Beach Streets, Veterans Day Celebration slated for Nov. 9 in Uptown Long Beach

Beach Streets returns to the Uptown Long Beach area on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature the city’s Veterans Day Celebration. These events, which are traditionally held separately, will combine this year to enhance activities, increase community engagement and highlight improvements made as part of the Artesia Great Boulevard Project, including progress made to the new bike corridor.

“Beach Streets is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, enjoy our beautiful city and celebrate sustainable living,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This year, we are especially honored to return to Uptown, where Beach Streets began, and also recognize and celebrate our veterans. I invite the community to join us as we transform our streets into a vibrant space for both connection and reflection.”

This year’s event route will include northbound Atlantic Avenue from South Street to Artesia Boulevard, as well as the newly renovated Artesia Boulevard from Atlantic Avenue to Cherry Avenue, which includes a new bike corridor. Entertainment hubs will be located along the route at Houghton Park, on Atlantic Avenue by Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, and on the corner of Artesia Boulevard and Cherry Avenue.

The welcome ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the main stage of the Artesia Boulevard Hub, which will serve as the main hub of Beach Streets Uptown. This hub will highlight improvements made along Artesia Boulevard and will feature live music and resource booths. The entertainment hub by Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library will also offer attendees a variety of resource booths and music.

The Veterans Hub at Houghton Park will feature the Veterans Day Celebration where residents can pay respect to local veterans of the US Armed Forces. Included in this celebration will be a veterans resource fair, live music from Knyght Ryder and The Satin Dollz, aircraft flyovers, food trucks and beer garden, a boot camp style obstacle course and a skate zone with skate park demos and skateboarding lessons by Skate Dogs. The event will also have a dedicated kid zone featuring live performances by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater and DJ Mike, as well as the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Aquarium on Wheels and other family-friendly activities. The Veterans Recognition Ceremony, taking place at 2 p.m., will feature an awards presentation for individuals and organizations who have shown exemplary dedication to serving the local veterans community. This year’s honorees include:

• JB Jaso, “2024 Veterans Day Celebration Grand Marshal”
• Paralyzed Veterans of America California Chapter, “Outstanding Community Organization”
• Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, California Chapter 33-12, “Outstanding Community Organization”
• John Oppenheim, “Outstanding Volunteer”

Local businesses, business districts and community groups along the event route will host a variety of entertainment, activities, information booths and more to attract foot traffic to and promote their businesses.

Beach Streets, which is traditionally held in May, is an open streets event that began in 2015. Previous Beach Streets events have occurred in Downtown, Uptown and Bixby Knolls, Cambodia Town and Zaferia, Willmore and Wrigley, and East Long Beach near California State University, Long Beach. Open Street events are popular throughout North America, as they promote the pursuit of innovative strategies to achieve environmental, social, economic and public health goals.

For more information about Beach Streets, visit beachstreets.com.

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