Posts

Best of Long Beach: Places & Events for Music Lovers

The Best of Long Beach: Places and Events for Music Lovers (2018)

/in /by

Long Beach, CA offers an array of festivals and live performances in different genres for those who love music and theater. The city hosts several annual festivals and there are live performances in many of its bars on a regular basis. In addition, other popular Long Beach, like the Toyota Grand Prix, are also accompanied by live concerts.

Best of Long Beach: Places & Events for Music Lovers

Festivals

The 31st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival awaits its guests in August (August 10-12 in 2018). The event will be held at the Rainbow Lagoon in an incredible outdoor setting. It is the only Jazz festival that is held in southern California and features some of the top artists of the year in styles ranging from classic R&B to hot summer jazz. Along with the beautiful music, you will enjoy a great selection of food, art and much more. There is a VIP seating offered for those who want an unforgettable experience.

  • Long Beach Cumbia y Tequila Fest

Best of Long Beach: Places & Events for Music Lovers

Long Beach CA will host the 3rd Annual Cumbia y Tequila Fest on June 10, 2018. The doors for the event will open at 12 pm and close at 6 am. If you want to enjoy exciting music and exceptional food, this is the place for you. There will be an outdoor dance floor, several outdoor bars, and drinking space. Life performers will be Spaghetti Cumbia, Betty’s Mustache and Very Be Careful along with classic Cumbia DJ’s. There are several types of tickets available at quite affordable rates starting from $10 to $50 for a VIP ticket. Come to dance and have a lot of fun.

  • Music Tastes Good

This September Music Tastes Good returns to Long Beach CA. The festival will be held at the Marina Green Park on September 29 and September 30 with New Oder and James Blake as headliners for each of the days. There will be more than 40 music performances featuring Joey Bada$$, Santigold, Princess Nokia, Lil B, Blake Mills, The Black Angels, Parquet Courts, The Church and many more. The culinary offerings will be of matching quality to guarantee that you will spend the best time ever. Tickets range from $93 to $315 and children under 5 enter for free, while children aged 6-12 get a discounted ticket for just $35.

  • Tropical Boat Party

The lovers of electronic music have a chance to attend the Tropical Party in Long Beach CA at its 20th anniversary. Tropical Boat Party will be back on the water on August 18, 2018 and the organizers promise a great event but don’t share many details.

  • HUGE Queen Mary “Summer Dance Deck” Party

Queen Mary will host the HUGE Queen Mary “Summer Dance Deck” Party this August. The event will take place from 6 pm on August 25 to 1 am on August 26. Dance on the deck of the famous liner while surrounded by water. The entrance fee is between $30 and $58. You can enjoy the time outside and the ocean view or dance inside the beautiful Britannia ballroom of the ship. Dance under the stars while a live band performs R&B, Funk, Old School, Latin & more. The event is suitable both for singles and couples.

Bars

In addition to the wonderful events, Long Beach CA also boasts a number of bars and restaurants that organize music nights with live performers.

  • At The Top offers live music every Thursday night with the electric Long Beach Radio Band. The performance starts at 8 pm and lasts until There is no cover charge and a special drink offer after 21 and over – 2 for 1 cocktails. If you are a large group, it is better to call and make a reservation.
  • Broken Drum Bar is a full live music venue that is also a bar and a restaurant with a sophisticated menu at the same time. Established as the leading live music bar in Downtown Long Beach, the Broken Drum officially opened on April 1 and hence hosts different performances. On July 13, for example, Peter Case with Dead Rock West will be performing an acoustic show. Hurry up and reserve a seating close up to the stage.

Places

If you are a music fan but you want an experience different than a big festival or a live performance in a bar, then Playgrounds is for you. Play.MOD presents the best house and techno party on May 25 at Berth 55 Fish Market and Seafood Deli. The entrance is expected to be around $15 and you will enjoy the performance of Ocean Roulette, Fadi, Jesse Angelis, Sang Froyd, 2CB, Candland The Wanderers.

The music culture is part of the spirit of Long Beach CA, which is evident by the numerous events and places dedicated to it. You can enjoy different types of music and dance the night away at various venues around the city.

Long Beach CA Tips for Visitors

/in /by

If you are planning a trip to California, make sure to include the city of Long Beach in your itinerary. This coastal jewel has a lot to offer to its visitors. Enjoy the great atmosphere of the city at any time of the year and participate in different sports or cultural events held regularly at Long Beach CA.

Long Beach CA Tips for Visitors

1. When to visit Long Beach CA

The best times to visit Long Beach CA are in spring and fall when the city offers its best weather and a lot of attractions. In summer, the onshore marine layer can make the days gray and misty and that’s why the locals named the period “June Gloom”. Be aware that Long Beach is overcrowded in April during the annual Toyota Grand Prix. If you plan to visit the event, book your stay well in advance. If you want to avoid the crowd, plan your trip before or after the event.

2. What to see in Long Beach CA

Long Beach CA offers many attractions to please visitors with different tastes.

  • No doubt, first on your list should be the Aquarium of the Pacific, which is the largest aquarium in southern California, and the ocean liner Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach since 1967 when it stopped cruising the seas. Now it offers a great view and one of the most romantic restaurants in the USA – Sir Winston. As an added bonus, you can also sleep aboard.
  • You can also enjoy several walking tours downtown Long Beach. One great option is the Art Tour, which also features the Museum of Latin American Art. There is also a Food Walking Tour, which allows you try several restaurants and cafés or you can simply go shopping.
  • Don’t miss the Naples Gondola Ride – a cruise that is offered from mid-day to midnight and you can even request a gondolier who can sing to make the journey even more romantic.

3. Best Long Beach CA events

  • The annual Toyota Grand Prix held in April. Make sure to book your stay and event tickets well in advance, as this is the most visited event.
  • The Belmont Shore Christmas Parade is held during the first weekend at December. It is quite old-fashioned and much loved by both locals and visitors. The Naples Boat Parade is held a week later.
  • During the summertime, there are numerous festivals that celebrate local art and culture. Visitors can enjoy performances by local artists and taste local food. An example is the First Fridays Street Fair.

4. How to travel to and around Long Beach CA

  • The Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the closest airport to the city. You can also drive to Long Beach. If you want to visit the city from Los Angeles, though, it is better to take the metro, since getting around Long Beach is pretty easy without a car.
  • The Passport buses offer free rides in Long Beach downtown to most of the attractions located there and can take you to other parts of the city at a very affordable price.
  • There are also two options to travel by water – the Aquabus and the Aqualink, which are also price-worthy.
  • There are Uber services and taxis in Long Beach CA that are easy and convenient to use and won’t cost you much.

5. Where to stay in Long Beach CA

There are plenty of places in Long Beach CA, where you can stay. The city offers different types of accommodations – from small boutique hotels to large international hotel chains, renowned for their services. The city is known as pet-friendly, so many places allow pets – just check in advance. If you want a romantic weekend getaway, then it is better to book a hotel near the shore or why not in the Queen Mary itself?