Events in Long Beach
- This weekend offers a range of events in Long Beach, from the Long Beach Marathon Training Run to live music at the Uptown Jazz Festival.
- On Saturday, join the training run at Sports Basement or enjoy jazz at Houghton Park featuring Morris Day & The Time.
- For a soulful experience, attend the Long Beach Soul Collective at Let’s Yolk About It, starting at 6:30 PM on Saturday.
- On Sunday, explore the Orbit & Asana yoga class or catch the Caravan Nights Belly Dance Show for a captivating performance.
- There’s plenty to do beyond the beach this weekend in Long Beach—support your local community and pick an event to enjoy!
Okay, it’s officially August, babes, which means we are DEEP in it — peak summer, sun blazing, sidewalks basically radiating heat like a personal oven. It’s hot hotty hot out there. If you’re planning to plant yourself on the sand this weekend, I fully support that lifestyle.
But if you want a little variety in your weekend — or you just need an excuse to leave the beach towel behind for a hot minute — I rounded up the best events in Long Beach happening August 1st and 2nd. Consider this your cheat sheet for things to do in Long Beach that don’t involve sunscreen reapplication every twenty minutes. Let’s get into it.
Saturday, August 1
Long Beach Marathon Training Run
Where: SB Long Beach (Sports Basement), 2100 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90815 When: Saturday, August 1 · 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM Cost: Free (RSVP required)
Look — the Long Beach Marathon is creeping up on us whether we’re ready or not, and I don’t know about you, but no one needs to pull a calf muscle just thinking about race day. So before that happens, let’s actually train like adults. I’m crying just remembering running half marathons, so I give you all forever kudos for running the entire thing.
Sports Basement and the Long Beach Marathon are hosting a group training run open to local run clubs, solo racers, and anyone who wants a taste of the LBM vibe. Check-in kicks off at 7:30 AM, followed by announcements and a group warm-up at 7:45, then a 10-miler at 8:00 AM (route dropping soon on the Sports Basement Run Club Strava). Once you’ve earned it, head up to the 2nd floor at 10 AM for a winddown — cold drinks, snacks, a chance to meet your new running buddy, intel on building a Long Beach Marathon team, prize giveaways (maybe even race entries), and an exclusive shopping discount of up to 20%. Just make sure to sign the updated Activity Waiver before you lace up.
15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival
Where: Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805 When: Saturday, August 1 · 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM Cost: Free
This is a big one, LBC. The Office of Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie is throwing down for the 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival, one of North Long Beach’s most beloved summer traditions since 2011, headlined this year by Morris Day & The Time. Expect smooth tunes, cool jams, and an afternoon that brings together thousands of residents and visitors through music, culture, and straight-up community pride. Pack a chair, bring the family, and go celebrate fifteen years of one of the best free events in Long Beach.
Long Beach Soul Collective, Live!
Where: Let’s Yolk About It, 4722 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803 (Belmont Shore) When: Saturday, August 1 · 6:30 PM Cost: $20 (includes entry and a drink)
If your vibe this Saturday night is soulful and a little introspective, get yourself to Belmont Shore for Long Beach Soul Collective, Live! It’s a soulful cabaret of spoken word, storytelling, and live music featuring performances by Philosophy, Accoustic Soul Express, Melanie Rae, and friends. Expect a warm, intimate setting — the kind of night that reminds you why live art still matters, and honestly, why we should get off our phone more often.
Sunday, August 2
Orbit & Asana: A Yoga Series Rooted in the Stars
Where: The Elemental Shop, 312 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 When: Every first and third Sunday · 10 AM (this Sunday, August 2, counts) Cost: $15 class fee
For my fellow witchy wellness girlies, this one’s for you. Orbit & Asana is a mindful movement series that blends astrology with yoga — each class is guided by the current planetary transits, using intentional sequencing and breathwork to help you feel grounded instead of frazzled. Sessions wrap with a sound bowl meditation, so you’re leaving centered, not just sweaty. It’s an ongoing series (first and third Sundays), so if you miss this one, mark your calendar for the next round.
Caravan Nights Belly Dance Show
Where: Harvelle’s, 201 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802 When: Sunday, August 2 · 2:00 PM (doors at 1:00 PM) Cost: $20 per ticket
If your Sunday needs a little more shimmer and a lot more hip movement, Caravan Nights has you covered. This is a live belly dance showcase pulling performers from across the LA and Orange County dance community, all converging on Harvelle’s stage for an afternoon that’s equal parts artistry and spectacle. It’s all about dramatic lighting, killer costuming, and dancers who clearly did not come to play. Grab a seat, order a drink, and let this one transport you somewhere far more glamorous than usual Sunday scroll.
Which Event in Long Beach are You Going To?
That’s the lineup, Long Beach — jazz, soul, sweat, sound bowls, and a whole lot of shimmy. Whether you’re training for the marathon, chasing wellness, or just looking for a reason to put on real clothes this weekend, there’s no shortage of things to do in Long Beach that don’t require a beach chair. Pick your vibe, show up, and support your local community — that’s what makes this city so damn good. See you out there.
Got an event you want listed here? Send it our way @lbcvibe.
FAQs
What’s happening in Long Beach this weekend (August 1–2)? This weekend’s events in Long Beach include a Long Beach Marathon training run at Sports Basement, the Caravan Nights Belly Dance Show at Harvelle’s, an Orbit & Asana yoga class at The Elemental Shop, the 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival at Houghton Park, and Long Beach Soul Collective, Live! at Let’s Yolk About It.
Are there any free things to do in Long Beach this weekend? Yep — the Long Beach Marathon Training Run at Sports Basement is free with RSVP, and the 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival at Houghton Park is also free to attend.
When is the Long Beach Marathon training run and do I need to sign up? It’s Saturday, August 1, from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Sports Basement Long Beach (2100 N Bellflower Blvd). You’ll want to RSVP ahead of time and sign the updated Activity Waiver before the run.
How much does the Orbit & Asana yoga class cost? The class fee is $15, and it happens every first and third Sunday at 10 AM at The Elemental Shop on Elm Avenue.
Is the Long Beach Soul Collective show 21+? The listing doesn’t specify an age restriction, but it’s a $20 cover that includes a drink, so it’s worth checking directly with Let’s Yolk About It if that matters to you.
Where is the Uptown Jazz Festival held? Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave) in North Long Beach, from 2 to 7 PM on Saturday, August 1. It’s hosted by the Office of Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie, headlined this year by Morris Day & The Time, and has been a summer tradition since 2011.
What if I want more things to do in Long Beach beyond this weekend? Check back here weekly — I round up the best events in Long Beach every week so you never have to wonder what’s going on around town.
