Events in Long Beach Highlights
- Long Beach hosts the Dragon Boat Festival this weekend with free admission, food trucks, and cultural performances.
- Axiom Kitchen’s Wing Boil pop-up offers delicious wings and sides at PCH Food Park on Saturday.
- Enjoy live music from The Mercy Stone at The Pike Restaurant & Bar, featuring a blend of genres.
- Join the Hydrangeas in Bloom Paint & Sip class at District Wine on Sunday for a fun and creative experience.
- Wind down with a free Sound Bath Sunday session at Iguana Imports to reset after a busy weekend.
Alright, Long Beach — the forecast is basically “sunny, hot, and no excuses to stay inside.” If you’re not tripping out to the Vans Warped Tour this weekend, don’t you dare sit on your ass scrolling TikTok wondering what’s going on. There is SO much happening right in our own backyard, and honestly, it might be better than fighting sunburn and mosh pits for eight hours straight. So slap on some SPF, grab your friends, and let’s talk about the best events in Long Beach this weekend.
Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
Date & Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Location: Marine Stadium, 5225 E Paoli Way, Long Beach, CA 90803
Set your alarm, because this is one of our city’s biggest annual traditions and it goes all day. Over 110 teams paddling 40-person-supported dragon boats will race it out across the historic Marine Stadium waters in fast-paced 250-meter and 500-meter heats, making this one of the largest dragon boat competitions in California.
But it’s not just about the races — expect Chinese acrobats, traditional and hip-hop dance performances, martial arts demos, live music, cultural exhibits, artisan booths, and enough food trucks to keep you fed all day. Spectator admission is free (food and vendor items are separate), so there’s zero excuse not to swing by. Bring a chair, bring sunscreen, and bring your competitive spirit — because trust me, you’ll be picking a team to root for within five minutes.
Axiom Kitchen’s Wing Boil Pop-Up at PCH Food Park
Date & Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM (or until sold out) Location: PCH Food Park, 3000 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA
Calling all wing lovers — Axiom Kitchen Grille is popping up at PCH Food Park with a brand new menu item, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: their take on a classic seafood boil, minus the seafood. We’re talking smoked and fried wings, smoked jalapeño cheddar sausage, corn, and potatoes, all tossed in their rich cajun butter cream sauce.
Want to go big? Add six jumbo shrimp for just $8. And don’t worry, all your Axiom favorites will be there too — Chipotle Chicken, Braised Beef, Garlic Shrimp, the Dirty Mac, and the Braised Beef Sandwich. This is a one-day, while-supplies-last situation, so get there early because this one’s going to sell out.
The Mercy Stone — Live at The Pike
Date & Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026 — 8:00 PM Location: Pike Restaurant & Bar, 1836 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802
Need a Saturday night plan that doesn’t involve driving an hour for a festival parking spot? The Mercy Stone is playing live at The Pike Restaurant & Bar in the East Village, and this Retro Row staple is exactly the kind of low-key, good-energy spot you want for a live music night.
The Mercy Stone themselves are a Southern California ensemble founded by Scott Grady back in 2016, and they’re not your average bar band — we’re talking up to a dozen musicians blending chamber pop, indie folk, art rock, and classical arrangements into one big sound. Grab a table, order a drink, and let some genuinely interesting live music soundtrack your Saturday. Simple, local, and easy — my favorite combo.
Hydrangeas in Bloom Paint & Sip
Date & Time: Sunday, July 26, 2026 — 3:00 PM Location: District Wine, 144 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
If your idea of a perfect Sunday involves wine in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, District Wine’s got you. This “Hydrangeas in Bloom” class from Brushstrokes + Beverages takes place right on District Wine’s outdoor parklet in the East Village Arts District — including string lights, umbrellas, and good vibes while you learn to paint a gorgeous hydrangea still life step by step.
All materials are included, tickets run $30 per person, it’s 21+, and you’ll walk away with a 16″x20″ canvas that’s way cuter than anything you’d buy at Target. Sign up before it fills up, because these parklet classes always do.
Sound Bath Sunday
Date & Time: Sunday, July 26, 2026 — 6:00 PM Location: Iguana Imports, 3440 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803
And if your weekend needs a reset after all that sun and socializing, close it out with something a little more zen. This free Sound Bath Sunday at Iguana Imports is a deeply restorative, guided sound experience designed to calm your mind and basically hit the reset button on your nervous system.
Just show up and bring a mat and water — all are welcome, no experience necessary. It’s free, it’s chill, and it’s the perfect way to land softly after a busy Long Beach weekend.
What Are You Doing This Weekend in Long Beach?
Look — Warped Tour nostalgia is cute and all, but Long Beach is serving this weekend. Between dragon boats at sunrise, wings that’ll ruin all other wings for you, live music on Retro Row, painting hydrangeas with a glass of wine, and a sound bath to bring you back down to earth — this is what I call a well-rounded weekend. So whatever you’re into, get out there. These are the events in Long Beach this weekend that actually matter, and I’ll see you out there soaking up the sun like the Long Beach local you are.
Got an event you want featured? DM us — we love putting the LBC on blast.
FAQs
What’s happening in Long Beach this weekend (July 25–26)? This weekend’s lineup includes the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival, Axiom Kitchen’s Wing Boil pop-up at PCH Food Park, live music from The Mercy Stone at The Pike, a Hydrangeas in Bloom paint & sip at District Wine, and a free Sound Bath Sunday at Iguana Imports.
Are any of these events free? Yes — the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival is free for spectators (food and vendor items are sold separately), and Sound Bath Sunday is completely free to attend.
Is the Dragon Boat Festival family-friendly? Absolutely. It’s a full day of races, cultural performances, art demonstrations, and food, so it’s a great one to bring the whole fam to.
Do I need to be 21+ for any of these events? Yes, the Hydrangeas in Bloom paint & sip at District Wine is a 21+ event since it’s held on their wine parklet.
Do I need a reservation or ticket in advance? The paint & sip class through Brushstrokes + Beverages requires signing up ahead of time since spots are limited. The Dragon Boat Festival, Axiom’s Wing Boil, The Mercy Stone show, and Sound Bath Sunday don’t require advance tickets, but Axiom’s Wing Boil is while-supplies-last, so earlier is better.
What should I bring to Sound Bath Sunday? Just a mat and water — it’s a guided session and all are welcome, no experience needed.
Where can I park for the Dragon Boat Festival? Marine Stadium sits right along E Paoli Way in the Belmont Shore area, so expect street parking to fill up fast. Arrive early or plan to walk/bike in if you’re nearby.
What if I still want to hit Vans Warped Tour this weekend? No judgment — but if that’s not in the cards, this lineup will more than hold you over right here in the LBC.
