Planning on zoning out in front of the TV to immerse yourself in the first week of NFL football? Think again! There’s too much good stuff going on in Long Beach this weekend to waste it on the couch. So get yourself up and out to one (or both) of these events.

In just a few short months, Councilmember Robert Garcia and the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) organized the first annual Latin American Parade and Festival which we previewed in this article yesterday. Here’s the full day’s schedule in case you missed it:

Parade Step Off at 3:00PM beginning at Pine & 7th, then leading down Pine Avenue to Broadway and ending at 1st & Elm.

Main Stage:
4:00PM Welcome, Introductions
4:30PM Danzas Aztecas
5:00PM Musikitos – Latin American Folk Music
5:30PM Ballet Folklorico Viva Panama
6:00PM Afro-Samba Dance
6:10PM El Presidente – Latin Hip Hop
6:30PM Banda de Guerra Mexico
7:00PM La Flor De Cachavilla – Mexican Ranchero
7:30PM Jose Grijalva – Spanish Language Poetry
8:00PM Ballet Folklorico Maria
8:30PM Carlos – The Tribute (Santana Tribute Band)

Children’s Activity Area (EV Art Park):
4:00PM Face Painting and Balloon Artist
4:00PM Rory Seldon Band
5:00PM Folklorico Del Mar & Flamenco Fiesta
6:00PM Rory Seldon Band
6:30PM Children’s Spanish Poetry by Jose Gryalva

Festival Area:
4:00PM Art Workshops – MoLAA
4:30PM Latin Dance 4 Fitness
5:30PM Latin Dance 4 Fitness
6:00PM Salsa Lessons – MoLAA
6:30PM Latin Dance 4 Fitness
7:30PM Latin Dance 4 Fitness
8:00PM Kareoke – La Cieba

Also in town this weekend in the Belmont Shore Car Show being held this Sunday on 2nd Street. If you’re planning on attending, get ready for one of Southern California’s foremost classic car shows with a variety ranging from candy paint and pushrods to custom PT Cruisers and much, much more. If you’re not planning on attending, I would steer clear of the blocked off roads. Click here for more info, and stay tuned for our complete photo gallery on Monday.

In fact, let’s just open this up to all of you photographer-types out there. Send us your pictures from the Belmont Shore Car Show on Sunday, and we’ll publish the photos (with credit to you, of course) alongside those from our own photogs – kind of like we did with the Bixby Knolls Car Show. Happy shooting!

Hopefully this muggy weather clears up, huh? Have a great weekend!

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