With Halloween in the rearview and Thanksgiving on the horizon, Long Beach offers a variety of events where you can show your gratitude.
Residents can continue celebrating Día de los Muertos during First Fridays in Bixby Knolls, get free food at the Grab N’ Go Pantries (also on Friday), check out a fall clothing swap Saturday or donate food during Let’s Help our Neighbors across North Long Beach on Sunday.
There’s also a secret comedy show with Don’t Tell Comedy Friday night, a Veterans Day Celebration and Tree Lighting Celebration at the Long Beach Exchange (LBX) on Saturday, Movies on the Mary: The Hunger Games Monday, Pixar Cars’ Trivia Night Wednesday and Charity Drag Bingo on Thursday.
Friday 11/6
Grab N’ Go Pantries: Various times. Help Me Help You will have its food pantry at Stevenson Elementary School (515 Lime Ave.) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (walk-ups only) and at Revive Church (668 Obispo Ave.) from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (walk-up and drive-through). No registration, ID or proof of income is required. View the full schedule at helpmehelpu.org/ggng. Free.
First Fridays: Celebrating Día de los Muertos: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Honor the lives of loved ones who passed at First Fridays in Bixby Knolls, with an emphasis on honoring cultural tradition through art, music and tradition. Adelaide Pilar Band will play cumbia and Latin rock at Lola’s Mexican Cuisine (4140 Atlantic Ave.) and Califas Band will play at Ground Control (4313 Atlantic Ave.). There will be a Zoot Suit Fashion Show (hosted by El Pachuco Zoot Suits) in the main room at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.) For more information, visit bixbyknollsinfo.com/events/first-fridays/. Free.
Don’t Tell Comedy: 8 p.m. Get some laughs in with Don’t Tell Comedy’s 21+ secret comedy show in Downtown Long Beach. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale for $32 per person and it’s a 21+ show. The precise address will be emailed to ticket holders at 8 a.m. on the day of the event and the comedians remain unknown until they take the stage. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale for $32 per person. For more information, visit donttellcomedy.com/shows/long-beach-76c4471e/.
Funk Soul First Fridays: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Enjoy vinyl funk sounds from the ‘60s to now, spun by DJ Music Man Miles and Funky Ghetto at the Bamboo Club (3522 E. Anaheim St.), with a $5 cover charge at the door.
Saturday 11/7
Kitchen Pail Distribution: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Long Beach Community Compost will give away kitchen pails to Long Beach residents (one per household). They will also distribute seed packets, California poppy seed balls, zines, compost and coloring sheets, while supplies last, at Bret Harte Library Patio (1595 W. Willow St.). Attendees can also participate in a Fall Plant Swap of plants, cuttings, seeds or gently used gardening tools. Free.
Veterans Day Celebration: noon to 4 p.m. Celebrate, recognize and honor veterans during the Veterans Day Celebration at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.). The celebration includes a veterans and community resource fair, food trucks, a beer garden, a kids’ zone, a boot-camp-style obstacle course and all-day DJ sets by Mr. Quick and bands The Satin Dollz and Knyght Ryder. Free.
Fall Clothing Swap: 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your own blankets, enjoy a free warm meal and make some friends during Care Culture Collaborative’s fall clothing swap at Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave., at the corner of Cherry and First). Attendees are welcome to bring clothes to swap or donate. People can stay and take clothes back home with them or leave items with Care Culture Collaborative and they’ll donate any leftovers. Food will be served from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the clothing swap is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
LBX Tree Lighting Celebration: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy an entire day of holiday fun with local makers, holiday crafts and entertainment, a tree lighting (6:15 p.m.) and appearances from Santa (6:15 to 8 p.m.), gingerbread characters and the sugarplum fairy (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.) at LBX (4150 McGowen St.). The event is family and pet-friendly. Free.
