Community News

Ultimate Summer Lineup

2ND & PCH invites the community to dive into a season of sunshine, rhythm and celebration. This summer, the center is turning up the energy with a lineup of free outdoor concerts, open-air movie nights and interactive family programming designed to make memories all season long. From soulful acoustic sessions and mainstage tribute acts to blockbuster animations and themed kids’ adventures, 2ND & PCH is the coastal backdrop for summer fun.

Beachside Beats & Mainstage Fests – Music lovers are invited to dance, relax and soak in vibrant tunes at two distinct outdoor music experiences, completely free and open to the public on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.

Beachside Beats Vibes (Grand Staircase) – Experience intimate, sunset performances in a relaxed coastal setting.

• July 9 – Soul Expressions
• Aug. 6 – Tribute Band (To Be Announced)

Beachside Beats Fest (Seaport Way Mainstage) – Bring your energy to these high-octane block parties celebrating culture, rhythm and community.

• July 23 – 2000s Pop featuring Browndition
• Aug. 20 – Prince Tribute featuring Purple Generation
• Sept. 17 – Salsa Night featuring Latin Band

Movies & Moonlight – The center’s popular, free outdoor movie series returns to bring big screen magic to the marina. Movie-goers can bring their own low-profile lawn chairs, cozy blankets and even leashed four-legged friends for a night out. Grab takeout from a 2ND & PCH eatery and settle in for features monthly on Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure the best view.

• June 26 – Zootopia 2
• July 23 – Hopper
• Aug. 14 – Super Mario Bros Galaxy Movie

PCH Explorer Kids Clubs – Specially curated for little adventurers and their families, the PCH Explorer Kids Club series delivers interactive entertainment, crafts and high-energy themed activities. This free programming offers a creative, fun-filled way to connect with the community. Join the fun on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Grand Staircase:

June 30 – Kids Club Summer Edition: 4th of July Spectacular

July 14 - Once upon a time at 2ND & PCH

July 28 – Kids Club Summer Edition: Dino Day Party - Kids Rave

Aug. 11 – Kids Club Summer Edition: KPop Day Hunters

Aug. 18 – Kids Club Summertime Edition: Safari Adventure (animals + Dino again)

Sept. 1 – Kids Club Post-Summer Edition: Back-to-School Bash

All events are weather permitting. 2ND & PCH welcomes guests to explore its premier collection of top-tier restaurants, stylish retailers and premium specialty services before, during or after events. For more information on the summer event lineup, interactive property map or a complete directory of tenants, visit 2ndandpch.com.

Summer of Family Fun

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is gearing up for another fun-filled summer of free, family-friendly entertainment and recreational programming options for youth, teens and adults. Offering accessible recreation during the summer months strengthens community connections, promotes community wellbeing and offers youth safe, constructive activities to engage in. PRM’s summer events and programs began June 15 and run through Aug. 21.

Movies in the Park will once again offer free family-friendly movies at Long Beach parks. Community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic dinners and snacks to enjoy a cinematic summer evening outdoors. Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. and include a nightly raffle giveaway (tickets given per family or group) and a bounce house. Movies begin at dusk. Movies in the Park is sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks. The movie schedule and list of park locations is available at lbcity.info/moviesinthepark.

Summer Fun Days is a free drop-in recreation program that engages children ages 5 to 12 in fun activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts and special events. The program runs weekdays June 15 through Aug. 21, noon to 5 p.m., at 21 parks throughout Long Beach. Pre-registration is required and available online at LB RecConnect. More information, including the complete list of all participating locations, is available at lbcity.info/summerfundays.

As part of PRM’s aquatics programming, and in effort to encourage fun, safe water play all summer long, open recreation swim sessions for youth ages 17 years and younger is free all at city pools (Belmont Plaza, King Park Pool and Silverado Pool). Offering free recreation swim to youth increases access to water-related activities and removes barriers for young people to participate. Youth under 48” tall must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times.

The Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) program offers free recreation activities for the whole family, weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at 11 parks throughout the city. Activities range from arts and crafts, games, sports and fitness classes to science activities and special events like free movies, sponsored by the Port of Long Beach. More information is available at lbcity.info/besafe.

The El Dorado Nature Center Summer Concert Series will offer an evening of live music in a beautiful lakeside setting. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., concerts take place 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per person at the door (cash, card or smart pay available). Concert goers are encouraged to bring an eco-friendly dinner and low chairs. The 2026 concert lineup includes:

• July 9 – Big City Hillbillies
• July 23 – Steel Parade
• Aug. 6 – JP McDermott and Western Bop
• Aug. 20 – Sligo Rags

Dance Fest, a free music and dance showcase of traditional and contemporary cultural traditions, will take place Saturday, Aug. 15, 5-7 p.m. at Cesar E. Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave.

Additionally, PRM’s six Teen Centers will operate this summer with extended hours on weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. through Aug. 21. Through the Teen Programs, teens ages 13 to 18 years old can enjoy social and recreational activities in a safe and welcoming environment that help enhance personal and social skills, teach responsibility and leadership, and promote individual self-esteem.

