From gift wrapping drop-ins to holidays parties and Christmas movies, this week is Long Beach’s holiest jolliest yet.
Multiple organizations are throwing holiday celebrations open to the whole community, such as the Dana Neighborhood Library’s winter party on Friday, a Santa and snow-filled gathering at the Long Beach Towne Center on Saturday, a Christmas karaoke night at Sports Basement on Sunday, or a silent disco dance party at The Queen Mary on Monday.
For non-traditional community gatherings, Viento Y Agua will host a holiday grief sound bath on Friday evening, Willow Springs Park is honoring the winter solstice on Saturday, and the Billie Jean King Main Library will be showing classic films with accompanying discussions Saturday afternoon into the evening.
Celebrations continue with Kubo LB’s Parol Lantern Festival Saturday in Bixby Knolls, and kids between the ages of 3 and 12 can celebrate Kwanzaa at the Bach Neighborhood Library Thursday afternoon.
Friday 12/20
Winter Party: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The Dana Neighborhood Library (3680 Atlantic Ave.) invites the community to enjoy an afternoon of cider-tasting, holiday snacks and festive crafts. This family-friendly event is open to all ages. Free.
Frosty Night Market: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy a festive evening of shopping, food and holiday fun at the Frosty Night Market, hosted by LIVE Nonprofit at Partake Collective (456 Elm Ave.). The event will feature holiday-themed vendors, kids’ activities and a Santa Claus meet-and-greet. Free admission.
Holiday Grief Sound Bath: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Coffee shop Viento Y Agua (4007 East Fourth Street) will host a collective space where attendees can navigate any grief they feel during the holiday season. Presented by Cosmic Return and Adelitas Revenge, this event will include a supportive group discussion and a reiki-infused sound bath to help participants process their grief. Attendees are encouraged to bring comfortable clothes and a yoga mat or blanket. Masks are highly encouraged. To register, visit Eventbrite. This is a free, donation-based event. Donations can be made through Venmo (@steph-ibarra) or in person, but no one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.
Record Release Party: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Altar Society Brewing & Coffee Co. (230 Pine Ave.) invites music lovers to celebrate the release of local band SJÖBECK’s latest record. The evening will feature live music, drinks and dancing. Tickets can be purchased for $7.18. on Eventbrite.
Saturday 12/21
Downtown Architectural Walking Tour: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Discover the architectural history of Downtown Long Beach on this guided walking tour with the local nonprofit organization Long Beach Heritage. Held on the third Saturday of each month, this tour covers 1.5 miles and showcases landmarks that highlight the city’s evolution, such as the WPA-era Recreation Mural, The Willmore, Farmers & Merchant Bank and the First National Security Bank Building. The tour will begin at Harvey Milk Promenade Park (185 E. Third St.). Tickets can be purchased for $15 on Long Beach Heritage’s website.
Winter Solstice at the Park: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.) to celebrate the winter solstice. The event begins with a guided walk from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., a sound bath from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., a view of the solstice from the highest point in Long Beach at noon and a live ukulele performance by the Long Beach Ukulele Club from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Attendees will also be able to make their own crafts, provided by Friends of Willow Springs Park. Registration is required for the guided walk and sound bath due to limited spots. To register, visit the City’s online calendar. Registration is not required for the solstice viewing or the ukulele performance. Free.
Bilingual Storytime: 10 a.m. Young children can enjoy a story and songs in English and Spanish in the garden of Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 N. Virginia Rd.). Benches will be provided, but families are encouraged to bring blankets, strollers and snacks for added comfort. Free.
Northeast Village Toy Giveaway: Noon to 2 p.m. Families living in the 90813 zip code can visit Gumbiner Park (880 E. Seventh St.) to receive a free toy. Children must be present to receive a toy. Free.
Holiday Celebration: Noon to 2 p.m. Long Beach Towne Center (7575 Carson Blvd.) invites the community to a Holiday Celebration featuring take-home photos with Santa, kids’ crafts, face painters, balloon twisters and snow. Free.
Classic Film Series: 12:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Enjoy a holiday-themed double feature in the Miller Room at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). The screening begins with “Meet John Doe,” a 1941 drama, followed by the 1947 comedy “It Happened on Fifth Avenue.” Brief introductions and discussions will take place before and after both films. Space is limited, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free.
