Hundreds of people stepped back in time and celebrated summer in Long Beach at Rancho Los Cerritos’ Fiesta del Rancho on Saturday, July 11.
The festival welcomed visitors to explore regional history through era-themed activations, live performances, local food vendors and family-friendly activities.
Different areas of the historic Long Beach landmark were set up with immersive reenactments that represented key eras in the rancho’s history, from cattle and sheep ranching to the 1930s, organizers said. The reenactments were paired with games and crafts that fit each era.
Artifacts and furnishings recreate the Ranch Manager’s Room, where the mayordomo, or ranch manager, lived while overseeing the day-to-day operations of Rancho Los Cerritos during the 1844–1866 era, during Fiesta del Rancho in Long Beach, California. A visitor exits the room, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Tom Heaton gives visitors an overview of the Rancho Los Cerritos inner courtyard as it appeared during the 1844–1866 era during Fiesta del Rancho in Long Beach, California, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Brothers Hudson Smith, left, and Zealand Smith enjoy snow cones while listening to the Long Beach-based band Fine Folk perform during Fiesta del Rancho at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, California, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Devin Saez helps his son, Jasper, make a paper butterfly during Fiesta del Rancho at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, California, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Josie Sanchez, 10, tries her hand at roping a practice steer during Fiesta del Rancho at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, California, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
The Long Beach-based band Fine Folk performs for visitors during Fiesta del Rancho at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, California, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
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Artifacts and furnishings recreate the Ranch Manager’s Room, where the mayordomo, or ranch manager, lived while overseeing the day-to-day operations of Rancho Los Cerritos during the 1844–1866 era, during Fiesta del Rancho in Long Beach, California. A visitor exits the room, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors also explored the adobe home and gardens, visited the current exhibition “Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano,” and enjoyed lawn games, crafts and hands-on activities across the rancho.
Guests enjoyed food and beverages from local restaurants and vendors such as Tony’s Kitchen, Battambong BBQ, Dutch’s Brewhouse, Cali Cuisine, Very Berry Sweets Co., and Rene’s Churros. Carina Lavin from Generous Earth Co. also did a free demonstration on indigenous foods centered around the acorn, where people ground acorns and learned about their culinary uses.
Live entertainment included Long Beach indie folk rock band Fine Folk, known for rich acoustic instrumentation and poetic lyrics, as well as Bread & Butter performing jazz standards and boleros inspired by the sounds of the 1930s and 1940s.