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Patrons of EJ\u2019s Pub in Bixby Knolls sit at a high top table under a row of stockings on Dec. 6, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\nFollowing the hurry and flurry of the holiday season, Long Beach orgs and residents have put together plenty of ways to reset, recharge and prepare for a new year among neighbors and friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Enter the new year with a clear mind and vision, encouraged by events like Earthlodge\u2019s sunrise gratitude gathering or Loquita\u2019s manifestation and vision board party both on Sunday, or a virtual reflective writing workshop Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Make new connections at community-centric events like a group bike ride Saturday morning beginning at Sports Basement, a swap and supportive hangout at Junipero Beach Sunday afternoon, a monoprint workshop at PLACE Monday night or the Long Beach Pinball League\u2019s weekly meetup Tuesday at the Long Beach Beer Lab.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Holiday events are still trickling in, with creative new twists on tradition such as the African American Cultural Center\u2019s Kwanzaa celebration Saturday with the first-ever Kwanzaa Awards, Sports Basement\u2019s Noon Year\u2019s party Wednesday at noon or The Wicked Wolf\u2019s \u201860s-themed New Year\u2019s Eve party.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Patrons of EJ\u2019s Pub in Bixby Knolls sit at a high top table under a row of stockings on Dec. 6, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n
Friday 12\/26<\/p>\n
Free Groceries: Residents can receive free groceries from Long Beach Community Table every Friday from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Excluding New Year\u2019s Eve) at 3311 E. 59th St. Free.<\/p>\n
Day After Christmas Party: 5 p.m. to close: The Auld Dubliner (71 S. Pine Ave.) is hosting a day after Christmas party, with live music from Dropkick Mickeys at 10 p.m. and a half-priced cocktail list. Free entry.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766792110_675_AACCLB-1.jpg\")
An exterior view of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach building on Atlantic Avenue on June 28, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n
Saturday 12\/27<\/p>\n
Group Bike Ride: 8 a.m. On the second and fourth Saturday of each month, the Sports Basement Long Beach Ride Group meets in front of the store (2100 N. Bellflower Blvd.) for a ride. Meet at 7:30 for route details and to sign a waiver. Free.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018When Harry Met Sally\u2019: 11 a.m. Rob Reiner\u2019s 1989 romantic comedy classic \u201cWhen Harry Met Sally\u201d is coming to the big screen at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.) on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online<\/a> or at the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kwanzaa Celebration: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The African American Cultural Center of Long Beach is hosting a two-day Kwanzaa celebration on Saturday and Sunday at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.). The event will feature the first-ever Kwanzaa Awards, a candle lighting ceremony, a tribute to the ancestors, music, dancing and workshops on West African drumming and dancing, a paint and sip and children\u2019s corner. Free.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sunday 12\/28<\/p>\n Sunrise Gathering and Gratitude: 6:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. This end of the year gathering hosted by the Earthlodge Center pays tribute to the ocean through indigenous tradition with singing and prayer. Register online at bit.ly\/specialEL.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Loteria Manifestation Boards: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local business Loquita Bath and Body will be hosting a manifestation loteria cards\/boards making party at Open Gallery (1738 E. Seventh St.). Tickets are $25 and include all materials needed, snacks and a Loquita goodie bag. Tickets can be purchased through the link in the bio of @loquitabathandbody<\/a> on Instagram.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hot Gurl Swap: Noon. Residents are invited to bring any clothes, books, art supplies, trinkets and whatever else they want to swap to the Junipero Beach Skate Park (2630 E. Ocean Blvd.) and enjoy live poetry readings, all vinyl DJs, art shows, live paintings, harm reduction resources and a safe space to share hardships and celebrate resilience. Free.