Annual Music Festivals in Long Beach

Long Beach has some impressive musical chops, having produced performers all over the musical spectrum: from Snoop to Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Warren G to Sublime. So it comes as little surprise that the city is also home to a wide array of music festivals, single and multiple day affairs that not only offer a wide selection of music – jazz, house, R&B, dance – but food, wellness and community. Listen up!

LONG BEACH JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

This event has presented a consistent stream of A-list, R&B musicians including Marsha “The Songstress” Ambrosius – half of the multimillion album selling group, Floetry. The Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration, held at Rainbow Lagoon Park, utilizes music not only to entertain but to tell the story of the Black experience, especially locally. It presents such local groups as step outfits from Cal State Long Beach as well as the Antioch mass gospel choir and local African drum and dance groups, all designed, celebration organizers say, to “take folks on a journey through Black culture.”

LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL

LONG BEACH PRIDE

Music has long been a central element in Long Beach Pride’s success, as it has consistently offered star-studded rosters over the years, including Dreamgirls (Jennifer Holliday and Jennifer Hudson), disco icons (The Village People, KC and the Sunshine Band and Eveyln “Champagne” King), as well as musicians representing a miles-wide swath of musical styles, from The Bangles to “Supreme Diva of Mexican Pop” Gloria Trevi, Queen Latifah to Sara Bareilles. This past year featured Iggy Azaela as a headliner, with Alex Acosta performing at the Dance Pavillion and local artist Jennifer Corday on the Country Stage.

DAY TRIP

LOVE LONG BEACH

This two-day music festival is aimed at the whole person. Yes, there’s plenty of live music and DJs performing at multiple stages that go by the names of the Noise Stage, Stargate Stage and Harmonic Destinations Stage. But Love Long Beach, which started seven years ago as an intimate gathering on the beach, has grown to encompass a diverse, weekend experience that also offers yoga, meditation, sound healing and arts and crafts at the Healing Arts Village & Sanctuary. There’s also food trucks, vendors and fully stocked bars if that’s what gets you to your happy place.

Credit: Dark Matter Photographs
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Steve Lowery