Sunday 11/8
Let’s Help Our Neighbors: 9 a.m. to noon. Help distribute meals and other supplies to the North Long Beach unhoused community. Norfside Long Beach Outreach is looking for volunteers to help set up and hand out supplies, donations of blankets, shirts and sweaters, pants and shoes (must be clean and in good condition) and new underwear, socks, pads, wet wipes, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush, water gallons, pet food, hand warmers and tarps. For more information, visit @norfsidelb_outreach on Instagram. Free.
Yoga in the Park: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bring your mat and start your Sunday with some fresh air, movement and a little mindfulness at Promenade Square Park (215 E. First St.). Hosted by Kim Yoga, these weekly outdoor yoga sessions are open to all ages and all experience levels. For more information, visit kimyoga.org. Free.
Monday 11/9
Fall Family Festival: 3:30 p.m. For a day of family fun, community and memories, head to Grisham Center (11 W. 49th St.) and see how play, exploration and daily activities help your child learn and grow. Youth Horizon Child Development Center will be hosting the event daily through Nov. 13 in various locations. Free.
Movies on the Mary: ‘The Hunger Games’: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Step aboard the Queen Mary (1126 Queens Highway) and enjoy a one-of-a-kind movie night as the Queen plays the dystopian thriller, “The Hunger Games.” Tickets include access to the ship one hour before showtime. Tickets are on sale for $17.90.
Nick Tubbs and Katy Tang in International City Theatre’s “Marry Me a Little.” (Photo by Kayte Deioma Creative)
Tuesday 11/10
The War of the Worlds: The 1938 Radio Script: 7:30 p.m. CalRep and the California Repertory Company present “The War of the Worlds: The 1938 Radio Script,” which adapts H.G. Wells’ classic story as a 1938 live radio broadcast, at the university’s theater (1250 Bellflower Blvd.). Tickets are on sale for $25 for military, seniors, students and faculty/staff and $27 for everyone else. For more information and to buy tickets, visit Cal State Long Beach’s website.
Surfax Ghost Residency at Vine: 8 p.m. Enjoy the Los Angeles garage rock band Bad Motivator during a 21+ concert at Vine Residency (2142 E. Fourth St.). Free.
Wednesday 11/11
Pixar Cars’ Trivia Night: 5:30 p.m. Bring 4-6 friends, rev up those engines and head to Alex’s Bar (2913 E. Anaheim St.) to test your knowledge of the classic Pixar movie “Cars.” Trivia is $5 per player, but free to watch. Alex’s Bar will be having a Mater’s Honky Tonk Heaven after-party at 9 p.m.
Tango Lessons: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Want to learn tango, curious what it’s like or want to try something new and meet new people? Head to the SOLO Arts Center (236 Pine Ave.). The event is casual and you don’t need a partner or any dance experience; just show up in comfortable clothes. For new attendees, it’s recommended to sign up on Meetup. The class is $15 via cash, Venmo or Zelle. For more information, visit their Meetup link.
Poetry Pop_Ups x Singers in the Round: 7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Head to Harvelle’s (201 E. Broadway) and enjoy a night where poetry meets music. The event includes an all-arts open mic where poets, singers, comics and artists are welcome on the mic (7:30 p.m.), with musical duo Acoustic Soul (8 p.m.) and featured acts Vanessa Burch, IamPaige and Jqueu (8:30 p.m.). It’s a 21+ event, with a $5 cover charge and a two-drink minimum.
Thursday 11/12
Confidential Coffee Bingo Night: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Marissa Bode will host a twilight-themed bingo night with themed coffee, popcorn and churros at Confidential Coffee (137 W. Sixth Street). Costumes are encouraged. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event starts at 7:30 p.m. Free.
Charity Drag Bingo: 8:00 p.m. Enjoy a fabulous night of drag, bingo and fun as Jewels and Big Dee host Charity Drag Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s (330 Pine Ave.). Tickets are $20 per person. All tickets and donation funds will directly benefit Long Beach Forward. For more information or to donate and purchase tickets, visit https://givebutter.com/drag-bingo.
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