Love Festival Loves Back

An eclectic mix of electronic dance music, local art and wellness activities kept spirits high as the Love Long Beach Festival celebrated its 11th year in the city.

Held each July along the Long Beach waterfront, the annual two-day gathering combines music, art, wellness activities and family-friendly entertainment. While it shares some similarities with large electronic music festivals such as Day Trip, Dreamstate SoCal and Apocalypse: Zombieland, Love Long Beach offers a more relaxed and intimate experience.

“I really enjoyed Love Long Beach more because it’s something I can bring my kids to, and I know we’ll all have fun here,” attendee Elstree Gonzalez said. “I love electronic music, and this event gives my kids activities to do while my friends and I enjoy the music.”

Designed as an inclusive event for people of all ages, the July 18-19 festival featured interactive games and hands-on crafts for younger attendees.

The festival also offered fire performances, an attraction not commonly found at larger electronic dance music events.

Attendee Noah Kawasaki said he enjoyed the overall energy of the festival but came primarily to see the fire performers.

“I had never seen a fire performance in person before, and that was one of the main reasons I came,” Kawasaki said. “I wanted to experience it for the first time, and it did not disappoint. It was exhilarating, and you could literally feel the heat in the crowd.”

For more than a decade, the independently produced Love Long Beach Festival has established itself alongside the city’s larger mainstream festivals. Produced by the music label Subtract Music, the event takes place at Shoreline Aquatic Park.

As Long Beach continues to grow along with the electronic music scene, the Love Long Beach Festival has become a staple of the city’s summertime waterfront festivities.