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First Fridays
We’re celebrating Arte de Mayo at First Fridays on May 2 from 6:30PM–9:30PM! Kick off the month with delicious flavors and community spirit! 🍹🎶
Celebrate the vibrant culture and creativity of Mexico with tasty eats, micheladas, live music—including a Mariachi performance—and an artist showcase that will light up the night. 💃🏽🎨🔥
PLUS, don’t miss the return of @uptownvillagemarket inside the Expo Arts Center, featuring 65+ incredible vendors offering handcrafted goods, art, fashion, and more!
Bring your friends, support local creatives, and experience the energy of First Fridays in a way that honors both culture and connection. ✨
Most businesses will be open late, so come ready to explore, dine, drink, shop, and celebrate! 🎨🎶🛍️
BUSINESS FESTIVITIES
Tony’s Kitchen
- Special dinner plates:
- Red Pozole
- Cheese Chile Rellenos
- Pambazos
- Churros & hot chocolate
Semillitias Learning Community
- Community Piñata | 6pm
- Music by DJ’s Ani | Oscar G | Tiki Rumbero
- Artist Marketplace
- Buyepongo Record Release Show Free Tickets + Vinyl Giveaway!
- Spanish Immersion Arte & Cultura Summer Camp Enrollment
KUBO LB
- Live painting in honor of the Lapu Lapu Festival community, with proceeds from the art auction supporting families affected by the recent tragedy.
- New art exhibit by @jaja.vidal and hold space through a communal altar for our Filipinx-Canadian Kapwa.
CoffeeDrunk
- Ice Cream Social ft. Seaside Creamery including affogatos, croffels, coke floats, and more!
Bixby Petals
- DIY Floral bouquet bar special
Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
- Early Cinco De Mayo celebration! Alongside DJs, Food/Drink Pop-Ups, Dancing + Special Surprises!
Beachwood Brewing
- NEW weekly specialty cocktail: Bantha Breeze (Blue Milk)
- Inspired by May the Fourth comin gup with bold housemade flavors ready to transport you to another galaxy — vanilla vodka, passionfruit syrup, coconut syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, blue curaçao, and a touch of blue glitter.
- Penny Mexican Candy
Historical Society of Long Beach
- The Workers’ Harbor Exhibit: Showcasing the Port of Long Beach’s history through the voices of the men and women who worked there. Visitors can explore for free the transformation of the tidelands, the Navy’s role, and the harbor’s impact on the global economy.
Breakwater Tattoo
- First Fridays Flash Tattoos, first come first served.
Pixie Toys
- FREE face painting
Bixby Knolls Wellness Center
- Stop by from 6-8 PM for an evening of wellness, fun, and freebies! Enjoy complimentary:
- 🍿 Popcorn
- 💆 Chair massages
✨ Win a 60-Minute Massage Gift Certificate! ✨
To enter: 📲 Follow us on Instagram or Facebook (already following? Tag us in your photo!)”
MUSIC
- Fingerprints
- Live music by Mariachi Las Catrinas, 8pm-9pm
- Thunderbolt Pizza
- Live music by Killer West
- Ground Control (Next to Expo Arts Center)
- Live music by Paul Munoz “Bread and Butter”
- Bixby Joe
- Live music by Krooked Fingerz
- Coffee Bean
- Live music by Hedgehog Swing
- Salon Medusa
- Live music by Mooney Starr
- Wood & Salt Tavern
- Live music by Chelsey Sanchez
- Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
- Live music by Califas
- Willmore Wine Bar
- Live music by Maile Hutchison
- Rasselbock
- Live music by The Mood Swings
- Edgar & James
- Live music by Lorenzo’s Flashback Band
- Historical Society of Long Beach
- Live music by Martin Espino
- Taboon Mediterranean
- Live music by Think of One
- Eclipsed Emporium
- Music by DJ Dave
- Beachwood Brewing & Distilling
- Live music by Nightwave, starting at 7pm
EXPO ARTS CENTER
- Main Room
- Uptown Village Market featuring 65+ vendors
- AACCLB
- Current Exhibit
- Katie Phillips Gallery
- Art Massive “Art Micro” Show
- Toaster Music
- Able Arts Work
- Grand opening of new art exhibition “Reflections”
- Outside Expo
- Riverpark Coalition
- Team Fasnacht (DRE #02051365)
THE ALLERY
- Dance area & live music by Sonsoles, Rock en Español
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Crafts & resources by Puente Latino Association
THE ARTISTS’ LOT
- Spray art by Brooks & THOTS
- Art Pop-ups by 10+ local artists
DRIVER
| Driver: Electric shuttle will be driving around First Fridays to take you to any of the participating businesses in Bixby Knolls for free! |
Vendor Policy:
We proudly showcase our business members. Please contact us if you are a paying member of the BKBIA and would like a booth.
Non-members:
In order to get a vendor space for First Fridays, you MUST be a member of our Business Improvement Association. The requirements for that are two-fold. You must first have a brick-and-mortar shop or office located within our district, and two, you must have a business license with the City of Long Beach and pay into our Association.
Our policy and contract with the City of Long Beach do not allow us to accept outside vendors because doing so creates competition with our paying members, congested sidewalks, and other issues.
Non-profit organizations, Religious, and Political Parties:
While we cannot support any religious or political parties, the First Amendment allows for freedom of speech. If you are a religious or political party, you may find space on the sidewalk on the west side of Atlantic Ave between Burlinghall Dr. and Carson St. If you are a non-profit organization, please contact the BKBIA directly to discuss a potential location to setup. There shall be NO blocking of sidewalks, ADA ramps or access ways, or blocking of any access to a business.
There is a $25 fee to get an approved tabling spot for non-profits that are non BKBIA members.