Community News

Seasonal Celebrations

2ND & PCH announced a lineup of fall events, offering fun-filled activities and entertainment for the whole family. From kids’ clubs to musical nights and cultural markets, 2ND & PCH will be bustling with energy throughout October and November, providing the community with seasonal fun and celebrations.

Kids are invited to explore fun, educational activities at the PCH Explorers Kids Club on Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon with two very talented magicians: Christopher T. Magician and Joe Selph’s Spooktacular Marionette Show. These free events provide interactive entertainment with themed crafts and more kid-friendly activities, perfect for little adventurers to dive into seasonal fun.

The Dreamers Market: Halloween Edition “Ghouls & Goodies” on Saturday, Oct. 26 from noon to 6 p.m offers guests the spirit of the season where local makers will showcase festive products and handmade crafts, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Unidos Market: Día de los Muertos heads to the center on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2-8 p.m., celebrating the Latinx community featuring artisans with unique goods and live performers, honoring this rich cultural tradition.

Head to the popular Beachside Beats Vibes, the center’s live outdoor music series, this fall, and experience a variety of musical themes. This season starts off on Thursday, Oct. 24 with a special Halloween edition, Haunted by Music Legends, featuring top hits from iconic singers who live on through music.

2ND & PCH marks its five-year anniversary with Ghouls Night Fall Fest, a frightfully fun celebration on Thursday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m. Families can enjoy trick-or-treating, a costume contest, photo opportunities and live music to enjoy the festivities of the season while celebrating the center’s legacy. Guests who want to join the costume contest must RSVP in advance.

For more information on events visit 2ndandpch.com.

Free Admission to Vets

This Veterans Day, the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach is proud to honor our nation’s heroes with a day of celebration exclusively for veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families, offering free admission on Monday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ship will offer special programming and family-friendly activities designed to commemorate and celebrate their service.

“We are deeply honored to host this celebration aboard The Queen Mary,” said Steve Caloca, managing director. “As we open our doors to veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families, it’s a privilege to create a meaningful day filled with special programming that reflects our deep gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The Queen Mary has a rich history of service and we are proud to continue that legacy by giving back to those who have given so much for our country.”

Those who have served, those currently serving and their guests, can enjoy exclusive meet-and-greets with the ship’s captain and officers, craft heartfelt letters to active troops, participate in arts and crafts, and hear inspiring stories from fellow veterans. The day will also feature a variety of patriotic activities, including Game Time with the USO Girls. Entertainment highlights will include strolling performances by the Lucky Lindy’s, GI Boys, and a tribute to The Andrews Sisters, among others.

Included with free admission, veterans and active-duty military personnel can also explore self-guided tours of world-class exhibits, such as the Churchill Exhibit, Engine Room, Ship Model Gallery, The Wheelhouse and The Shipyard. For those looking to enhance their Veterans Day experience, upgrades are available, including guided tours, dining at the ship’s restaurants, retail shopping and drinks at the iconic Observation Bar.

The Queen Mary is proud to dedicate access to the ship to those who have served and are currently serving for an exclusive day of remembrance and celebration. This unique event offers a special opportunity to honor our nation’s heroes through a day filled with history, reflection and recognition. With complimentary activities and the option to enhance the experience, the day promises to be a meaningful and memorable tribute to those who have served.

Caloca adds, “As a son of a U.S. Marine, who happens to be my hero, I am deeply grateful to the men and women who have served our country throughout the years.”

For more information on the Queen Mary, Veterans Day and more, visit queenmary.com/whatsondeck.

Upscale/Resale at Church

It all happens at the corner of Broadway and Granada – the annual unique shopping opportunity put on by the St. Bartholomew Women’s Council on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 8 am to noon and from 3 to 6 p.m. Also on Sunday Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s a fun, bargain-filled event with lots of jewelry, purses, household items, toys, Christmas decorations, knick-knacks, artwork and more.

Proceeds from the sale go to local Long Beach Charities.

Community Quilt Project

The Long Beach Public Library proudly presents Hilos de Sueños y Recuerdos: Sew it Goes, a community-based sewing lab series. Participants are invited to attend open lab events throughout October and November and work on a personal sewing project while contributing to a collaborative community quilt.

The quilt will showcase photos, prints and shared memories that have been transferred onto fabric. Once completed, the final quilt will be revealed on Saturday, Nov. 23, and will rotate display at all 12 library branches.

Open labs will take place at various Library branches from 1 to 4 p.m. on the following dates:

• Saturday, Oct. 19 at Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.)
• Saturday, Oct. 26 at Billie Jean King Main Library
• Saturday, Nov. 9 at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library
• Saturday, Nov. 16 at Harte Neighborhood Library

Hilos de Sueños y Recuerdos is open to people ages 12 and older and no prior sewing experience is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring family photos to scan, transfer to fabric and sew into the quilt. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own sewing machines. While supplies will be provided, they are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration is required to attend and Spanish language support will be available.

