We are absolutely dripping in festivals this weekend, so much so, that we will henceforth refer to all festivals as “fests” to save on space and electrical transmissions. Though now that we think about it, what we probably would have gained in those aspects by the “fests” usage, has now been lost, so perhaps that system/strategy/procedure wasn’t all that well thought out, which is something we do sometimes. Sometimes, a lot.
Locals will have a lot of festivals (segue!) to choose from ranging from music fests to arts fests to seafood fests to community fests to watercraft fests. As you can see, despite the previous “fest” management realization, we’ve decided to stick with the “fests” decision. In life, it’s important to stick to the plan. Unless it’s a bad plan. Then it’s the worst thing ever. Complete catastrophe. Total disaster.
(Yes, “henceforth.”)
1. LOVE LONG BEACH FESTIVAL (Saturday- Sunday)
https://www.facebook.com/LoveLongBeachFestival/videos/325064191424703/
[SPONSORED] For the past six years, the Love Long Beach Festival has celebrated life in the city with a massive weekend of music, food, and art. After a few years, what initially began as an informal beach gathering has grown into a weekend-long celebration centered on one of Long Beach’s most striking landmarks: the grassy knoll of downtown’s Lions Lighthouse. This beachfront location will not only provide access to a cool sea breeze during this week’s heatwave: the festival is also set to offer some of Southern California’s best known electronic artists, including Daedelus and Doc Martin. And during the weekend, over 50 more world-class DJs and live musicians will perform on Love Long Beach’s 3 stages, so odds are good that you’ll come across something you enjoy.
We spoke with Anton Tumas, one of the performers and producers of the festival, about the creation and progression of the event:
How did this morph from an “intimate beach gathering” into a festival with over 50 performers and thousands of attendees?
The first edition took place in 2014 on Granada Beach and was completely free for everyone. There was a main stage with live bands, and a tiny DJ stage, which I got invited to play on. The live stage hardly drew any crowds, but the event itself was a success [as] an all-inclusive beach gathering that everyone can enjoy with their families. After I came on board, and took over the dance music curation on the DJ stage, we immediately tapped into the incredibly vast and diverse dance music community in the greater LA area. In 2015, some of the biggest thunderstorms ever took place both days during the event, while over a thousand of us kept dancing in the rain until the very end. The next year, over 10,000 people showed up per day, which led us to relocate the event to Shoreline Park. The rest, I guess they say, is history.
Why did you decide to use this platform to specifically celebrate the city of Long Beach?
It’s an incredibly diverse city, with a very large community of people that love outdoor fun, health, spirituality, dancing and all the other things that just put a smile on one’s face. Not to mention that we have a great relationship with the city and they completely support this event, as it keeps getting better and better every year.
Another great thing: The weekend has so much more to offer than bumping tunes; they provide opportunities to “heal and expand your body, mind, heart and spirit with yoga, massage, healers, sound healing, community, arts and crafts, ferocious fire performances, enlightening talks, and chill out areas” as well as face and body painting, food, and a vendor bazaar.
Giving us a moment’s pause: We’ve already had our fill of “ferocious fire performances” after this week’s temperatures peaked in the mid-90s.
The Love Long Beach Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 27 and 28 at 200 Aquarium Way. Tickets and more event information can be found at this link.
2. POW! WOW! BIKE TOURS (All weekend)
Pedal Movement is teaming up with Clif Bar and Bike Share Bicycles to not only offer guided tours to PWLB murals, but free bike share rentals so you can come with! Tours are twice a day starting at noon and 5 p.m. through Saturday, and last about two hours. Personally, we’d choose the 5 to 7 p.m. tour since happy hour starts right after, not to mention, the last tour on Saturday ends at KCRW’s Summer Nights closing party (scroll down for more info).
Another great thing: The wind in your face.
Giving us a moment’s pause: The wind may possibly be on fire.
Bicycles, scooters and other alternative mobility devices will be welcomed. Meet at the Bikestation in Downtown at 223 E. First St. Tour locations vary per day. For more info and to RSVP visit the Eventbrite link here.
3. SELA ARTS FESTIVAL (Saturday)
For sheer volume of entertainment, nothing really comes close to the SELA Arts Festival in South Gate. Yes, Downey’s next-door-neighbor will be the site for a festival that is “actively reimagining the role the L.A. River plays in our lives.” If you’re a LA River devotee, that’s all you need to hear. If you, on the other hand, find the LA River at times presumptuous, and therefore need convincing, listen to this: this festival features more than 40 acts, including musical performances by the likes of Las Cafeteras, Selenamos, and Matamoska. There will also be dance groups such as Merengue 8, Mae’ole Hoku Polynesia and Khmer Arts. There will also be a “pop-up park,” Ferris wheel, art installations, poetry performances, family-friendly workshops, food trucks as well as local artisans and vendors. It’s almost too much fun, plus, did we mention that all of this is free? No? It’s free.
