This week includes the introduction of a new month; a time for reflection, new beginnings and fun things to do in Long Beach and Signal Hill.
Residents can visit various local businesses to participate in Long Beach’s first Bring Your Own Week to reduce single-use plastics, learn how to create their own worm farm with Long Beach Mushrooms Saturday morning or attend an online workshop on how to reduce waste through the holidays Wednesday evening.
Festivals are filling up the week, starting with a Washington neighborhood music festival Friday night, a Southeast Asia festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific Saturday, a tasty Ubefest in the East Village Arts District Saturday and smaller markets and fairs throughout the week.
Friday 9/29
Community Violence Listening Session: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Members of the public are invited to express their feelings and opinions about violence in the community at George Washington Middle School (1450 Cedar Ave.). This event is organized by multiple local nonprofit organizations including Centro CHA, the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach, the United Cambodian Community and more. Free.
Washington Neighborhood Music Festival: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to listen to live music at 14th Street Park (intersection of Cedar Avenue & 14th Street). The event will also feature raffles, prizes and health resources. Free.
Saturday 9/30
Etch & Catch: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Up to 240 people can have their VIN or license plate number etched onto their catalytic converter by the Long Beach Police Department at the Long Beach Health Department parking lot (2525 Grand Ave.). This will help police track and recover a catalytic converter if it gets stolen. Free.
Southeast Asia Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) will host its 19th annual Southeast Asia Day where residents can take in cultural displays, listen to music, watch dances and witness an award ceremony. The festival will highlight the cultures of Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Entry is included with a general admission ticket purchase.
Worm Farm Class: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Long Beach Mushrooms will be teaching participants how to use substrate to create their own worm farm. This event is appropriate for all ages. Adult tickets can be purchased on Long Beach Mushroom’s website for $35. Tickets for kids 12 and under are half-price. Spots are limited.
Kindness Fair: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach will host a Community Open House and Kindness Fair for families to learn about the City’s afterschool programs and clubs at 700 E Del Amo Ave. The event will include games, prizes and food. Free.
LB Ubefest: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A festival celebrating and showcasing different foods that contain ube, a purple yam from the Philippines. Multiple different vendors will be selling their ube products in the East Village Arts District, on First Street between Elm Avenue and Linden Avenue. Free to enter.
St. Mary Medical Center Centennial Birthday Party: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to the 100-year celebration of St. Mary Medical Center (1050 Linden Ave.), which will feature food, entertainment, children’s activities, a marketplace and more. Free.
LB Sake Day: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can enjoy craft sake from Japan and local brewers while learning about the origins of the drink from experts at Ranchos Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Road). Tickets range from $25 for designated driver to $75 for VIP and all proceeds go to Ranchos Los Cerritos.
Sunday 10/1
Kidney Walk: 9 a.m. This walk will raise funds for those living with chronic kidney disease. The event will take place at Marina Green Park (386 E Shoreline Dr.). Participants should aim to get enough sponsors to raise $250 for their run. For more information, visit kidneywalk.org.
Angel Beach Flea Market: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A variety of vendors will be selling their products at Long Beach City College (1305 E Pacific Coast Hwy), ranging from vintage clothing, jewelry, rugs, furniture, hats, plants, toys, pins and more. Friendly dogs are welcome. Free to enter.
Vegan Brunch & Kitten Adoption: Noon to 5 p.m. Goodtime Long Beach will host a vegan brunch twice a month at its cafe (1322 Coronado Ave.). Residents can enjoy food from five vegan vendors to pair with wine, beer or fresh coffee. Kittens will be available to adopt. Entry is free.
Photographer’s Night At The Aquarium: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Professional and amateur photographers are invited to the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) to get their dream photos of sea life without worrying about people getting in their shots. Tickets can be purchased for $45 on the Aquarium’s website.
Monday 10/2
Meatless Mondays: 4 p.m. A variety of vegan food vendors will be selling their dishes at Trademark Brewing (233 East Anaheim St.). Free to enter.
Vida Latina: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Local residents are invited to celebrate Latine heritage at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Chicano artist Frank Romero will lead a workshop where participants will make their own paper cruising cars. All materials will be provided. Free.
Group Run: 6:30 p.m. The Long Beach Running Club hosts a weekly run to the top of Signal Hill. Runners will meet at the intersection of Willow Street and Cherry Avenue outside the Home Depot. Free.
Read to Dogs: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Young children can practice reading to certified therapy dogs at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Reading to dogs is meant to build a child’s self-confidence as they learn to read. Free.
Tuesday 10/3
Strength & Stretch for Seniors: 11 a.m. to noon. Residents 55 and over are invited to this flexibility workshop at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Free.
Mobile Recess: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kids between the ages of 5 and 14 are invited to participate in sports and arts and crafts in a safe environment during this City-run after-school program at Rose Park (800 Orizaba Ave.). Free.
Trivia Night: 7 p.m. Those 21 and older are invited to the Auld Dubliner (71 S Pine Ave.) to participate in a weekly trivia competition hosted by America’s Pub Quiz. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Free to attend.
Night at the Observatory: 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Cal State Long Beach Department of Physics and Astronomy invites residents to the Hall of Science for a night of wonder every Tuesday evening through Dec. 5. Parking lot E7 is the nearest to the Hall of Science building on the CSULB campus (1250 Bellflower Blvd.) and the roof is accessible by the outdoor staircase. Check @CSULBPhysics Twitter page for cancellations. The event is free, but parking on-campus is $10.
Wednesday 10/4
Baby & Toddler Storytime: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Babies and their caregivers are invited to Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.) to enjoy stories and playtime. Free.
Celebrate More, Waste Less Workshop: 6 p.m to 7 p.m. In this online workshop hosted by the City of Long Beach, residents will learn how to reduce waste and packaging during the upcoming holiday season. To register for this virtual event, visit the City’s online calendar. Free.
Thursday 10/5
Civic Center Master Plan Workshop: 11 a.m. to noon. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to the Signal Hill City Council (2175 Cherry Ave.) to watch a presentation about the new Civic Center Master Plan. Residents are encouraged to ask questions and share their thoughts. Free.
Preschool Without Walls: Noon to 2 p.m. The nonprofit Preschool Without Walls holds educational events that prepare parents and their children to begin school. During this event at the Burnett Neighborhood Library (560 E Hill St.), children will play and learn together while parents receive helpful information to prepare them to enroll their child and support them in school. This event is geared towards families with children ages 5 and younger. Free.
English Conversation Club: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. English language learners are invited to practice English conversations together at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). This is an informal gathering and a safe space for anyone trying to learn English. Free.
Tenants Workshop: 6 p.m. The first of three virtual workshops hosted by LiBRE teaching residents about their rights as renters, what to do when served with an eviction notice and other protections. Check LiBRE’s Instagram page, @wearelbre for the Zoom link. Free.
