This week’s list is filled with festivals, giving locals and visitors alike a chance to watch Chinese dragon boat racing, eat their fill of Louisiana-style crawfish or dance the night away near the iconic Long Beach lighthouse.
25th Long Beach Crawfish Festival
Get a taste of New Orleans in Long Beach by grubbing on authentic, Louisiana-style crawfish, dancing to live music and more during the 25th annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park. With the “world’s largest crawfish pots” the international food court will have frog legs, catfish, gumbo, jambalaya and more, and on the sweeter side, Cafe du Monde-style chicory coffee and beignets. Live entertainment will include the Second Line Dancing Parade and Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans-style music.
The three-day festival takes place on Fat Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit the website here.
Rainbow Lagoon Park is located at 400 E. Shoreline Drive.
Late Bloomer by Hely Omar Gonzalez
https://www.instagram.com/p/BglyjX_lbFu/
Come for the paintings and stay for the beer, with flowery works to be presented by Long Beach artist Hely Omar Gonzalez at Artistic Edge Gallery on Friday. Soon-to-open Bixby Knolls brewery Ambitious Ales will offer their Fluers, a flower beer on theme with Gonzalez’ sunflower paintings, while neighboring boutique, Port LBC, will show off their enamel pin and garment collab with the artist.
The exhibit will open right around the corner from The Social List on 4th St., where Retro Row businesses will stay open late, live bands will be jamming and more during Fourth Fridays from about 6 to 9 p.m.
Artistic Edge Gallery is located at 410 St. Louis Ave.
Zines Are Us
Join artists, zine makers, students and others at Cal State Long Beach on Saturday to make your own zine and learn about this accessible, independent form of art and self publication. To be held at the University Art Museum, the free event will include a conversation and Q&A with several artists, co-moderated by Long Beach Zine Fest co-organizer Sarah Bennett and Amanda Fruta of the University Art Museum, as well as a Zine 101 Workshop.
Zines Are Us will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information and the schedule of events, visit the Facebook event page here and to register, check out the Eventbrite listing here.
The University Art Museum is on campus at Cal State Long Beach, located at 1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Get Your Glow On
In the heart of Belmont Heights, Prism Boutique plans to bring all things wellness, fashion and women-owned to guests of its annual Summer Soiree on Saturday. Astrological chart readings, blessing bundles, organic CBD wellness products, zodiac charm jewelry, eco-conscious threads and more include this event’s lineup of the season’s best-selling brands, some local, to try on.
The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out the event page here for more information.
Prism Boutique is located at 406 Termino Ave.
Open Studios at Flatline Gallery
Founded by local artists and organizers Elizabeth Munzon and Cynthia Lujan who regularly curate thought-provoking exhibits through its inconspicuous storefront, Flatline will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday with an open studios event. Meet the directors, check out some inspiring local art, and chat with Munzon and Lujan about their vision for the space.
For the past year, this alternative gallery in North Long Beach has served as a hub connecting student artists and alumni from Cal State Long Beach to the greater Los Angeles arts community, while helping them pursue their visual practices.
Open Studios will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, check out the Facebook event page here.
Flatline is located at 6023 Atlantic Ave.
JustLBC for a More Just Long Beach
On Saturday at Cambodia Town’s McArthur Park, explore arts, culture and community organizing at this social justice-themed event, offering free food (and admission), live performances and activities for all ages. Set to perform is Earth Arrow, a Los Angeles-based Afro-cuban hip hop band, and Xipetotec Long Beach Danza Azteca, among other musical outfits.
JustLBC kicks off at noon and runs until 3 p.m. For more information, check out the Facebook event page here and website here.
MacArthur Park is located at 1321 E. Anaheim St.
Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
One of the largest dragon boat competitions in the state, the event will feature Chinese traditional art demonstrations, acrobats, dance, music and martial arts performances celebrating Chinese culture and history. Opening races kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with the opening ceremony scheduled for 10:30 a.m. A flower ceremony will be held at 12:25 p.m. Racing takes place all day Saturday and Sunday, with a closing ceremony on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
The two-day event will take place on Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the website here.
Marine Stadium is located at 5255 E. Paoli Way.
Love Long Beach Festival
Party, dance and find yourself at this high-energy festival now in its fifth year, celebrating “the magic of all that is Long Beach,” featuring DJs, music from multiple stages, arts, yoga, sound healing and more at Shoreline Aquatic Park.
The festival will take place Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. There’s also an after party at Queens Wharf from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. For tickets and more information, check out the Facebook event page here.
Shoreline Aquatic Park is located at 200 Aquarium Way.
Midsummer Scream
Get into the Halloween spirit a few months early during Midsummer Scream, a cult-followed convention featuring haunted attractions, live entertainment, panel presentations and two show floors of vendors and exhibitors. Fans of the haunted gathering will know to check out the Hall of Shadows, returning with more than a dozen previews of popular Halloween attractions coming to SoCal in the fall, including performances by slider team Decayed Brigade and a “scare zone” by Six Flags Fright Fest.
Boo!-ya: Meet David Markland, the Hollywood Resident Behind Long Beach’s Midsummer Scream
Midsummer Scream takes place Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For tickets and more information, check out the website here.
The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center is located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd.