Downtown gets started early with Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos celebrations; Several have already happened this month, but there are plenty more on the horizon. Whether you like organized events or prefer to be a lone wolf and improvise as you go, Downtown has the perfect atmosphere for your Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos festivities. Here are a few upcoming Downtown happenings that will get you communing with like-minded spirits – including the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS GRAND PARADE in DTLB on November 5.
FRIGHT NIGHT AT ALEGRIA NIGHTCLUB
Everyone 18 and over is invited to Fright Night at Alegria, 115 Pine Avenue, on Thursday, October 27. Drinking age is still 21, of course! The event is billed as a costume party, but costumes aren’t required.
LBGLCC & DLBA HALLOWEEN MIXER
On Thursday, October 27, The Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LBGLCC) is partnering with The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) to host this Halloween-themed mixer at the 4th Horseman, 121 West 4th Street. In addition to socializing with your fellow ghouls and enjoying some truly great pizza, you can meet Austin Metoyer, DLBA’s new CEO, and find out how to get involved in DLBA’s charitable programs.
LONG BEACH PRE-HALLOWEEN PUB CRAWL
Party in costume on Pine Avenue on Friday, October 28 and get yourself into the Halloween spirit! One all-access pass will get you into 10+ bars where you can partake of numerous drink and food specials. The event runs all night; Check in first at The Harbor, 130 Pine Avenue, between 7pm and 10pm.
SCARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
At the Aquarium of the Pacific, you’re surrounded by mysterious creatures at every turn, making it a suitably eerie place to host a Halloween celebration. At the 23rd Annual Scarium of the Pacific, a Halloween-themed weekend (Friday and Saturday, October 28 and 29) for the whole family, one of the nation’s finest assortment of phantasmic sea creatures will watch over you as you enjoy costume and coloring contests, a vampire magician, underwater pumpkin carving, creepy critters, and more.
TRICKS-FOR-TREATS PUP PARADE
“Tricks for Treats” is a family-friendly Halloween Costume Pup Parade happening on Saturday, October 29 from 2pm to 3:30pm on the Library Porch at Lincoln Park. For this event the pups will learn some new tricks (dog trainer Charlie DiBono will be working with dogs onsite) and parade them down the Library Terrace. “Top Dog” will win a Grand Prize donated by Bruce’s Empty Bowl pet store. Local illustrator Kazz Morohashi will live-sketch the pets and their owners and send a free digital copy of the completed art to all participants.
LONG BEACH ZOMBIE WALK
Shoreline Village is once again hosting this FREE, family-friendly event on Saturday, October 29, from 4pm to 10pm. There will be live music, contests, make-up and special f/x artists, trick-or-treating, and the highlight of the night — the Zombie Walk down Rainbow Harbor at 8pm.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL AT MoLAA
The theme of this year’s Dia de Los Muertos Festival at The Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) is “Strength and Hope: Fuerza y Esperanza.” Attend the festival at MoLAA (628 Alamitos Avenue) from 11am to 8pm on Sunday, October 30 and be serenaded by a symphony orchestra from Baja, California, get dazzled by Aztec dancers, roam through MoLAA’s exhibitions, eat, drink, and partake in the richness of the holiday. RSVP for this FREE event in the link above.
LONG BEACH HALLOWEEN NIGHT PUB CRAWL
It’s Halloween – October 31 –, and it doesn’t matter if it’s Monday night. On Pine Avenue, the party will be on and poppin’.This event operates under the same protocols as the Pre-Halloween Pub Crawl listed above. This is your big chance to party all Halloween night on Pine Avenue, in costume! For tickets and more information, click here.
FIFTH ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL ON PINE AVENUE
On Wednesday, November 2, Pine Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets will be transformed into a Dia de Los Muertos celebration that bombards the senses. The FREE, family-friendly event features a wide assortment of food and drink offerings, fantastic music and dance on a huge stage, and a collection of altars decorated with elaborate and very personal ofrendas (offerings).
Fuego will mark one of the most important Mexican holidays with a traditional altar for artifacts to remember passed loved ones. Dia de Los Muertos in Fuego will feature a live performance by Rock en Español Vintage3 on Nov. 1 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and a live performance by Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles on Nov. 2 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Guests can celebrate their loved ones by painting their own “Best Sugar Skull Face” at home and wearing it to the celebration to win prizes each night and enjoy live music, traditional street tacos and elote, drink specials, and more.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS GRAND PARADE
DLBA has partnered with a large group of sponsors to present this FREE event on November 5 at the corner of Third Street and Pine Avenue. Get into the spirit of the holiday and enjoy the passing parade of Day of the Dead music, dance, and costumery. Downtown visitors are encouraged to continue their celebration at the Rainbow Lagoon, where the 7th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration will be happening (see below).
7TH ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION AT RAINBOW LAGOON
Dia de Los Muertos — the Day of The Dead — is a holiday deeply rooted in Latino culture, honoring loved ones who have passed away. This year’s FREE celebration in Downtown will take place on Saturday evening, November 5, at the Rainbow Lagoon. Be ready to experience a breathtaking extravaganza featuring arts and crafts, dance, live music, food and drink, and a parade that will wind itself right through the party.
