Whales Ahoy!

San Pedro will celebrate a Whale Fiesta at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium with duct tape and sand sculpture competions as well as speakers, food and music. The event takes place on January 30.

What! A Little Dickens!

Riverside goes Victorian for the Dickens Festival from January 21 to 23 with costume balls, place, lectures, and more. The activities are centered around the Convention Center and other downtown locations

Morro Goes to the Birds

Bird lovers flock to Morro Bay for the annual Winter Bird Festival. This year, it runs from January 14 to 17. There are over a hundred field trips offered with expert guides to explore the habitats of native and migratory species.

Plaid Tidings to You

Yes, it's over a month away, but still not too early to add the Scottish Festival to your calendar. From February 18 to 20, wooly goodness, from tartans to sheepherding, will be on view at the Queen Mary. There'll be bagpipes and Highland dancing and traditional food and (ahem) drink as well as competions and kid-friendly activities.

O-pah!

It's not too late to activate your inner frauen oder herren at the Long Beach Oktoberfest at El Dorado Park this weekend. The hours are 5 to 11 pm on Friday, noon to 11 pm on Saturday, and noon to 10 pm on Sunday. Admission is $13 for polka bands and carnival rides. Food and beverages cost extra.

Patchwork Returns!

Looks like the Patchwork Indie Art and Craft Festival will return to the Marine Stadium on November 21 from 11 to 5. Expect lots of good items for holiday presents, food and fun.

Cambodian Arts Festival Returns to MacArthur Park

On November 20 from 10 am to 3 pm, the second annual Cambodian Arts and Cultural Exhibition will bring the arts and crafts of this ancient culture to MacArthur Park in the heart of the Long Beach Cambodian community. Some of the exhibits include court dancing, shadow puppets, musical instruments, and cooking.

SoundWalk Tonight!

Even though it's in its seventh year, Soundwalk always seems to slip up on me. Tonight, October 2 in the East Village over thirty different installations will be up and running beginning at 5 pm. Ranging from silly to cerebral, there will be live performances as well as recorded and interactive sound. Pardon the pun, but the event really sets art on its ear.

Time to go GLOBAL

GLOBAL is the Long Beach Arts community's acronym for its comprehensive guide to arts events in Long Beach during National Arts and Humanities Month. The website breaks down the events by neighbor or category (like dance or family friendly). It also has a free category, which is my favorite. Information about Soundwalk, free museum days, plus lots of gallery shows and open mikes will keep you busy all month without spending a dime.

A Tasty Bite of Signal Hill History

Signal Hill Historical Society is serving up a Pancake Breakfast at the Foothill Club this Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm in Discovery Well Park. For $6, you get a full breakfast with historic displays, games, raffles and a re-enactment of the first gusher.

Green is Greater as we speak

Not that we're speaking, but six bands are performing from noon to 6 pm at the Gaslamp for the Green Is Greater Festival, a fundraiser for Egrets not Regrets. Many environmental groups will also be on hand. The Gaslamp is located at 6251 E. PCH.

Carnaval Tomorrow

September 19, the Carnaval Street Parade returns to downtown Long Beach. It costs $20 to watch and $35 to participate as streams of dancers and partiers strut their stuff in feathers, sequins and not much else. The mood and the music are non-stop up-tempo.

Exploration of Restoration

For all you local history buffs and old house renovators, Rose Park Neighborhood Association is offering the Restoration Trade Fair from 8:30 am to 4 pm on Saturday September 9 at Burbank Elementary School. Experts on requirements for home improvement in historic districts, local historians and contractors will be on hand to offer advice on things like working with an architect and writing a history of your house. Admission is $5.

Take to the Streets for Park(ing) Day LA

Business districts and urban neighborhorhoods around Southern California will be converting sidewalks, parking lots, and even parking spaces in public parks on September 17 for Park(ing) Day LA. The businesses on Fourth Street will turn the Edsel Park into a vegetable stand, performance space, and mini park. Downtown merchants will also add greenery to Pine Street.

Zoom, zoom, Second Street

Belmont Shore Auto Show is this Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm. Thousands of people will flood Second Street to ogle the souped-up, slicked down, and generally tricked out classic cars on display from Bay Shore to Livingston. There'll be lots of street closures and limited parking, so taking a bike or bus would be a good choice.

Chalk one up at the Marketplace

The annual Chalk Art Festival is coming early to the Marketplace this year. On September 18 from 9 am to 5 pm 20 artists will decorate the plaza with fleeting glimpses of beauty and whimsy as they create colorful designs with chalk that will be washed or worn away in a day or two. Visitors can vote on their favorites.

Less than a month to Green Port Fest

On October 2 the Port of Long Beach will host Green Port Fest 2010 from 10 am to 3 pm. There'll be narrated boat tours and Metrolink excursions on land through cargo shipping terminals. New this year is the Wyland Living Green Fair, which includes the opportunity to paint a mural with the artist. Parking will be free at the Long Beach Convention Center with shuttles to the port.

Long Weekend and All that Jazz

Kjazz is sponsoring a Blues Bash in September 4. From noon to 6 pm, there's a free street fest in front of the Carpenter Center where there'll be live performances plus food, vendors, and a beer garden. A concert headlined by the Keb Mo Band begins as 7 pm in the auditorium. Tickets cost $55.

Photos Focus on Day in Long Beach

Hundreds of photos submitted to the Say Cheese, Long Beach contest will be on display at the Expo building at 4321 Atlantic this Friday, September 3 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Prizes for the best photos, which were taken in Long Beach from noon August 28 to noon August 29, will be awarded beginning at 8 pm. The free event is part of First Fridays in Bixby Knolls, a monthly showcase of the shops and restaurants in that part of town.

Portal to Love on September 11

To honor September 11 and to provide a healthy opportunity for people to experience and participate in art, music and other creative expression, Drum for Love will offer its Debut Portal on the beach at Granada and Ocean Blvd. on September 11 from 11:11 am to 10 pm. Some of the activities include dance, music, live Art, Chant, Eclectic Music, Spoken Word, Laughter, Performance Art, Spiritual Activism, Sound Alchemy, Drumming, and a Portal that caters to the senses. Tickets cost $15.