This summer, the Queen Mary is giving audiences the chance to enjoy classic films on a big stage — the open-air decks of the historic ocean liner.
From June through August, “Movies on Deck” invites movie lovers aboard the legendary ship for evenings of cinema under the stars.
Set against the backdrop of Long Beach Harbor, the series pairs beloved classics with sweeping waterfront views.
The season begins June 11 with a 45th-anniversary screening of “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Steven Spielberg’s action-adventure classic that launched one of cinema’s most enduring franchises.
On July 16, audiences can celebrate the 41st anniversary of “Back to the Future,” the time-travel comedy that remains a cultural touchstone decades after its release.
The series concludes Aug. 13 with “Jaws,” Spielberg’s suspenseful blockbuster that forever changed summer movie (and beach) going.
Guests can enjoy standard seating or elevate the evening with a premium couch-for-two package that includes a Queen Mary blanket, popcorn, movie snacks, sodas, and a bottle of champagne.
Check-in begins at 7 p.m., with films starting at 8:30 p.m. or at sunset, whichever comes first.
Head to queenmary.com or more information.
Nature Center
Americana is in full bloom at the lakeside trails of the El Dorado Nature Center, where a popular concert series will once again transform Thursday evenings into a celebration of live music and the outdoors.
Running from June through August, the Nature Center’s Summer Concert Series invites audiences to enjoy performances beside the lake in one of the city’s most scenic settings.
The series kicks off June 11 with The Salty Suites, followed by singer-songwriter Corday on June 25.
Country and bluegrass fans can catch Big City Hillbillies on July 9, while Steel Parade brings its blend of Americana and roots music on July 23.
El Dorado Nature Center en Long Beach, California. Foto: José FUENTES-SALINAS. Instagram: Taller_jfs
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El Dorado Nature Center en Long Beach, California. Foto: José FUENTES-SALINAS. Instagram: Taller_jfs
August performances include the rockabilly and western swing sounds of JP McDermott and Western Bop on August 6, before the season concludes August 20 with Celtic folk favorites Sligo Rags.
Guests are encouraged to bring low-back chairs and an eco-friendly picnic dinner for a relaxed evening surrounded by music and nature.
Concerts run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. , with gates opening at 6:30 pm. Members of the Friends of El Dorado Nature Center receive early entry beginning at 6 pm.
Admission is $5 at the door.
Long Beach Walls
For one week each summer, Long Beach becomes a living canvas.
Long Beach Walls returned this week with a signature blend of large-scale public art, music, culture, and community engagement, bringing artists from around the world together to transform walls throughout Long Beach into vibrant works of art.
Part of the internationally recognized WorldWide Walls network, the festival connects Long Beach to a global movement that has produced murals and public art projects in cities including Honolulu, Seoul, Washington, D.C., Taipei and Tokyo.
One of the finished murals from Long Beach Walls, by artists, Ledania and Sakoasko, located at 225 E 6th Street in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Long Beach Walls is a week-long, city-wide event that takes place in the summer throughout Long Beach to bring art and culture to public spaces while beautifying the city and cultivating community pride. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
One of the finished murals from Long Beach Walls, by artist, Sawai, located at 1401 E Anaheim Street in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Long Beach Walls is a week-long, city-wide event that takes place in the summer throughout Long Beach to bring art and culture to public spaces while beautifying the city and cultivating community pride. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei is a week-long, free outdoor art festival whose 130 murals have transformed 40 square miles of the city into a vibrant canvas of artistic expression, uniting artists, locals and visitors in celebration of creativity, culture and community, according to organizer Intertrend and Creative Class Collection. (Photo courtesy of Intertrend)
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One of the finished murals from Long Beach Walls, by artists, Ledania and Sakoasko, located at 225 E 6th Street in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Long Beach Walls is a week-long, city-wide event that takes place in the summer throughout Long Beach to bring art and culture to public spaces while beautifying the city and cultivating community pride. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Founded in Long Beach in 2015 as POW! WOW! Long Beach, the event has evolved into one of Southern California’s premier public art festivals.
Over the past decade, organizers have facilitated the creation of more than 150 murals across more than 40 square miles of the city, turning neighborhoods into an expansive outdoor gallery that can be explored on foot or by bike.
While the murals remain the centerpiece of the festival, Long Beach Walls extends far beyond painted walls. The week-long celebration features museum exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, guided mural tours, concerts, and community block parties designed to bring residents and visitors together through creative expression.
The festival’s mission is to make art accessible by bringing it directly into public spaces, all while fostering civic pride.
By pairing internationally acclaimed muralists with local artists, “Long Beach Walls” creates opportunities for cultural exchange while continuing to expand Long Beach’s reputation as a destination for contemporary public art.
Founded by artist and curator Jasper Wong and co-led by Amy Luu Wong, the event continues to build on a vision that sees public art not only as beautification, but as a catalyst for community connection.
Head to longbeachwalls.com for more information, including a full schedule of events.