Every August, the sounds of America's music – jazz – fills the Long Beach air. Fans of this historic musical genre gather at Rainbow Lagoon Park to hear some of the top artists on the scene performing during the Long Beach Jazz Festival. This popular three day event is staged on a beautiful grassy knoll in the park that makes for an experience that is as visually stunning as it is aurally pleasing. The festival also features a great selection of food, arts and crafts, as well as the wares of various vendors.
Musical Theatre West is Southern California's premier musical theater company. It certainly has an impressive history, as it began as the Whittier Civic Light Opera in 1952. Since then, it has taken great pride in presenting some of the best musicals and theatrical productions in the area by featuring some of the most exceptional performers from all over the country. Some of the most popular shows that have graced the stage here include A Chorus Line, Oklahoma, 42nd Street, and Sunset Boulevard, among many other favorites.
There are some things you never outgrow. If one of your links to your childhood is a favorite superhero, comic book series or television show, you need to pay a visit to Long Beach's Amazing Comics. This is a veritable gold mine of memories. In addition to vintage items, collectibles and comic books, Amazing Comics more than lives up to its name by offering a deep stock of new items like apparel, action figures, toys, videos, DVDs, sports cards, dolls, hardcover books and so much more.