Coming up very soon in Downtown is a two-week interval in which pedestrians will own Pine Avenue! “Summer on Pine,” a series of events happening from Aug. 24 through Sept. 7, will turn Pine Avenue between 3rd Street and Broadway into a pedestrian-only paradise.
“I’m excited for the upcoming activations because there’s something for everyone to enjoy,” said Downtown Long Beach Alliance Placemaking Manager Stephanie Gonzalez. “A bunch of community partners are working to bring art, music, roller skating and much more to Pine Avenue. We hope to see people riding bikes and scooters, bringing their lunch, walking their dogs, or however else they may want to use the extra space.”
Gonzalez went on to note how the pandemic gave people a new appreciation of their public spaces: “We experienced how streets and sidewalks can be used to bring the community together. Protected road closures give public space back to the people, and we get to interact with our surroundings and community in a new way. It’s exhilarating to safely hang out and play in the middle of a street where cars are usually driving through all day long.”
Check out the events list below and help make “Summer on Pine” a success! “It’s a good way to test the street closure concept in our Downtown,” said Gonzalez. “Businesses and residents want to work together to bring exciting activations to the Downtown Core. I’d love to see more conversations about closing streets in different parts of Downtown where people want to bring this vibe to their block.”
THE BIG GAY PINE AVENUE TAKEOVER / SATURDAY, AUG. 24
From 4 to 10 PM, Pine Avenue will be transformed into the biggest, gayest party the street has ever seen! This extravaganza, presented by Be Proud! Fest, will keep you entertained and amused with live music, carnival games, shopping, drag performances, fine food, a full bar, and an entire evening of dancing. General admission is FREE! Register here and automatically be entered in a drawing for a VIP upgrade. Follow the event on Instagram @hellolongbeach.
POP SUNSET: A COMMUNITY WELLNESS & SUSTAINABILITY FEST / WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28
You and your friends are invited to enjoy a FREE evening of wellness on an auto-free Pine Avenue! From 5 to 9 PM you can immerse yourselves in healthy activities such as fitness classes, health-focused food served by local restaurants, holistic health tips from experts, and plenty of eco-friendly shopping. For more details, follow this wellness fest on Instagram @popecomarketplace.
DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE’S ROLLER DISCO / THURSDAYS, AUG. 29 AND SEPT. 5
You have TWO opportunities to bounce, rock, skate, and roll with all your roller skating buddies at the DTLB Roller Disco from 5 to 9 PM! With no auto traffic, you’ll have complete freedom to demonstrate your fabulous skating skills. Express yourself and enjoy Downtown in a whole new way at these FREE events.
ASCEND ON PINE / FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
Experience a bit of Burning Man in the heart of Downtown! LB Living and Playalarga Events are thrilled to present “Ascend on Pine,” a night of house music, art, and radical expression. From 4 to 10 PM you can enjoy a car-free and carefree evening of community, food, fun, and dancing. Artists, vendors, and exhibitors are invited to apply here to be part of this magical event.
VIVA LONG BEACH / SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
Kick off Latino Heritage Month by partying ALL DAY (2 to 7 PM) on Pine Avenue! This FREE event, presented by Grey LB Productions, features a truly amazing live music lineup — including hard-hitting headliners Boogaloo Assassins –that is guaranteed to keep you grooving. Bring your appetites, because there will be plenty of great food and drink! For more details, including the fantastic live music roster, follow this event on Instagram @vivalongbeach.