Hilos de Sueños y Recuerdos will celebrate the community’s contributions and hard work with a quilt reveal on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Billie Jean King Main Library. Participants will share the significance of their design through storytelling. The event will feature live music and refreshments.

Hilos de Sueños y Recuerdos is made possible with support from California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities that produces, funds, creates and supports humanities-based projects and programs, eye-opening cultural experiences and meaningful conversations. For more information, visit calhum.org.

Film History Tour

Catalina Museum for Art & History presents a one-of-a-kind experience: the Exclusive Shipwrecks & Film History Tour of Catalina Island. This captivating journey offers a unique glimpse into the island’s rich maritime heritage and storied history as a Hollywood backdrop. Attendees will explore dramatic shipwrecks and iconic film locations that have enthralled audiences for generations. The highlight of this event is a rare circumnavigation of Catalina Island, offering attendees the opportunity to see the island from all angles – a cruise experience rarely available to the public.

As a fundraiser for the museum, this tour will provide participants with an unforgettable blend of history, adventure and stunning views. This exclusive cruise will take place on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Tickets are $200 per person or $350 for two guests traveling together. All proceeds from the tour will support the Catalina Museum for Art & History, helping to preserve and promote the island’s vibrant art, culture and history for future generations. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore Catalina Island’s hidden stories, where history and Hollywood intertwine! For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.catalinamuseum.org/calendar/event/4354790.

Halloween Spooktacular

Long Beach Towne Center invites guests to a frightfully fun, free Halloween Spooktacular Event on Saturday, Oct. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. The event promises an unforgettable Halloween celebration for the whole family. Guests can look forward to an exciting lineup of activities including trick-or-treating stations, balloon twisters, special character meet and greets, themed kids’ crafts and face painters. The festive atmosphere will be enhanced with a live DJ, setting the perfect Halloween mood.

Open Streets Uptown

Beach Streets returns to the Uptown Long Beach area on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature the city’s Veterans Day Celebration. These events, which are traditionally held separately, will combine this year to enhance activities, increase community engagement and highlight improvements made as part of the Artesia Great Boulevard Project, including progress made to the new bike corridor. Beach Streets embraces the active commuting lifestyle by opening the streets and transforming them into safe, open areas for people to bike, walk and explore their neighborhoods.

This year, the event will offer the opportunity for residents to honor and pay a heartfelt tribute to those who have served and are currently serving in the United States Military.

Beach Streets promotes sustainable transportation, supports local businesses and allows its thousands of annual participants to get to know their neighbors in a comfortable, family-oriented environment. By bringing together different roadway users, Beach Streets also promotes commuting safety and supports the city’s climate goals by encouraging zero-emission transportation options.

This year’s event route will include northbound Atlantic Avenue from South Street to Artesia Boulevard, as well as the newly renovated Artesia Boulevard from Atlantic Avenue to Cherry Avenue, which includes a new bike corridor. Entertainment hubs will be located along the route at Houghton Park, on Atlantic Avenue by Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, and on the corner of Artesia Boulevard and Cherry Avenue.

The welcome ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the main stage of the Artesia Boulevard Hub, which will serve as the main hub of Beach Streets Uptown. This hub will highlight improvements made along Artesia Boulevard and will feature live music and resource booths. The entertainment hub by Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library will also offer attendees a variety of resource booths and music.

The Veterans Hub at Houghton Park will feature the Veterans Day Celebration where residents can pay respect to local veterans of the US Armed Forces. Included in this celebration will be a veterans resource fair, live music from Knyght Ryder and The Satin Dollz, aircraft flyovers, food trucks and beer garden, a boot camp style obstacle course and a skate zone with skate park demos and skateboarding lessons by Skate Dogs. The event will also have a dedicated kid zone featuring live performances by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater and DJ Mike, as well as the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Aquarium on Wheels and other family-friendly activities. The Veterans Recognition Ceremony, taking place at 2 p.m., will feature an awards presentation for individuals and organizations who have shown exemplary dedication to serving the local veterans community. This year’s honorees include:

• JB Jaso – 2024 Veterans Day Celebration Grand Marshal
• Paralyzed Veterans of America California Chapter – Outstanding Community Organization
• Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, California Chapter 33-12 – Outstanding Community Organization
• John Oppenheim – Outstanding Volunteer

Local businesses, business districts and community groups along the event route will host a variety of entertainment, activities, information booths and more to attract foot traffic to and promote their businesses.