This Weekend in Long Beach

Say "Yeah!" as the multi-award-winning musical spectacle Kinky Boots arrives to lift your spirits to high-heeled heights! Winner of every Best Musical award, including the Tony®, Grammy®, and London’s Olivier Award, this captivating show features an infectious, score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. Based on true events, the story follows an unlikely pair who discover that changing your mind is the first step to changing the world.

Start your gift hunt early at the special shopping showcase presented by Rancho Los Alamitos! Visitors receive exclusive access to the decorated Museum Store, packed with great fall and winter items and creations from local makers. Grab a beverage from the pop-up coffee bar and score amazing deals across all holiday merchandise.

Long Beach Playhouse's Mainstage Theater presents the cherished holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol, in a highly theatrical retelling of the Charles Dickens classic directed by Carole Louise Nicholson. Witness Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future try to set the miser on the path to holiday cheer alongside characters like Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit.

Gather in Downtown Long Beach on December 7 for the annual International Tamales Festival featuring a Homemade Tamales Contest, Tequila Tasting, unique shopping vendors, and exciting live entertainment. The day also includes a dedicated Kids Zone for a day of family-friendly fun.

Join Olive & Rose and Clay on First for a fun and creative Holiday Ornament Painting Workshop! Your ticket secures your spot in the class and includes your own pottery item to decorate. Make a festive night of it by ordering drinks and snacks from Olive & Rose's courtyard happy hour menu, available throughout the event.

The acclaimed Long Beach Ballet returns to the Terrace Theater for the 42nd annual run of the nation's "best-loved" production, The Nutcracker. Artistic Director David Wilcox pulls out all the stops, showcasing a cast of over 250, a full symphony orchestra, and spectacular effects including a flying sleigh, a real horse, and on-stage pyrotechnics. This beloved holiday classic brings magical surprises the entire family will adore.

Craft your own beautiful holiday decor during the Native Plant Wreath Workshop at Rancho Los Alamitos. Begin with a fascinating tour of the Rancho's Native Garden, learning about the importance of California's indigenous plants. Then, dive into the fun to make a unique 8-inch wreath to take home.

Grab your Santa suits and join the most festive pub-crawl of the season in Bixby Knolls. Create your own route through "Brewery Knolls," visiting local breweries, restaurants, and shops all within walking distance. Enjoy great food and drink specials, live music, holiday shopping, and a scavenger hunt, all while supporting the BKBIA and the Bixby Knolls Community Foundation.

Musica Angelica, Long Beach’s renowned period instrument ensemble, presents a beautiful and intimate concert featuring A Baroque Christmas in Germany. This exquisite performance combines traditional vocal and instrumental compositions from masters like Bach, Handel, and Telemann, with Maestro Martin Haselböck featured on the organ alongside special guest artists.

Ring in 2026 high above the city at HALO, the rooftop bar at the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, for an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration. Expect sweeping skyline views, signature cocktails, and live DJ entertainment perfect for dancing under the stars. The evening includes a photo booth, elevated bites, and a champagne toast as you enjoy a front-row seat to the midnight fireworks.