A range of activities will add elements of entertainment to Long Beach’s own ciclovía, the Beach Streets Uptown bike event on June 6, with festivals, concerts, art exhibits, skate and BMX expos and petting zoos, the City of Long Beach announced Wednesday.

A release issued yesterday said Atlantic Avenue will be closed to auto traffic and open for walking, bicycling and skating from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Other events and activities will take place at Bixby Knolls, Scherer Park and Houghton Park along the route, which extends from Wardlow Road to Houghton Park at Harding Avenue.

“We have great entertainment and activities planned for families and people of all ages at Beach Streets Uptown,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “It’s a great day to walk, roller skate or bike in the community and enjoy the best that Long Beach has to offer.”

According to Councilmembers Roberto Uranga, Al Austin and Rex Richardson, Beach Streets Uptown will specifically feature the following:

  • An entertainment hub near Orozco’s Auto Service, including outdoor music and food at local restaurants that include Baja Sonora, Polly’s Pies and Deep Blue Swim School.
  • Performances by live bands, family-friendly activities, and more along Atlantic Avenue.
  • A Beach Streets Village Fest at Houghton Park that includes live musical performances starting at noon (featuring headliner The Pharcyde), health activations and a skate expo. The festival also features a Taste of Uptown, kids’ bike rodeo, petting zoo and art installations.
  • Another festival, dubbed the Scherer Park Festival, that features a BMX freestyle show, bands, arts and crafts, face painting, giant inflatable slides, obstacle courses and informational booths about emergency preparedness manned by the city’s Health Department and Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine.

Intersections along Atlantic Avenue will allow vehicles to cross, while traffic on the road is limited to foot, bicycles, skates, rollerblades and skateboards.

According to the release, Open Streets events are gaining traction in America, encouraging cities to use streets in innovative ways that encourage environmental, social, economic and public health sustainability goals.