Long Beach, CA (July 23, 2025) — The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is proud to announce the kickoff of the city’s first-ever Entertainment Zone (EZ) event, a community-focused activation that marks the beginning of a pilot program to test open-container events in designated areas of Downtown.
Moving forward, these events will utilize a stamp distinguishing them as a certified “EZ Sip Event” to differentiate them from normal programs. The Launch Party will take place on Saturday, August 2, from 2 to 6 PM along the Promenade N between Broadway and 3rd Street, and will feature live music, a beer garden atmosphere, family-friendly programming, and drinks for purchase from participating local businesses.
“This pilot is about bringing people together and reenergizing our downtown through safe, community-focused events,” said Austin Metoyer, President & CEO of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance. “These EZ Sip events will also serve as a steppingstone as we learn best practices and prepare for global moments like the FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics, ensuring Downtown is ready to welcome the world.”
Entertainment Zone events in the downtown were approved as a pilot by the Long Beach City Council in June 2025 and allows for controlled, temporary open-container areas during special events, under guidance by the City. Inspired by similar efforts in cities like San Francisco and Santa Monica, the program is designed to support economic recovery, encourage foot traffic, and bring cultural energy back to the heart of Downtown Long Beach. The pilot also follows the passage of California Senate Bill 76 and 969, which authorizes cities to designate these refreshment zones under local permitting guidelines.
“We’re excited to see how this kind of activation can help our small businesses grow as we continue adjusting to a new downtown landscape,” said Stephanie El Tawil, Economic Development & Policy Manager at the DTLB Alliance who has also been leading much of the implementation efforts. “We’re thankful to the participating businesses, the City of Long Beach and our department partners for helping bring this idea to life.”
To help residents and visitors understand how the Entertainment Zone program works, the DTLB Alliance has published a dedicated EZ Sip Event webpage that outlines everything you need to know — including event rules, age requirements, alcohol guidelines, and FAQs. You can explore the page at www.downtownlongbeach.org.
The DTLB Alliance invites the entire community to come out on August 2, enjoy a locally made drink, catch some live music, and be part of the first step in redefining how we celebrate, gather, and grow Downtown Long Beach together.
The event page is located here.
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About: The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous Downtown. The DTLB Alliance is recognized as the voice of Downtown Long Beach by the City of Long Beach and the State of California. By balancing the interests of the residents, as well as businesses, the organization creates tangible progress by way of vested interest and solidified partnerships across local, municipal, and commercial lines. For additional information, visit www.downtownlongbeach.org and follow on Facebook @downtownlongbeach, on “X” (formerly Twitter) @dtlballiance and Instagram @dtlballiance.