Another great thing: There will also be an “interactive shipping container maze.” We have no idea what that is, but now it’s everything we want.
Giving us a moment’s pause: The L.A. River once big-timed us at a party.
SELA Arts Festival is from 2 to 10 p.m. at the entrance to the L.A. River at Hollydale Regional Park, located at 5400 Monroe Ave., South Gate. For more information click here.
4. KCRW SUMMER NIGHTS (Saturday)
For the past 10 summers, KCRW has organized free, family-friendly outdoor performances in LA and beyond, curating bands, DJs and more for music-hungry guests. So what a perfect way to celebrate the 20-some murals PWLB artists will have executed by the end of the week (and the 100 murals since it launched locally in 2015) than with a KCRW Summer Nights dance party, the first-ever in Long Beach. Station DJs Anthony Valadez and Mathieu Schreyer will be on deck alongside dancers from Homeland Cultural Center and live art from Tooth & Nail art battlers. Put on by KCRW, DLBA, Long Beach Transit and Long Beach Public Works.
Another great thing: Beer from Beachwood Brewery, wine from Hops & Vines and food from local eateries will be available for purchase.
Giving us a moment’s pause: Bye! Bye! POW! WOW!
Riding a bike to the event? Pedal Movement will provide free bike valet. Summer Nights runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at 235 Promenade North. More info here.
5. DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL (Saturday)
This weekend, racers are continuing over 20 centuries of tradition with over 200 teams set to row the 500 meters across Marine Stadium during one of the largest Dragon Boat Festivals in California. Eight teams made up of 18 paddlers, a drummer, and a steers-person will square up at the starting line of every race, with skill levels ranging from recreational elementary schoolers to year-round internationally competitive teams. The festival itself commemorates the life and death of the ancient Chinese patriot-poet, Qu Yuan. Following his death in the Miluo River in 278 B.C., the people rushed out in their fishing boats in a rescue effort, beating drums, splashing water with their paddles, and scattering rice in the water to keep fish and evil spirits from his body. This act of searching for Yuan in the boats gradually became the tradition of the Dragon boat race.
Another great thing: Go for the races, and stay for the cultural performances such as Chinese traditional art demonstrations, Chinese acrobats, traditional dance, hip hop, music and martial arts performances. Also stay because temperatures are set to peak in the 80s this weekend, and the Marina will be an excellent spot to beat the heat.
Giving us a moment’s pause: Still not sure if there’s a designated splash zone.
The Dragon Boat Festival takes place at 5255 E. Paoli Way from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the July 27 and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the July 28. Learn more about the event at this link.
6. CRAWFISH FESTIVAL
If the opportunity to celebrate New Orleans’ incredible culinary culture sans humidity is as appealing to you as it is to me, you should head on down to Rainbow Lagoon Park for a weekend of iconic Creole dishes. They’ll be cooking up seafood in the world’s largest crawfish pots, along with frog legs, catfish, gumbo, jambalaya, read beans and rice, bread pudding, and Café du Monde-style chicory coffee and beignets.
Another great thing: They’re also hosting a Second Line Parade, which will be accompanied by Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orleans-style tunes. These celebrations begin with a brass band leading the way as the “first line” of the parade with dancers following the band as the “second line” to enjoy the music.
Giving us a moment’s pause: Excessive crawfish + enthusiastic dancing…
The Long Beach Crawfish Festival takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. on July 26 and from noon to 10 p.m. on July 27 and 28 at 400 E. Shoreline Dr. Tickets are free for kids 12 and under and $5 for adults and can be purchased at this link.
7. 4TH FRIDAYS ON 4TH STREET (Friday)
We don’t really feel like we should have to tell you about what goes on during 4th Fridays. If you read the Hi-lo, we figure you’re the type who partakes of outdoor strolling with live bands playing, artist displaying, people generally have a lovely time whether eating, drinking or eating and drinking. We’re just giving you the heads up because it’s easy to forget when the fourth Friday actually shows up. Well, it has. You’re welcome.
Another great thing: Did we mention the people watching? Love us some people watching.
Giving us a moment’s pause: Sometimes they watch back.
4th Fridays happens on Fourth Street between Temple and Cherry avenues from 6 to 9 p.m. For more info, check out the event page here.