While most of this weekend’s happenings in Long Beach reside in virtual spaces, there is still plenty to watch and enjoy this last weekend of February. Oh, and lots of free food.

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC’S AFRICAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL (Saturday)

Photo courtesy Aquarium of the Pacific.

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s annual festival celebrating African and African American culture returns for a free, virtual event this Saturday. The five-hour stream, beginning at 10 a.m., will feature music, storytelling, historical displays and live dance performances. For the full list and schedule of activities and entertainment, click here.

Following the festival will be an awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. for the 2021 recipients of the African American Scholarship Program.

TAKE FLIGHT: CELEBRATING OUR TUSKEGEE AIRMEN HEROES (Saturday)

Maj. James A. Ellison returns the salute of Mac Ross of Dayton, Ohio, as he passes down the line during review of the first class of Tuskegee cadets; flight line at U.S. Army Air Corps basic and advanced flying school, Tuskegee, Alabama, 1941. Partial three-quarter left front view from low angle of Vultee BT-13 trainer at left. Photo source: Wikipedia.

Learn about the rich history of America’s Black WWII military fighter and bomber pilots, the Tuskegee airmen, Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of the Black History Month celebration by the African American Heritage Society of Long Beach. The free, virtual event, streamed live on Facebook, will walk you through the lives of the lesser-known historical heroes with special guest speakers Doug Melville and Leon Johnson, Brigadier Gen. (Ret) USAF  and past President of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

RSVP to the event, here.

YEAR OF THE OX DUMPLING MAKING/EATING PARTY (Saturday)

Image courtesy Long Beach – Qingdao Association.

In honor of the Lunar New Year, Long Beach Chinese educational nonprofit, the Qingdao Sister City Association, has organized a virtual dumpling making and eating party this Saturday. The two-hour event, which begins at 4 p.m., will walk you step-by-step through the process of creating the traditional dish, where afterward, everyone is encouraged to collectively celebrate the Year of the Ox by stuffing your face full with the labors of your hard work.

To register for the event, click here. For the list of ingredients, click here.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CARAVAN (Saturday)

Flyer courtesy o Habitat for Humanity.

From 10 a.m. to noon, the Washington neighborhood will be hosting a Black History Month caravan. The public is invited to watch the caravan while abiding by social distancing rules, and enter a raffle by taking a photo of the caravan and posting it on the Washington Middle School Facebook page. The post will count as a raffle entry for a prize. The raffle is limited to one entry per person and one winner per household.

Organizers are also offering trivia for anyone, especially youth, who want to test their knowledge of Black history.

The caravan will begin and end at a lot at Washington Middle School on 14th Street near Pacific Avenue. If you would like to participate in the caravan, contact Dinesa Thomas at [email protected] or call her at 310-323-4663, ext. 315.

FREE FOOD GIVEAWAYS AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL, LIGHT & LIFE WEST AND CROSSROADS CHURCH (Thursday & Saturday)

Flyer courtesy the city.

On Thursday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon, the city will be hosting a drive-thru food distribution at Jordan High School. No eligibility required. However, the event is drive-thru only, no walks-ups.

Then, on Saturday, Feb. 27 both Light & Life West and Crossroads Church in North Long Beach are giving out free food and pantry staples to local families in need.

Light & Life West, located at 6465 Cherry Ave., will begin handing out food at 9 a.m. until supplies run out. Crossroads Church, at 1900 E South St., says guests can arrive between 8 and 11 a.m. to pick up groceries, but asks that locals bring their own bags. Those interested in volunteering at Crossroads Church can sign up here.

Both churches ask that visitors wear a mask and observe social distancing protocol while waiting in line.

COVID-19 & ME (Thursday)

Flyer courtesy CityheART.

The last 11 months have been pretty strange, and yes, that’s putting that very nicely. This free, virtual storytelling, music and poetry event organized by local, art-centric nonprofit City HeART, aims to help people process their experiences through the pandemic in a more positive light.

“Through discussion and guided reflections, we hope each of us will log out of this event with a clear picture of the heroes we have become as each of us have endured the ongoing pandemic individually and as a community,” the organization said in a statement.

For more information, click here.

2021 AFRO-LATINX FESTIVAL – CONSTRUCTING BLACKNESS THROUGH THE YOUNG LORDS (Saturday)

Flyer courtesy MOLAA.

Wrapping up MOLAA’s annual Afro-Latinx Festival this Saturday is a conversation about race and identity with the Young Lords, a grassroots Black power movement.

“This session seeks to interrogate the notion that blackness can only be expressed through a singular African American lens. The Young Lords are heirs to the Black Power Movement echoing the freedom cries of antiwar and black radicalism by African American organizations like the Black Panther Party and the Independence Movement in Puerto Rico by Afro Puerto Rican figures like Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, the movement’s outspoken leader,” MOLAA said in a statement.

The event, which you can watch online is from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27. Speakers will include Afro-Dominican professor, curator and author Johanna Fernández, Afro-Cuban Black cultural anthropologist Noel López and Afro-Puerto Rican curator and author Yasmin Ramirez.

Editor’s note: This list has been updated with the Saturday caravan event and MOLAA’s Afro-Latinx Festival event.

Crystal Niebla contributed to this report.