\u00a0<\/p>\n Monday 12\/29<\/p>\n Reflection Writing Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon. Earthlodge Center\u2019s fourth annual Fill Your Imaginative Cup virtual writing workshops invites people to end the year with intention by reflecting where you\u2019ve been, releasing what no longer serves you and writing toward a transformative future in tune with the wisdom and rhythm of Mother Earth. This workshop will be taught in English and Spanish. Register at bit.ly\/HITHwriting.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Monoprint Workshop: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Learn how to use nature to make prints at PLACE\u2019s last printmaking Monday gathering of the year at 2172 Pacific Ave. All supplies will be provided, and a donation is encouraged, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tuesday 12\/30<\/p>\n Long Beach Pinball League: 7 p.m. Retro game lovers can come to the Long Beach Beer Lab (518 W. Willow St.) to play pinball\u00a0 on various machines, with the chance to win prizes and meet new people with the Long Beach Pinball League. DM @LongBeachPinball on Instagram or email LongBeachPinball@gmail.com for registration or any questions. Free to attend.\u00a0<\/p>\n Comedy Night: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Secret Island (209 Pine Ave.), the tiki-themed speakeasy located beneath Shannon\u2019s on Pine, is hosting a side-splitting night of laughter with a lineup of local comedians. Free entry.<\/p>\n Wednesday, 12\/31<\/p>\n Free Groceries: 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can receive fresh produce and pantry staples from Help Me Help You\u2019s free pantries from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School (1175 E. 11th St.) and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Philadelphian SDA Church (2640 Santa Fe Ave.). No sign-ups necessary. Free.\u00a0<\/p>\n Noon Year\u2019s Eve: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sports Basement (2100 N. Bellflower Blvd.) is hosting its second annual kid-friendly New Year\u2019s celebration, with a countdown at 11:59 a.m. to noon. Families should bring noise makers, a blanket and picnic lunch. Free.\u00a0<\/p>\n Twist & Shout New Year\u2019s: 9 p.m. to close: Celebrate the new year with a \u201860s-themed extravaganza at The Wicked Wolf (2332 Pacific Ave.), complete with midnight champagne, DJ Little Redd and food from Triple D BBQ. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thursday 1\/1<\/p>\n Farmers Markets: Select times. The Bixby Knolls Farmers Market at the corner of E. 46th St. and Atlantic Ave. will offer fresh produce and homemade goods from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., as well as the Fourth Street Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entry is free.\u00a0<\/p>\n Disney on Ice: Let\u2019s Dance!: 5 p.m. Disney on Ice returns to Long Beach Arena (300 E. Ocean Blvd.) with its newest ice skating spectacular, Let\u2019s Dance! Prior to each show, there will be a festive holiday sing-along. Thursday\u2019s performance will be the first of seven shows happening through Sunday. Tickets start at $32 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n To submit your event for our weekly Around Town edition, please send all information including date, times, location and pricing to newspaper@signaltribune.com. Submissions do not guarantee publication.\u00a0<\/p>\n To guarantee promotion for your event, please contact legals@signaltribune.com and ask about our advertising options.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdelitasRevenge-7.jpg\")
Yvonne M\u00e1rquez holds a Loteria-themed bottle opener in the light of a skylight inside her shop, Adelitas Revenge, on Aug. 10, 2022. The store sells art and goods made by local artists that generally have a Mexican culture theme. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PlaceLB-4.jpg\")
Different zines and information pamplets make up parts of the Vine Library in the Place Long Beach print shop as seen on Jan. 29, 2024. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/LB_PinballLeague-2.jpg\")
Jet Vanderlee stares intently towards the top of a Dr. No pinball machine. While their ball bounces around in the bumpers, the other players on the remaining nine machines compete against Vanderlee in the Long Beach Pinball League meet-up at Long Beach Beer Lab on Feb. 28, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HelpMeHelpYou-3.jpg\")
Angel Vanderwerff, a volunteer with Help Me Help You, hands over a week worth of food from the nonprofit to a resident of the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony on Feb 3, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VeganCheese-1.jpg\")
On a wooden board at the Bixby Knolls Farmers Market, a selection of vegan cheeses can be seen at the O\u2019LaVi stand. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n
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