Whether you’re into scenic walks of historical significance, rocking and rolling around an outdoor rink (bring those knee pads), or getting lost in a maze near a haunted, rusting ship, there are plenty of options for getting out and about this weekend.

There’s also the 10th anniversary of the long-running open mic night, The Definitive Soapbox, featuring award-winning poets and beloved local bands, a fiesta with the Aquarium of the Pacific’s fishes, classical music kicking off the fall performing arts season and… Oktoberfest!

1. VIRTUOSO STRINGS, MUSICA ANGELICA (Friday)

Baroque orchestra Musica Angelica is back for its 27th season—its fifth year of residence in Long Beach—opening with Virtuoso Strings, featuring some of the most iconic compositions for the violin. You’ll hear masterpieces from Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi—Concerto in B minor for Four Violins, Violincello and Strings, op. 3, no. 10 and RV 580—as well as from Austrian-born Henrich Biber (Battalia à 10) and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major and concerto for three violins, among others. What’s more, a dinner of small, chef-inspired plates designed to enrich the Baroque concert experience will be served before the performance. That comes with the price of your concert ticket. So, basically, free. You’re enrich! (Steve Lowery)

Another great thing: Long Beach Symphony opens its 85th with a violin-themed program all their own. Acclaimed violinist Paul Huang performs time-honored works by Eastern and Central European composers including, Ligeti’s Concert Românesc, Dvořák’s romantic Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 53 and Tchaikovsky’s climactic Symphony No. 5 in E minor, op. 64.

Giving us a moment’s pause: We’re all for the attention and affection for the violin, but where’s the love for the oboe?

Musica Angelica performs at 8 p.m. at the Beverly O’Neill Theater, located at 300 E Ocean Blvd. For more information, click here.

Long Beach Symphony performs at 8 p.m. at the Terrace Theater, located at 300 E Ocean Blvd. That’s right, Musica Angelica and the Long Beach Symphony will perform at the exact same address but in two entirely different venues. Did we just blow your mind? For more information or tickets, click here.

2. THE DEFINITIVE SOAPBOX, 10TH ANNIVERSARY (Friday)

The Soapbox has been offering a free, open mic, every last Friday of the month, for a decade now. An open mic to tell your coming of age story, an open mic to read your poetry, an open mic to sing your song. There’s no requirements or judgment, but you do have to get there early enough to sign up and, this being an anniversary show and all, there figures to be a lot of people looking to sign up. That’s why we’d suggest being at Fox Coffee House at 6:30 p.m. when they bring out the signup sheet.

Again, this being a special occasion, the Soapbox will feature poets Yesika Selgado and Terisa Siagatonu as well as longtime Soapbox vets and recent Buskerfest winners, BLCKNOISE—though, longtime followers, i.e. Noisys, still know them as The Black Noise… actually, the band was originally gonna be The Black Noise Theory, but, well, … (SL)

Another great thing: The event is the creation of and will be hosted by Antonio Cortez Appling who is also the man behind the Long Beach Poetry Slam.

Giving us a moment’s pause: Is this finally the time to share that story about that one summer at drama camp?

The Definitive Soapbox begins at 7 p.m. Fox Coffee House is located at 437 W. Willow St. For more information, click here.

3. RANCHOS WALK (Saturday) 

Described by Walk Long Beach’s Steve Gerhardt as an “epic walk across Long Beach,” don’t miss the Ranchos Walk coming Saturday. It’s a free community event that starts in three different locations. Choose between a scenic 9.4-, 6- or 3.5-mile walk along a historic, high ridge trail linking ranchos Los Alamitos and Los Cerritos, with the longest route connecting Cal State Long Beach, Reservoir Hill, Hilltop Park in Signal Hill, Longview Point at Willow Springs Park, ending at Rancho Los Cerritos.

Registration for the full walk starts at 1200 Palo Verde Ave. from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., the walk begins at 8 a.m.; the 6 miler leaves from the National Guard Armory, sign in from 9 to 10 a.m. at 2200 Redondo Ave. The 3.5-mile walk leaves from Longview Point; check-in between 10 and 11 a.m. at 2755 Orange Ave. Long Beach Transit will provide a free shuttle service back to the starting locations. Download this app as your guide.

There will be stops along the route to quench your thirst, eat some snacks and visit the restroom. Wear sunscreen, comfy shoes, sunglasses, a hat and bring a reusable bottle to fill at these stations. It’s also worth noting that out of concern for whether Fido can handle a 3.5-mile walk on a hot day, or a 9.4-miler for that matter, no dogs are allowed, except for service dogs. (Asia Morris)

Another great thing: This year’s event will end with a celebration of RLC’s 175th anniversary (there will be food and a “Brewery Knolls” beer garden to enjoy responsibly at the end, so don’t forget your wallet). Expect jazz and blues from Poly High’s Jazz Combo and Bernie Pearl Blues Band, and artist Copeland Holt (you could easily compare Holt’s expressive painting style to a jazz number) live painting a rendition of the historic adobe home. For more info on the celebration, visit rancholoscerritos.org.

