Fireworks!

On the morning of the 4th, join Justin Rudd and his Great American Kids' Bike Parade
10am, registration opens at 9:15am
Enter the beachfront parking lot at the end of Granada Ave.
Free to enter. 2012 is the 9th year for this event.
The out-and-back, two-mile parade route travels east along the bike path and continues down Bay Shore Avenue to Second Street.  Bring a chair and a cheering section for these youngsters.

Local firework displays begin at 9pm.

Queen Mary
1126 Queens Hwy.
562-435-3511
view from any shoreline in Long Beach or San Pedro

Joint Forces Training Base
11200 Lexington Dr.
Los Alamitos
714-229-6700
Gates open at 4pm
Free admission, parking $5
Everyone over 16 years old must bring ID
Arrive by 7:30pm to gain entry
Two entrances: Lexington Dr. & Orangewood Ave.
Food court, vendor fair, kids fun zone (additional fee), military displays, WW II re-enactment
Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged
No alcohol, dogs, fireworks, or motor homes

Lakewood Block Party happens on the Saturday before July 4th
Parking lot south of the Angelo M. Iacoboni Library.
4pm-9pm, some activities require tickets
Family fun, a rockin' good time and a professional fireworks show return to Clark Avenue and the Lakewood Civic Center on Saturday, June 30th.  The block party includes fun for kids and families.  The family fun zone features a giant slide, obstacle course, bouncers, rock climbing wall, and pirate ship.


Party on the Pier
Belmont Pier
562-434-1542
Enjoy live music, a fish fry and BBQ, beer and wine gardens, boat rides on the shoreline.
Reserve seating for fireworks in advance.
$20/adults; $10/kids

Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
562-590-3100
Enjoy the aquarium at night and get a fish-eye view of the Queen Mary fireworks.
Guests can choose special combo tickets to enjoy admission to the aquarium plus
an Independence Day BBQ buffet.
Special discounted hours only 5pm-10pm: $14.95/person
4th of July BBQ: Enjoy the aquarium from 9am-10pm
Dinner 6-8pm $37/adult
Advance reservations required for dinner
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org

Harbor Breeze Cruise
This year Harbor Breeze Cruises will be hosting two fireworks events.
July 3rd features fireworks from the LB Firefighters Memorial Assoc. and July 4th will feature fireworks from the Queen Mary, as well as other local shows.
100 Aquarium Way Dock #2
Join Harbor Breeze Cruises for a spectacular fireworks display from the water
in beautiful Rainbow Harbor
7:30pm-10pm
$30
http://www.2seewhales.com

AND there will be fireworks on Tuesday, July 3rd:

Long Beach Firefighters Memorial Association
The Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
7201 East Ocean Blvd
$25/adults (dinner included)
Kids 10 years old and younger are free
Menu: Tri-tip, chicken, drinks are extra
Live entertainment

Time to Cool Off!

Lakewood residents are so lucky.  They have six parks with wading pools.  Good thing LB'ers can join in.
Open 11am-4pm for kids 3-7 years old from June 16 to September 3.
Open everyday: Mayfair, Palms
Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Del Valle & San Martin
Open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, & Sunday: Bloomfield, Boyar
Wednesdays: Boyar, Del Valle, Mayfair, San Martin will be open 5pm-7:30pm on Wednesdays
(June 29-August 29).
Weekends: all pools open 11am-4pm May 26-September 30

In Cerritos, Liberty Park has a great little splash pad for the toddler set.
You can also cool off at the water play areas at Long Beach Towne Center and the Cerritos Library.

Splash Pad at Sigler Park in Westminster is free and open every day from Noon-5pm starting June 18 to September 3.  7200 Plaza St., Westminister.

Atlantis Park in Garden Grove. $1 admission.  13630 Atlantis Way, Garden Grove, CA 92844

A little bit further is the Lemon Park Spray Pool. 701 S. Lemon, Fullerton

Buccaneer Bay in La Mirada.  The family-fun “Buccaneer Bay” combines the excitement of a water park with pirate themed features throughout. Buccaneer Bay features a flowing river channel, three water slides, a children’s interactive play structure, zero-depth beach entry and two spray pad areas. Pirate themed elements include: a marooned ship, a dramatic skull rock, shade canopies that resemble sails, cannon walls, wharf plank benches, and crow’s nests.  Open daily till September 3rd. 10:30am-5:30pm.  $17.95/person, under 48" $12.95.  Family Friday Nights June 29-August 17 4pm-8pm. $14.95/person, under 48" $10.95.
13806 La Mirada Blvd.
La Mirada, CA 90638
Phone: (562) 902-3191

Summer Fun!

I just updated the calendar above.  See? ^

Lots of fun in the LBC this summer: movies in the park, movies on the beach (Jaws, anyone?), $1 movies at the Towne Center.  Besides movies, the South Coast Botanical Garden is free every third Tuesday of the month.  Okay, you're asking, 'What's in our neck of the woods?'  The Pirate Invasion hits Belmont Shore June 30-July 1.  There is free Shakespeare By the Sea in Long Beach, Lakewood, and Rossmoor.  The Origami Festival is at the Japanese Gardens at CSULB on July 15.  And the first ever OC Mini-Maker Fair is July 14!  And lots more, so get out your planners/iPhones. :-D

Garden Reciprocal Program

Did you know there's a garden reciprocal program in Southen California and across the country?

Join one of these local gardens as a member and get free admission to all for one year.

• Descanso Gardens, La Canada Flintridge
• LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Arcadia
• Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont
• South Coast Botanical Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula
• Fullerton Arboretum
• The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, CSULB

Membership to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is $40 for CSULB alumni and $50 for the basic membership.  This gives you admission for two adults and children at the same address.

The complete directory of participating gardens is at http://www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal

 

Rancho Los Alamitos Grand Re-opening!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Noon-5pm

FREE

Free Parking is at CSULB Lot 11 located on Palo Verde Avenue at Rendina with continuous shuttle service to the Rancho. Shuttle buses are handicapped accessible.

Refreshments are available at a reasonable cost.

http://www.rancholosalamitos.com/

On this much-anticipated occasion, come back to Rancho Los Alamitos and discover the living story of Southern California found in the extraordinary historic site today.  Be among the first to experience the remarkable opening of the Rancho Center and the restored barnyard where the great shires, rabbits, and ducks have come home to stay.  Celebrate with the sights and sounds of music and dance from all eras; listen to the native and newcomer stories; try your hand at ranching skills, crafts, and food; and revel in the traditions of people spanning the times of the region then and now.

Opening Procession (12:30pm): The celebration begins with a lively procession of performers representing the diverse spectrum of Californians, past to present, who call the region home.

Music and Dance Performances: Intertribal Bird Singers, Paso de Oro Dance Company, El Mariachi Zacatecas, The Shanty Man Bill Dempsey, California Cowboy Band, and the International Peace Choir.

Mapping a Legacy of People and Place: Identify yourself on the land as a native or newcomer and marvel at the international diversity.  Tour the grounds, engage in activities, and collect maps that depict the historic eras of the region and the state.

Stories from the Land: Storytelling for young and old speaks to the traditions of the native Tongva people, Spanish and Mexican fiestas, the northern, westward, and eastward migration, and the impact of agriculture and urban development on the land over time.

 

From June 13 to July 5, reservations will be required to visit the Rancho Los Alamitos site during normal public hours.