VRRROOM with a View: The Acura Grand Prix Returns to Long Beach

America’s oldest and greatest street race rumbles back into the International City as the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach returns for its 50th year of speed, stunts, food, music and lots of other fun, April 10-13, 2025. As always, the weekend will feature the world’s fastest cars in the signature Grand Prix and is packed with other racing action, attractions and one-of-a-kind fun. Here’s a look at some things you won’t want to miss during Long Beach's biggest weekend event.

Thursday

– The weekend starts early as the City of Long Beach honors driver Scott Dixon, former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill and Grand Prix Assn. of Long Beach CEO and President Jim Michaelian with their induction into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame. This annual free event, recognizing those who have made significant contributions to auto racing, takes place at 11 AM on the palm-lined public sidewalk on South Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

– Thunder Thursday, presented by Visit Long Beach, is a free evening of fun and one-of-a-kind experiences at The Pike Outlets (95 S Pine Ave) from 6-10 PM. This action-packed evening will include motorcycle freestyle demonstrations, pit stop competitions, driver autographs, race car displays, food tents, photo booths, the Auld Dubliner Beer Garden and a whole lot more!

Credit: City of Long Beach

Friday

– The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach officially gets underway as gates open at 7:30 AM While opening day will feature various race practices and qualifying events, it will also kick off the three-day LifeStyle Expo featuring more than 100 displays in the latest in automotive, home, recreation, travel and entertainment products and services. What’s more, fans can take part in the Cooler Master Dyn X Challenge featuring top-of-the-line racing simulators.

– The Family Fun Zone, located in the Long Beach Arena area of the Lifestyle Expo, will have games, racing simulators, and rock climbing walls. Also, kids ages 3-6 years old can race in their very own race cars!

– Once again, the Grand Prix will feature a wide selection of exceptional food and drink. Savor, food and beverage partner of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, has once again pulled together an amazing group of local restaurants and bars to serve customers all around the track; everything from mimosa bars to bisto fare to a Brunch Bar featuring such local favorites as Gemmae Bake Shop as well as other minority and women-owned vendors.

–Not only will great local restaurants and pubs be located around the 1.97-mile circuit be open and serving, but the very popular Food Truck Experience will once again be parked behind Grandstand 31, featuring a bevy of Southern California’s best gourmet food trucks.

Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center's food + beverage partner, SAVOR, is here to bring you the best EATS and DRINKS available around the track!

– On the track, there will be numerous practice runs as well as qualifying laps for a variety of racing categories, everything from trucks to sports cars. At 6:30 p.m. the enormously popular Super Drift Challenge gets underway for the first of its two events.

– DJ duo DVBBS performs on the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center Terrace Plaza (in front of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center). The show begins at 6:30 PM.

Saturday

– With spectator gates opening at 7:30 a.m, IndyCar practice session gets underway at 8:30 AM. 45 AM Racing begins with the Historic Formula exhibition at 10:45 AM, featuring the legendary cars from three iconic series that have raced Long Beach: Formula 5000, Formula 1, and INDYCAR.

– At 2 p.m., the IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix hits the tracks with two classes of the most advanced, exotic cars on the planet engaging in a 100-minute competition.

– At 4:30 p.m., Robby Gordon’s Stadium SUPER Trucks Race #1 series, showcasing powerful, high-flying tracks performing wild ramp jumps, gets underway.

– Drift fans will get another day of the popular motorsport with a 6:30 PM start to Super Drift Challenge Competition #2.

– The weekend's second free concert–to ticket holders–takes place at 6:30 PM as classic rock legends Foreigner hit the stage on Terrace Plaza in front of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. One of the best selling bands of all time, Foreigner has produced such standards as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold As Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Sunday

– THE day has arrived as gates open at 7:30 AM with racing beginning at 10:45 AM. with the second Historic Formula One race, followed by the GT American Race #2 at 11:20 AM.

– The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach gets underway at 1:30 PM. The 85 laps around the 1.97-mile, 11-turn track feature a world-class field of drivers including defending champion Scott Dixon as well as past champions Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Colton Herta and Alex Palou.

– The end of the Grand Prix actually isn’t the end of the day’s racing. A second Stadium SUPER Trucks Race gets underway, as drivers engage in thrilling side-by-side action, beginning at 4:30 PM.

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About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.