December 2nd – December 7th, 2019
And just like that, Thanksgiving transformed into Christmas! There are several fun holiday events this week and weekend that will be fun for the whole family! And every activity this week is completely FREE! Don’t forget to check back each week for that week’s top 5 events, brought to you by Long Beach Home + Living and ExploreLongBeach !
SIGNAL HILL ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
When: Wednesday December 4th from 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Where: Signal Hill Public Library, 1800 E Hill St, Signal Hill
This event is usually held at Discovery Wells Park, but it has been moved to the Signal Hill Public Library due to the chance of rain. Head to Signal Hill’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony this Wednesday! Santa arrives at 5:30 p.m., and they’ll light the tree at 6 p.m. Afterwards, enjoy a community celebration including festive treats, music, holiday crafts, train rides, pictures with Santa, and more. I love how small and intimate this tree lighting is, and it’s a great opportunity to get to know people in the community. This free event is brought to you by the City of Signal Hill and the City of Long Beach. Check out their website for more information.
FIRST FRIDAYS FAMILY FESTIVAL
When: Friday December 6th from 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Where: First Fridays, 4321 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach
Naughty or Nice, don’t miss First Fridays Family Festival on December 6th! Knock out all of your holiday shopping in one night AND support your local businesses! The Expo Arts Center will be open hosting 𝗨𝗽𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 will be open with the freshest current art made by local Long Beach artists curated by our own Ronnie de Leon. And, there will be specials, sales, and promos galore in our shops and restaurants! There will also be a ton of family friendly activities (see below)
𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙑𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎:
• Simulated Snow • Storytelling at Pixie Toys • Santa at First Bank • Holiday Music
• Holiday Tea Party at Elise’s Tea Room • Pub Crawl with holiday themed drinks • Hughes Chorale singing holiday carols
• $1.00 hot chocolate and cider “stops” at Bixby Joe • S’mores made by Cub Scouts
• Complimentary Holiday Surf Bus to take you up and down the Avenue in style • LB Littles Kid Zone
• Caricatures at Long Beach Clothing Co. • Tamale Prep Workshop at Chef Tech Cooking School
• Mommy 4D will pass out mini gingerbread kits and cookie kits until supplies run out
• Live music • Local Art • Crafts
Visit their event page to learn more!
LONG BEACH HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND LASER SHOW
When: Friday December 6th from 7 pm – 9 pm
Where: Long Beach Towne Center, 7575 Carson Blvd, Long Beach
Long Beach Towne Center invites the community to a holiday tree lighting extravaganza featuring a dramatic laser light show with falling snow, performances by local community groups, and a meet-and-greet with Santa and other life-size holiday characters. Before the evening gets underway, stilt-walking elves will entertain attendees. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with a performance by the Jazz Angels, a non-profit group providing musical education to young people. A spectacular laser light show will follow at 7:15 p.m.; this multimedia laser light spectacular will include stunning aerial laser beams and awe-inspiring lighting effects perfectly choreographed to the sounds of captivating holiday music. After the laser light show, as the tree is lit, there will be a beautiful cascade of falling “snow.” Following the tree lighting, attendees are invited to a selfie-worthy meet-and-greet with Santa himself, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, stilt-walking elves, and a life-size holiday Teddy Bear at the tree at 7:30 p.m. The light show and snowfall will repeat at 8:00 p.m. The Jazz Angels will play again at 8:10 p.m. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Friday, December 6th: 7p.m. to 9 p.m.
• 7 p.m.: Jazz Angels performance
• 7:15 p.m.: Multimedia laser light show, tree lighting and snowfall
• 7:30 p.m.: Meet-and-greet with Santa and holiday characters
• 8 p.m.: Multimedia laser light show and snowfall repeat
• 8:10 p.m.: Jazz Angels repeat performance
• 9 p.m.: Event concludes
Visit the event page for additional details!
HOLIDAY STROLL AT MARINA PACIFICA
When: Saturday December 7th from 11 am – 2 pm
Where: Marina Pacifica Shopping Center, 6272 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach
Marina Pacifica hosts a holiday event for all – Santa will arrive by Long Beach Fire Department boat at noon sharp. Then enjoy snacks from shopping center restaurants, photos with Santa, a scavenger hunt with lots of prizes, face painting, free Duffy Boat rides and more. Located in the courtyard next to Bikram Hot Yoga Long Beach.
37TH ANNUAL BELMONT SHORE CHRISTMAS PARADE
When: Sunday December 7th from 6 pm – 9 pm
Where: Belmont Shore, 2nd Street, Long Beach
The Belmont Shore Parade is one of my favorite holiday events! It seems like everyone in the whole community comes out to watch (so be sure to get there early to get a seat!) If you have never been to this parade, don’t get your expectations too high. This is not like the department store parades in New York, and the floats won’t be massive. But what you will see is performances by local marching bands, floats that local businesses put together, and even Santa makes an appearance. The theme of this year’s parade is “Your Holidays Start on 2nd” and the floats will be judged based on theme, originality, and spectator appeal. Be sure to dress warm because it can get chilly while you’re watching! Check out their website to learn more and don’t forget to follow Belmont Shore’s social channels to be the first to learn about upcoming events!