Giving us a moment’s pause: Please, please break in those new Nikes before showing off your brand new pair Saturday. Blisters are so much more painful than you remember, trust us.

For more info, including route maps, dos and don’ts, check out the webpage here. To register for the walk, visit the Eventbrite page here.

4. BAYSHORE ROCK N’ ROLL RINK PARTY (Thursday)

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Spinning vinyl at this week’s roller skating event, The Bayshore Rink Party—the only outdoor roller rink in the city—is local DJ collective Slop Stomp. The vinyl junkies (and part-time bartenders at Alex’s Bar) DJ Polyester, Master Droog and Telegram Sam are dropping the needle on a specially curated set of all their favorite glam, soul and rock-n-roll jams. The all-ages romp, which regularly hosts styled parties, like their 80s themed night back in August, or next week’s Halloween themed night, Ghouls on Wheels, try and keep the spirit of rolling around on the mini four-wheelers spinning, especially after the closing of the Banked Track Roller Derby six years ago. (Cheantay Jensen)

Another great thing: Entry is almost always $5. If you don’t have your own skates you can rent for $5 (they recommend reserving your skates ahead of time due to a limited amount of sizes. To do so, send them a message on their Facebook page, here.) For this weeks Rock n’ Roll takeover by the Slop Stomp collective, cover charge is $7.

Give us a moment’s pause: Roller skating to a sunset backdrop. Nuff’ said.

Slop Stomp Takeover Bayshore Rink Party runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bayshore Roller Rink; 14 54th Place. 

5. DARK HARBOR HAUNT AND FILM SCREENING (Thursday-Sunday)

Halloween fanatics rejoice, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor event opens to the public this Thursday. Now in their 10th year, the ship’s annual creepfest promises all of its horrifying spectacles—six disturbing mazes, hundreds of gruesomely dressed monsters to avoid eye contact with, secret bars, rides and bizarre live entertainment, but with a new maze to boast this year. The theme of the new maze, Rogue, revolves around a freak wave crashing into the ship wherein chaos descends as crew and passengers attempt to flee the sinking vessel. Don’t expect the crew to be very helpful. (CJ)

Tickets to the Dark Harbor haunt range from $20-$209 depending on the day, time of admittance and ticket upgrades. For more information visit the Dark Harbor website here.

Another great thing: Also on the Queen Mary is the Catalina Film Festival’s world premiere of thriller movie Dark Harbor (oh, the irony), a film about a young mother on the verge of childbirth who finds her future threatened by a hidden darkness from her family’s past. The film stars comedian Joel McHale (of the Soup) and Canadian actress Jessica Sipos (best known for her roles as Cassandra Savage in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and June Henry in the Canadian thriller T.V. series, Slasher). Tickets to the opening (begins at 8 p.m.) are $49 and can be purchased here.

Give us a moment’s pause: Does anyone else think it’s a missed opportunity not having the Dark Harbor film screening Halloween themed?

Dark Harbor opens to the public this Thursday and will carry on every Thursday through Sunday until Nov. 2 at the Queen Mary; 1126 Queens Hwy. Doors open at 7 p.m. and run until 1 a.m.  The Dark Harbor movie screening, also on the Queen Mary, will be held in the Queen’s Salon.

6. OKTOBERFEST ON PINE (Saturday)

The season of beer chugging, Bavarian pretzels and lederhosen is upon us. This Saturday, Pine Avenue will close down between Broadway and 3rd Street to make way for the first Oktoberfest celebration in the city. The all-day outdoor event is hosted by Shannon’s At the Top music venue where guests are invited to sip (or chug) from their 300 draft beer selection and play traditional German games. Live entertainment (not entirely of the polka variety) features music from local Long Beach bands The Vespertines and BLCKNOISE—winners of this year’s Buskerfest—alongside Orange County’s genre blending hip-hop, pop and funk group Undecided Future. (CJ)

Another great thing: Tailgating the celebration is an event coordinated by female-owned-and-operated gift shop, art-gallery, drinkery and live-music venue MADE. For those looking to escape the heat, drinkers can hide away for a few minutes inside their in-house bar, Elinor. They’ll be serving and sampling the 2019 fest biers from Common Space Brewery and Three Weavers Brewing Company along with the rest of their curated craft beer, cider, wine and local non-alcoholic options. Live entertainment from DJ DAS BEAT will be playing 70s and 80s underground music, with some traditional German tunes sifted in.

Give us a moment’s pause: You know, BLCKNOISE actually used to be called The Black Noise, well, actually …

Oktoberfest on Pine runs from 2-11 p.m. at Shannon’s At the Top; 209 Pine Avenue. The event is free, but registration is recommended. Register, here. Oktoberfest by MADE runs from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m at Elinor; 250 North Tribune Court. The even is also free, but you can register here.

7. BAJA SPLASH CULTURAL FESTIVAL (Saturday-Sunday)