Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Brining a Summer of Family Fun Beginning June 15

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: A summer concert at El Dorado Nature Center.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is gearing up for another fun-filled summer of free, family-friendly entertainment and recreational programming options for youth, teens and adults. Offering accessible recreation during the summer months strengthens community connections, promotes community wellbeing and offers youth safe, constructive activities to engage in. PRM's summer events and programs begin June 15 and run through Aug. 21, 2026.

"Summer in Long Beach is all about bringing people together, and our Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is once again delivering a suite of free opportunities for residents to connect, play and thrive," said Mayor Rex Richardson.

"Our recreation programs and events strengthen community connections and give our youth fun, safe and enriching ways to spend their summer days," said Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Stephen P. Scott. "We love seeing our parks come alive during the long summer days, and we invite our community to enjoy all we are offering this season."

Movies in the Park will once again offer free family-friendly movies at Long Beach parks. Community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic-style dinners and snacks to enjoy a cinematic summer evening outdoors. Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. and include a nightly raffle giveaway (tickets given per family or group) and a bounce house. Movies begin at dusk. Movies in the Park is sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks. The movie schedule and list of park locations is available at lbcity.info/moviesinthepark.

Summer Fun Days is a free drop-in recreation program that engages children ages 5 to 12 in fun activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and special events. The program will run weekdays June 15 through Aug. 21, noon to 5 p.m., at 21 parks throughout Long Beach. Pre-registration is required and available online now at LB RecConnect. More information, including the complete list of all participating locations, is available at lbcity.info/summerfundays.

As part of PRM's Aquatics programming, and in effort to encourage fun, safe water play all summer long, open recreation swim sessions for youth ages 17 years and younger is free all at City pools (Belmont Plaza, King Park Pool and Silverado Pool). Offering free recreation swim to youth increases access to water-related activities and removes barriers for young people to participate. Youth under 48" tall must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times.

The Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) program offers free recreation activities for the whole family, weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at 11 parks throughout the city. Activities range from arts and crafts, games, sports and fitness classes to science activities and special events like free movies, sponsored by the Port of Long Beach. More information is available at lbcity.info/besafe.

As recently announced, the Long Beach Municipal Band will celebrate its 117th season with performances in five Long Beach parks Tuesday, June 23 through Friday, July 31. This year's performance theme, Picnics and Pops, is an ode to Long Beach's iconic history, culture and community through popular hits across the decades. All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free:

• Tuesdays: Whaley Park North - June 23, June 30; Bixby Annex Park - July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28
• Wednesdays: Los Cerritos Park - June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29
• Thursdays: Larry Curtis Concert Park at Marine Stadium - June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30
• Fridays: El Dorado Park West - June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31

The El Dorado Nature Center Summer Concert Series will offer an evening of live music in a beautiful lakeside setting. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., concerts take place 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per person at the door (cash, card or smart pay available). Concert goers are encouraged to bring an eco-friendly dinner and low chairs. The 2026 concert lineup includes:

• June 11 - The Salty Suites
• June 25- Corday
• July 9 - Big City Hillbillies
• July 23 - Steel Parade
• Aug. 6 - JP McDermott and Western Bop
• Aug. 20 - Sligo Rags

Dance Fest, a free music and dance showcase of traditional and contemporary cultural traditions, will take place Saturday, Aug. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. at Cesar E. Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.). More information will be provided at a later date.

Additionally, PRM's six Teen Centers will operate this summer with extended hours, weekdays from noon to 6 p.m., June 15 through Aug. 21. Through the Teen Programs, teens ages 13 to 18 years old can enjoy social and recreational activities in a safe and welcoming environment that help enhance personal and social skills, teach responsibility and leadership, and promote individual self-esteem.

Summer activities for youth align with the City's Summer of Opportunity initiative, a collective impact approach focused on fostering positive development among Long Beach youth while simultaneously addressing youth violence. Highlights of Summer of Opportunity activations and the City's summer activities calendar are available on the City's Summer of Opportunity webpage.

Offering a summer of free, family-friendly entertainment and programming supports PRM's Parks Make Long Beach Strategic Plan.

Community members are also encouraged to browse the summer issue of Recreation Connection, PRM's recreation catalogue, to get connected to over 700 classes, activities, sports and leagues for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

Discover PRM's full lineup of parks, facilities, programs and services available for the Long Beach community at LBParks.org.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is available at LBParks.org and by following us @LongBeachParks on Facebook, Instagram and X.

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