Long Beach Summer Events Series

Long Beach loves an outdoor event that combines food, music, and local flavor, and the summer calendar is just packed with such shindigs. These event series are free or low cost and bring out the best of what our city has to offer when the weather is perfect for getting out and enjoying it all.

STROLL & SAVOR

Come hungry to Stroll & Savor, the Belmont Shore Business Association's most popular event of the year. Over 30 eateries will be participating, providing samples of food and drink along Second Street in Belmont Shore. Past delicacies have included everything from sliders to cupcakes to fried oysters. In 2024, these events will be held on two consecutive nights each month from June through August. Purchase a sheet of 12 tickets for $15 at Second Street shops starting the Friday before or at the Chase bank on Second Street the night of the event.

Credit: Vixen Creative Agency

LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL BAND

Nothing says summer quite like lounging on a blanket on a warm evening with a picnic while a big band plays a Sousa march. The longest running municipal band in the country, the Long Beach Municipal Band celebrates its 115th season in 2024, providing free concerts in half a dozen park locations around the city throughout the summer. In addition to their crowd-pleasing repertoire of favorites played in the first half of each concert, the band shrinks down to a smaller combo with a star vocalist for a jazzier act after sundown. Concerts are held multiple nights per week from June 25 to August 2. Visit the city's webpage for details.

MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD FAIRS

In Long Beach, we’ve got First Fridays, Fourth Fridays, and Second Saturdays, so your calendar is going to need some color coding. First Fridays in Bixby Knolls centers around the Expo Art Center and stretches along Atlantic Avenue, with live music, food, and special deals and activities at businesses along the route. On Fourth Fridays, vendors, artists, and musicians line 4th Street’s Retro Row, from Temple to Hermosa Avenue. Downtown Long Beach hosts the year round Long Beach Art Walk on Second Saturdays, featuring food and drink, artists from local galleries, and live performances.

TASTE OF DOWNTOWN

Taste of Downtown is an annual event series hosted by the Downtown Long Beach Alliance showcasing the city’s diverse community of chefs, brewers, and mixologists accompanied by live bands and DJs. Upcoming dates include June 12 and 13 at Pine and Promenade and August 14 and 15 on the Waterfront. Admission is free, but be sure to purchase tasting tickets (20 tickets for $20) to sample the event’s culinary delights.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for nearly 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.