation. The workshop will be held at Casita Bookstore (1440 E 4th St.). Participants will receive a complimentary swag bag. Tickets cost $55, and can be purchased at linktr.ee/WellMamaLB.
Artisan Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shopping complex 2nd & PCH (6400 Pacific Coast Hwy.) will be hosting a community marketplace. Local vendors will be selling their products. Live music will be playing. This event is pet-friendly. Free to attend.
Almost St. Patrick’s Day: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The local businesses of Bixby Knolls will partake in an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring an at-your-own-pace pub crawl, traditional Irish dishes at a handful of restaurants, live music and more. Residents can hop on the Brewery Bus to stop at multiple locations, some of which will have festive apparel and other surprises. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for kids, both of which come with food and drink tickets.
Holi Party: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The South Asian Student Association will be holding a celebration of the Hindu holiday Holi on the CSULB rugby field (1250 North Bellflower Blvd.). Attendees will throw colorful powder on each other and enjoy food, drinks and music. Tickets cost $10 for students and $15 for everyone else, and can be purchased at sasacsulb.wordpress.com/.
Oscars Viewing Party: 3:30 p.m. The Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.) will be hosting its annual red carpet gala and fundraiser, where the public can watch a live-viewing of the 2023 Oscars. There will be prizes for those who predict category winners, a silent auction, food and drinks, a photo booth and more. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased on the Art Theatre’s website.
Autism Families Night: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) welcomes adults and children with autism, along with their families, for a special night at the aquarium. Attendees will be able to view all exhibits, excluding Lorikeet Forest. Advanced registration is required. To register, visit https://pacific.to/autismnight or call 562 590 3100, extension 0. Tickets cost $7.
Monday 3/13
Author Talk: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Long Beach Public Library is organizing a virtual discussion by author David Epstein on his book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.” The book highlights the advantages of diverse skills and experiences in the working world. To register, visit https://libraryc.org/lbpl/upcoming. Free.
Spanish Storytime: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children of all ages will be able to enjoy Spanish stories read by staff at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Free.
Tuesday 3/14
Senior Bingo: 10 a.m. Seniors are invited to play bingo together at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Free.
Resume Workshop: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Local nonprofit Pacific Gateway will be teaching job-seekers between the ages of 14 and 30 how to write an effective resume. The workshop will be held at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Free
Wednesday 3/15
Picture This: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. A monthly art workshop for children will be held at Bay Shore Neighborhood Library (195 Bay Shore Ave.) Art projects will be geared towards elementary school students, but all ages are welcome. Children will get messy, so play clothes are strongly recommended. Free.
Craft It Out: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. During this monthly crafting event for teens at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.), participants will learn how to make an artificial bouquet of flowers using pipe cleaners. All supplies will be provided. Free.
Thursday 3/16
Job Interview Prep: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Local nonprofit Pacific Gateway will be teaching job-seekers between the ages of 14 and 30 different tips and tricks they can use in job interviews. The workshop will be held at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Free.
Cupcake Wars: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Teens are invited to compete in a cupcake decorating contest at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E Anaheim St.). Competitors will have to create a cupcake design based on their favorite piece of technology. The winner will receive a prize. Free.