Parol Lantern Festival: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. KUBO Organizing Project and KUBO LB are hosting the seventh annual Long Beach Parol Lantern Festival, an honored Filipino tradition celebrating community and culture. Attendees can enjoy live musical entertainment, dance performances, small businesses and multiple craft workshops to create parol lanterns at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.). Additional event hubs include KUBO LB and Ambitious Ales. Free.
Stuffed Animal Workshop: Children ages 3 to 13 can create a special stuffed animal and receive a book to take home from this workshop at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). All materials will be provided. Space is limited. To register or for more information call the library at (562) 989-7323. Free.
Naples Island 78th Annual Boat Parade: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Celebrate the holidays with the annual parade through the Naples canals, featuring festively decorated boats and watercrafts. Homes along the canals will also be decked out with Christmas lights. The parade can be seen from multiple locations around Naples Island, and prime viewing spots include the 2nd Street Bridge, Appian Way Bridge and Alamitos Bay Marina. Free.
Sunday 12/22
Art for All: Noon. Local nonprofit Compound (1395 Coronado Ave.) invites the community to a workshop led by artist Tanya Bartels. Participants will create a collaborative multimedia collage. All art supplies will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary. To register for this event, visit Eventbrite. Free.
Christmas Karaoke Show: Noon to 6:00 p.m. Celebrate the holidays with karaoke at Sports Basement Long Beach (2100 N. Bellflower Blvd.). This family-friendly event features a karaoke contest, a toy drive to benefit children in the Philippines and local vendors offering unique holiday gifts. Tickets can be purchased for $17.85 on Eventbrite.
Basketball Game: 4 p.m. La Sierra University Golden Eagles will take on the Long Beach State Beach men’s basketball team inside he Walter Pyramid (1250 N. Bellflower Blvd.). Tickets can be purchased online through AXS Marketplace, starting at $19.30.
Monday 12/23
Read & Create: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Children and their families are invited to The Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) to enjoy an afternoon of stories, as well as an art activity led by Agape Children’s Museum. Free.
12 Days of Christmas: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Queen Mary (1126 Queensway Highway) will be hosting a silent disco to close out its 12 day Christmas celebration. General admission tickets can be purchased for $26.50 on the ship’s website.
STEAM Lab: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Engage creativity, imagination and critical thinking skills at this STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) lab exploring the wonders of 3D printing at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Build, program and learn how to use a new device, or make a new friend. All materials will be provided. Call Signal Hill Public Library at (562) 989-7323 to reserve your space. Free.
Tuesday 12/24
Winter Fun Days: Noon to 5 p.m. Kids can keep active and engaged during winter break during this drop-in recreation program for children ages 5-12, run by the City of Long Beach. Participants can enjoy supervised recreational activities at select Long Beach parks. Children may come and go at their own discretion. Pre-registration is required. Applications will be available at participating parks during the program’s hours of operation. For a list of participating parks, visit the City’s website. Free.
Holiday Gift Wrapping: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by the Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) to wrap gifts. Guests can enjoy a hot cup of coffee, tea or cocoa while library staff assist with wrapping gifts. Supplies such as gift bags, boxes, wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbons and tags will be provided while supplies last, with a limit of five gifts per person. Free.
Wednesday 12/25
Movie Screening: 4:05 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Art Theatre (2025 E. Fourth St.) will be screening “A Complete Unknown,” which explores the true story of Bob Dylan’s rise to fame. This film is rated R, with a runtime of 141 minutes. Tickets are available on the theater’s website for $12.
Christmas Premier Dinner Cruises: 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season with a festive dinner cruise departing from Rainbow Harbor, Dock 6A (310 S. Pine Ave.). Offered on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, this 2.5-hour cruise includes a delicious buffet dinner, a DJ and scenic views of the Long Beach skyline. Guests can enjoy festive decor and full-bar service for a memorable holiday experience. Boarding begins at 4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on the online platform City Experiences, starting at $90.
Thursday 12/26
Kwanzaa Crafts & Stories: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Children between the ages of 3 and 12 are invited to celebrate Kwanzaa with crafts and stories at the Bach Neighborhood Library (4055 N. Bellflower Blvd.). Free.
Family Movie: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Families are invited to the Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) for a screening of the classic holiday film “The Grinch.” Closed captions will be played. Free.
