{"id":88794,"date":"2026-05-07T09:38:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T16:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/?p=88794"},"modified":"2026-05-07T17:24:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:24:37","slug":"things-to-do-in-long-beach-this-weekend-including-immersive-fairytales-and-a-filipino-festival-with-a-90s-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/eat-see-do-2\/do\/things-to-do-in-long-beach-this-weekend-including-immersive-fairytales-and-a-filipino-festival-with-a-90s-theme","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in Long Beach this weekend \u2014 including immersive fairytales and a Filipino Festival (with a \u201990s theme)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Want a chance to be featured in our weekly events roundup? Add it to our free community calendar at lbpostevents.com<\/a><\/strong>. For a guaranteed placement, contact frankie@lbpost.com<\/a> to purchase a sponsored item.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Beach Filipino Festival celebrates culture with ’90s flair (Saturday, May 9)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Pepper steak and rice at the Filipino restaurant Gemmae Bake Shop, which opened in 1993 in Long Beach’s westside and has served the community for 25 years, in Long Beach July 20, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A day of culture, community, and throwback fun returns for the seventh annual Long Beach Filipino Festival at Jackie Robinson Academy from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year\u2019s celebration embraces a lively \u201890s theme, inviting attendees to experience Filipino heritage through music, food, and interactive activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Festivalgoers can enjoy live entertainment, authentic Filipino food, and local vendors, along with family-friendly attractions like karaoke and a \u201890s lookalike contest that encourages guests to show off their best retro style. Free parking will be available at the nearby Willow Street Metro Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General admission is $5. Jackie Robinson Academy is at 2750 Pine Ave. For more info, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An enchanting fairytale ballet at the Terrace Theater (Saturday, May 9)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A timeless fairytale takes center stage as \u201cThe Sleeping Beauty\u201d is brought to life by International Ballet Stars at the Terrace Theater. The production features breathtaking choreography set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky\u2019s iconic score, inviting audiences to follow Princess Aurora\u2019s journey from curse to awakening. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the performance beginning at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The production promises elaborate hand-painted sets and more than 200 original costumes, highlighting classic choreography performed by an international cast of acclaimed ballet artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets range from $115 to $250. For more info, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Earth, Wind & Fire dance party with the Symphony (Saturday, May 9)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A high-energy night of funk and symphonic sound arrives as the Long Beach Symphony presents its \u201cEarth, Wind & Fire Dance Party\u201d at the Long Beach Arena. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. The event is open to all ages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by conductor Troy Quinn and featuring vocalist Tyriq Johnson, the show takes audiences on a dynamic journey through hits inspired by Earth, Wind & Fire, blending orchestral power with classic funk and R&B energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests can enjoy indoor picnicking, food and drink options, and even a dance floor surrounding the stage. This season finale promises an upbeat, interactive celebration of music that keeps the crowd moving all night long. More info and tickets here.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fairytale light show at Lakewood Center (March 28 to Sept. 7)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A scene from The Little Mermaid set up at an immersive light spectacle at the Lakewood Center called \u201cUtopia\u2026 Where Fairy Tales Come Alive.” Photo courtesy Imaginarium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUtopia\u2026 Where Fairy Tales Come Alive\u201d is a glowing storybook experience at Lakewood Center Mall, where attendees can explore illuminated fantasy landscapes filled with mythical creatures, enchanted settings, and immersive storytelling. Visitors are invited to wander through an indoor-outdoor world designed to feel like stepping into a living fairy tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experience features more than five million lights, larger-than-life characters, infinity mirror rooms, and interactive installations designed for exploration and photo moments. Each space offers a playful journey with surprises around every turn, blending art, light, and imagination into a walk-through adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests can also enjoy free nightly circus-style performances, including aerial acts, fire juggling, clown performances, and stunt shows, along with free on-site parking. The event runs evenings from March 28 through Sept. 7 with extended weekend hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets range in price but run about $20 each. For times, tickets and more info, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Beach Pride 2026: bigger, better, fearless and free! – sponsored<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Long Beach Pride\u2122, one of the nation\u2019s longest-running LGBTQ+ celebrations, returns for its 43rd year with the powerful theme \u201cFearless and Free,\u201d honoring resilience, authenticity, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weekend kicks off with Teen Pride on Friday, May 15, followed by the Long Beach Pride\u2122 Festival on May 16\u201317 at Marina Green Park, featuring live entertainment, community programming, and diverse cultural experiences. The celebration culminates with the iconic Pride Parade along Ocean Boulevard on Sunday, May 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time, Long Beach Pride will produce its own landmark Opening Ceremony at the 43rd Annual Celebration on Saturday, May 16th, an immersive journey through the music that has shaped and empowered the LGBTQ+ community for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony highlights the enduring power of music in shaping and uplifting the community since the first Long Beach Pride in 1984, tracing a cultural throughline from disco\u2019s defiance to the liberating pulse of 1990s house music. This year\u2019s inaugural stellar lineup includes legendary recording artists Thelma Houston, Robyn S and Thea Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than a festival, Long Beach Pride is a vibrant, community-driven celebration of diversity, connection, and the universal language of music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE EVENT AT A GLANCE:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Location: <\/strong>Marina Green Park & Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA
 Dates: <\/strong>May 16\u201317, 2026
 Festival Hours: <\/strong>12 PM – 10 PM (May 16 & 17)
 Tickets\/Info: <\/strong>longbeachpride.com\/festival\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There’s also an Earth, Wind & Fire dance party with the Symphony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":88795,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32367],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[31999],"class_list":["post-88794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-do","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88794"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88823,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88794\/revisions\/88823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88794"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=88794"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=88794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}