If you’re trying to figure out what to do in Long Beach this weekend, relax — the city is overflowing with options. From Speedo-clad runners sprinting down Broadway to Surfer Santa making his seasonal debut, we’ve curated the highlights so you don’t have to. Here’s everything worth leaving the house for.

Santa at the Aquarium

Saturday, December 6
Aquarium of the Pacific — 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Appearances throughout the day

Surfer Santa is clocking in for duty. As part of the Aquarium Holidays celebration, the Aquarium of the Pacific brings out a SoCal version of the big guy for family-friendly photos and festive cheer. Expect holiday décor, themed storytelling, and plenty of chances for kids to ask why Santa trades in his snow boots for board shorts when he visits Long Beach.

If you’re looking for an activity that’s cute, wholesome, and won’t have you trekking across town, this one’s a safe bet.

Santa Speedo Run

Saturday, December 6 at 1:30 PM
Starts at Broadway Bar — 1100 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802
Ends at The Silver Fox — 411 Redondo Ave, Long Beach, CA 90814

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. The Santa Speedo Run is a loud, hilarious, and completely unapologetic “naughty jog” down Broadway. Participants show up in festive gear — or as close to “gear” as a Speedo counts — and jog from Broadway Bar to The Silver Fox.

This annual tradition also raises funds for the LB AIDS Food Store, so you can feel all warm and charitable inside while watching grown adults sprint in holiday underwear. Long Beach at its finest.

A Christmas Carol – Long Beach Playhouse

Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 PM
Long Beach Playhouse — 5021 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804

If you need a break from the chaos and want something cozy, the Long Beach Playhouse has you covered. Their production of A Christmas Carol opens this Saturday, bringing Dickens’ classic to life in a warm, traditional performance.

It’s nostalgic, beautifully staged, and exactly the kind of thing you watch when you’re trying to convince yourself you’re wholesome — even if you were cheering on the Speedo Run an hour earlier.

International Tamales Festival

Sunday, December 7 from 1:00 PM–7:00 PM
Scottish Rite Event Center — 855 Elm Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

The best problem you’ll have on Sunday is deciding which tamale vendor to start with. This annual festival draws big crowds for good reason: dozens of vendors, live entertainment, local artisans, kids’ activities, and—yes—tamales as far as the eye can see.

It’s lively, it’s delicious, and it’s one of those events where you tell yourself you’re “just going to browse,” and then suddenly your hands are full of food and ornaments.

Indie Night: Holiday Edition

Sunday, December 7 — Evening
Que Sera — 1923 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90813

If you’d rather end your weekend with a soundtrack, Que Sera’s Indie Night: Holiday Edition is your move. Local musicians take over the stage for a night of alternative holiday energy — think “seasonal, but make it cool.”

It’s relaxed, intimate, and the perfect way to decompress before Monday rolls around. Don’t expect elaborate décor or big-production theatrics. Expect good music, a dark room, and that familiar feeling of suddenly having opinions about guitar riffs.

Want More Local Fun?

This is just a taste of what’s happening in Long Beach. You already know we’ve got the full breakdown ready for you on our EVENTS calendar.