Summer activities for youth align with the city’s Summer of Opportunity initiative, a collective impact approach focused on fostering positive development among Long Beach youth while simultaneously addressing youth violence. Highlights of Summer of Opportunity activations and the city’s summer activities calendar are available on the city’s Summer of Opportunity webpage.

Community members are also encouraged to browse the summer issue of Recreation Connection, PRM’s recreation catalogue, to get connected to over 700 classes, activities, sports and leagues for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

Discover PRM’s full lineup of parks, facilities, programs and services available for the Long Beach community at LBParks.org.

Seeds of Resilience

A coalition of Long Beach cultural organizations and community partners has launched the “Seeds of Resilience” initiative, inviting residents to deepen their understanding of histories that have shaped the greater Long Beach area as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary.

The initiative will culminate in Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach, a community activation day on Sept. 22, 2-7 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza. The public event will bring together artists, historians, community organizations and residents to celebrate connection and resilience through art, performances and storytelling. These projects will honor the city’s diverse living histories and the communities that have shaped Long Beach across generations.

Artists and community organizations can now apply for microgrants to participate in the community activation day. The online application portal is open for those who wish to host a booth or present a storytelling, history, art, or cultural project reflecting their community’s ties to Long Beach. Applications close on July 6 and selected participants will be eligible for microgrants ranging from $500 to $1,500.

Seeds of Resilience does not focus on a single starting point in American history but instead recognizes the many communities whose histories are rooted in Southern California. For thousands of years, the Tongva and other Indigenous peoples stewarded this land, and generations of multiracial communities have shaped the area through migration, labor, culture and civic life.

More information about the initiative and upcoming programming will be shared throughout the summer. Residents interested in participating in the Community Activation Day can learn more and apply at artslb.org/long-beach-story.

AOP Summer Splash

Everyone is invited to join the Aquarium of the Pacific for a night of celebration during the Summer Splash on Saturday, June 27, from 8 to 11:30 p.m. The aquarium will be open late for an evening of food sampling from local restaurants, complimentary drinks, live entertainment and a silent auction.

Guests will be able to take in the ambiance of the aquarium at night and explore more than one hundred exhibits, including stepping into the new immersive Jelly Dreamscapes gallery featuring sea jellies found around the world.

During the evening, guests will be able to feed moon jellies at the interactive outdoor touch lab on Harbor Terrace. They can also learn about sea otters through educational shows at their habitat and about their conservation with a livestream in front of the Molina Animal Care Center. There will also be opportunities to explore seaweed through a special station, learn about frogs at their nursery, and explore the mobile Aquarium on Wheels, which features tidepool animals you can touch.

This event raises vital funds that support the aquarium’s education, conservation and animal welfare initiatives along with its mission to instill a sense of wonder, respect and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. The aquarium’s conservation efforts are many from rehabilitating and releasing rescued sea turtles to helping orphaned rescued sea otter pups get a chance to return to the wild. Its education offerings range from taking its Aquarium on Wheels outreach vehicle and program to schools and into the community to providing a myriad of other educational opportunities for teachers, students and everyone.

The cost is $150 per ticket (food sampling included in the ticket price). Info: (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/summer_splash

Matches in the Park

As part of its Soccer in the LBC efforts during this summer’s global soccer tournament, the City of Long Beach will host Matches in the Park, a series of local soccer activations and match viewings at various parks throughout Long Beach. These events will take place during the knockout stage of the tournament and offer residents across the city chances to gather, connect and celebrate soccer in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.

The full event schedule is listed below. As participating national teams progress in the tournament, the city will announce what games will be shown at each location.

• Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m. – El Dorado Park West, 2800 N. Studebaker Rd.
• Thursday, July 9 at 1 p.m. – Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave.
• Friday, July 10 at noon – Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave.
• Saturday, July 11 at 6 p.m. – Heartwell Park, 5801 Parkcrest St.
• Tuesday, July 14 at noon – Recreation Park, 4900 E. 7th St.
• Wednesday, July 15 at noon – Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Blvd.
• Saturday, July 18 at 2 p.m. - Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave.

Each activation will feature a community watch party with a live big-screen match viewing, as well as group activities for youth hosted by the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their favorite soccer team’s attire and bring blankets, chairs and picnic meals.

At each event, soccer themed augmented reality missions and challenges will also be available through the Agents of Discovery app, a free educational mobile gaming platform. The Summer of Soccer challenges, powered by Agents of Discovery, are designed to teach players about soccer fundamentals, soccer history and international championship trivia while encouraging families and community members to get outside, interact and explore. The app is available for free download in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The city’s extensive local soccer programming will culminate on Sunday, July 19 with an open streets event to celebrate the tournament’s final match, which will be staged at Bixby Park. Hosted by the city and presented by Metro, with sponsorship from Port of Long Beach, this one-day event will open streets in multiple neighborhoods across Long Beach, transforming them into safe, open areas for people to bike, walk and explore.

Together, these events will bring the excitement of the global game to communities in every council district in Long Beach. Learn more at longbeach.gov/SoccerInTheLBC.