It is September in Long Beach and it feels like the sun personally has a vendetta against us. Heatwave, humidity, that weird sticky-hot-but-also-somehow-breezy combo that makes you sweat through your outfit before you even get to the car — yeah, we see you, Long Beach. But you know what? A little (okay, a lot of) crazy weather has never once stopped this city from showing up and showing out, and this weekend is no exception. Grab your water bottle, your cutest sun hat, and maybe a strategically placed fan, because these are the things to do in Long Beach this weekend that are worth melting a little for.
Here’s your full, no-fluff rundown of Long Beach events happening September 12–13, 2026, in order so you can actually plan your weekend around it.
Saturday, September 12
Tacos N Beer 5K — Long Beach 2026
Where: Shoreline Aquatic Park, Long Beach When: Saturday, Sep 12 — register now on Active Network Info: Register / more info
A 5K run like no other, and I mean that. The Tacos N Beer 5K kicks off your Saturday where you walk, jog, or run your way to TWO tacos and a beer (21+, obviously) at the Baja Fiesta-Party that follows. We’re talking a full beer garden, live mariachi music, live bands, DJs, a mechanical bull (yes, really), a piñata party, and a costume contest. Bring the Mexican flag, bring your running shoes, bring your appetite — this one is basically the most fun way to justify eating tacos before noon.
Alex’s Bar Record Swap
Where: Alex’s Bar, 2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804 When: Saturday, Sep 12, 1 PM – 6 PM Info: Tickets & details
Vinyl heads, this is your Saturday afternoon. The Alex’s Bar Record Swap is back with 20+ record vendors digging through crates for you to dig through right back, plus food and vinyl DJs spinning live on stage. Whether you’re hunting for that one pressing you’ve been chasing for years or just want to flip through bins with a cold drink in hand, this is a certified LBC staple.
ExcursionsRadio 8 Year Anniversary Party
Where: Que Sera, Long Beach, CA When: Saturday, Sep 12 at 9 PM PT Info: Venue & event info
ExcursionsRadio on KJazz 88.1 FM is throwing itself the anniversary party it deserves, and honestly the lineup reads like a love letter to LA music history. The ExcursionsRadio Quintet is taking the stage playing classic hip-hop, featuring show host Dan Seeff on bass, DJ Rhettmatic on turntables, David Otis on sax, Elisee Ngbo on keys, and Myles Martin on drums. Special guests Nikki Grier on vocals, MED, and Q-Unique are joining the party, plus a special performance from LA legends Self Scientific. And when the live sets wrap, the DJ booth doesn’t quiet down — Rhettmatic, DJ Khalil, Dready, and January are keeping the night going. If you love real musicianship mixed with real DJ culture, this is your Saturday night.
Sunday, September 13
Psychic Energy Self-Defense
Where: Long Beach City Beach When: Sunday, Sep 13 at 10 AM PT | Hosted by Angela Jarecki Info: Event & tickets
For the sensitive girlies, the empaths, the ones who walk into a room and immediately absorb the entire mood of it — this class is calling your name. Psychic Energy Self-Defense is an experiential class built for sensitive, intuitive, and empathic people who want practical ways to feel more grounded and intentional about what they take in from their environment. Instead of trying to shut your sensitivity down, this session works with it to help you feel more centered and protected. If you’ve ever left a hangout more emotionally exhausted than when you arrived, do yourself a favor and go to this.
5th Annual California Turkish Festival
Where: Shoreline Aquatic Park, Long Beach, CA When: Sunday, Sep 13 from 11 AM – 5 PM | FREE entry, family friendly Info: Event info
This one is a full sensory trip without ever leaving the 562. The California Turkish Fest brings the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Mediterranean — specifically Antalya, Türkiye — right to our waterfront, with culture, live music, and food that’ll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about a festival lineup. It’s free, it’s family-friendly, and it’s the kind of event that makes you remember exactly why Long Beach’s international festival game is so unmatched.
What Are You Doing This Weekend in Long Beach?
Heatwave or not, Long Beach simply does not do boring weekends, and this one proves it — a taco-and-beer-fueled 5K, a record swap for the vinyl obsessed, an anniversary party stacked with LA hip-hop royalty, a beachside class to protect your energy, and a free international festival on the water. Hydrate, wear your SPF, and get out there — because when it comes to Long Beach events this weekend, we don’t let a little heat slow us down. See you out there, LBC.
FAQs: Long Beach Events This Weekend
What’s happening in Long Beach this weekend (Sept 12–13, 2026)? This weekend’s lineup includes the Tacos N Beer 5K, the Alex’s Bar Record Swap, the ExcursionsRadio 8 Year Anniversary Party, a Psychic Energy Self-Defense class at Long Beach City Beach, and the 5th Annual California Turkish Festival at Shoreline Aquatic Park.
Is the California Turkish Festival free? Yes! It’s free entry and family-friendly, running Sunday, Sep 13 from 11 AM to 5 PM at Shoreline Aquatic Park.
Where is Shoreline Aquatic Park? Shoreline Aquatic Park is right on the Long Beach waterfront and is hosting both the Tacos N Beer 5K on Saturday and the California Turkish Festival on Sunday.
Do I need tickets for the Alex’s Bar Record Swap? The swap itself is free to browse, but check the DICE listing for any ticketed entry details before you go.
Is the Tacos N Beer 5K good for beginners? Totally — it’s billed as walk, jog, or run, so however you move through it, you still end up with two tacos and a beer waiting for you at the finish line party.
What is ExcursionsRadio? ExcursionsRadio is a long-running show on KJazz 88.1 FM, and this anniversary party at Que Sera celebrates 8 years on air with live performances and DJ sets from LA music heavyweights.
Who is the Psychic Energy Self-Defense class for? It’s designed for sensitive, intuitive, and empathic people who want practical, grounding tools for managing the energy they pick up from other people and their environment — no experience necessary.
Want more of what’s happening around the LBC? This is your go-to spot for the best events and things to do in Long Beach — check back every Friday for the next roundup.
