The following is a curated roundup of weekend events in Long Beach published every Wednesday on the Hi-lo/Long Beach Post. Have an event to share? Email [email protected] with “Things to Do” in the subject line.
Welcome to your (hopefully) long weekend. As you emerge from your obligatory Thanksgiving food coma, it seemed right to prep you for a mellow weekend. That might mean catching a stand-up show from the illustrious Jo Koy at the Terrace Theater, or leisurely enjoying a local festival with dance and other entertainment.
And for those who have their minds set on knocking out their holiday shopping, we’ve also got you covered.
Get to scrollin’!
LONG BEACH TURKEY TROT (Thursday)
It’s not too late to sign-up for the annual Long Beach Turkey Trot, where bright and early on the morning of Thanksgiving people show up to the pedestrian bike path in Belmont Shore to burn off a couple of hundred calories before the fateful feast—and all in the name of charity.
The morning 5K or 10K run (you choose how far you’d like to go) is hosted by Justin Rudd and benefits his nonprofit, Community Action Team (CAT). The $45 registration fee goes toward CAT’s myriad community events such as the Miss Long Beach Pageants, Haute Dog Howloween Parade and more.
Attendees are encouraged to dress up in festive fall costumes (except not as Native Americans) for the run and bring a canned good or two for a drive to benefit the AIDS Food Store in Long Beach.
The first leg of the run starts at 7 a.m.; the second at 8:30 a.m. There’s also a children’s “wing-ding” run, at 9:40 a.m. for kids ages 8 to 12 and another at 9:45 a.m. for children 7 and younger.
Click here for more information and to register.
Packet pick-up and meetup are at 1 Granada Ave.
JO KOY: FUNNY IS FUNNY WORLD TOUR (Friday – Sunday)
Comedian Jo Koy is stopping in Long Beach for three days during his world tour “Funny is Funny” at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre on Nov. 25-27.
Perhaps the most famous Filipino-American comedian today, Koy got his start in Las Vegas coffeehouses, eventually landing guest appearances on the late-night TV show “Chelsea Lately” before moving on to sell out major venues across the country.
If you’ve somehow missed some of Jo Koy’s stand-up, here’s a glimpse:
Click here to purchase tickets.
The Terrace Theater is at 300 E. Ocean Blvd.
“MAKE-HER” MART (Saturday)
Every year, small businesses in the East Village area of Downtown coordinate a makers market celebrating Small Business Saturday, a national event that encourages consumers to shop local. This year though, organizers have created a special edition of the market titled MakeHER Mart, a curated market highlighting women-owned and non-binary-conscious businesses and entrepreneurs.
MakeHER Mart will feature over 20 artists and creatives offering handmade goods, specialty wares and other goods and services ideal for gifts. There will also be a Women Empowerment Panel featuring local leaders in the community during the event.
You can find MakeHER Mart at First Street and Linden Avenue, which will be closed down to traffic on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Click here for more information.
Shoppers can also keep a lookout for a Big Red Bus, a free shuttle that will transport shoppers to other areas of Downtown celebrating Small Business Saturday.
MakeHER Mart is at First Street and Linden Ave.
LONG BEACH UNITY FESTIVAL (Saturday)
This youth-centric event at Cabrillo High School features daylong festivities with music, dance, food and live entertainment created to celebrate unity in diverse communities.
Visitors can expect dance and live music performances, arts and crafts, food stalls and vendors to shop at, plus a play area for children. The event cost $10 for attendees 13 and older. Children 12 or younger may enter for free.
The Long Beach Unity Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Cabrillo High School is at 2001 Santa Fe Ave.
SIP THEN SHOP (Saturday)
If getting your holiday gifts purchased with a beer in tow sounds like your kind of shopping, then Long Beach Beer Lab’s Sip then Shop event on Saturday, Nov. 26 is the ideal place.
While sipping on a West Coast IPA or a sour, guests can peruse the wares from a variety of small businesses. And, those who stick around afterward can also enjoy a selection of pinball games. All in all, it sounds like a pretty sweet way to shop.
Sip then Shop is free to attend (beer is not) and runs from 1 to 6 p.m.
Click here for more information.
Long Beach Beer Lab is at 518 W. Willow St.
RAKKAN RAMEN 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY (Saturday)
Belmont Shore’s Rakkan Ramen is celebrating its two-year anniversary Saturday, Nov. 26 with free ramen, sake tastings, raffles and more.
The first 50 customers will be awarded a ramen dish of their choice on the house. Those who visit from 1 to 5 p.m. can enjoy specialty sake tastings and enter a raffle offering various prizes.
The anniversary event is from 11 a.m. to closing. Click here for more information.
Rakkan Ramen is at 5242 Second St.
SPONSORED BY CIRCUS VARGAS
MR. V’s BIG TOP DREAM AT CIRCUS VARGAS
The new big top adventure is at Lakewood Center through Nov 29! A super, smash-hit circus extravaganza guaranteed to captivate and astound children of all ages!
Circus Vargas is proud to present their amazing new 2021 production “Mr. V’s Big Top Dream!” A must-see, show-stopping spectacular certain to spark the imagination and indulge the senses with more sparkle, more sequins and more amazing feats of daring and artistry! Bigger and better than ever! “Mr. V’s Big Top Dream,” a semi-biographical circus spectacular honoring legendary circus impresario Clifford E. Vargas, the flamboyant, larger-than-life, over-the-top, maker of circus magic!
Two unforgettable hours of nonstop action, thrills, excitement and adventure…. only at Circus Vargas, where memories are made and cherished for a lifetime!
For Circus Vargas tickets and information visit www.circusvargas.com.
Lakewood Center is at 500 Lakewood Center Mall.
SPONSORED BY THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
LEARN ABOUT MAGELLANIC AND GALAPAGOS PENGUINS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH DR. CAROLINE CAPPELLO (Wednesday, Dec. 7)
This FREE event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, December 7 features wildlife ecologist, Dr. Caroline Cappello. An immersion in photos and stories of penguins from Argentina and Ecuador. As a conservationist with a doctorate from the University of Washington, Capello specializes in the ecology of penguins. When not in the office, she can be found boating along the coasts of the Galápagos Islands in search of breeding penguins or living with over 200,000 Magellanic penguins in their colony at Punta Tombo.
This event will include a complimentary holiday drink and cash bar cocktail hour, music, holiday card making and paint-a-fish activity. The talk will take place in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater, with the rest of the evening set to be in the Pacific Visions Art Gallery. Reservations are required and may be made online or by calling 562-590-3100.
This program is sponsored by:
The Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown
Stephen and Brenda Olson
Ralph and Hazel Osborn and Lois J. Roork Trust
Aquarium of the Pacific is at 100 Aquarium Way.