The Pacific coastal city of Long Beach, California has long been known as an international city. The city is home to one of the largest shipping ports in the world and brings with it a large influx of people from all over the world. There are many cultural groups within the city limits of Long Beach, which is why it earned its nickname “The International City.” Long Beach prides itself on its unique mix of residents by celebrating all the different nationalities and cultures that exist within the city. Throughout the year, residents and visitors can participate in any number of cultural festivals. These are just a few of the festivals that take place in Long Beach:

Scottish Queen Mary Festival

The Scottish Queen Mary Festival is a celebration of Scottish heritage. The festival takes place in February each year on The Queen Mary, which is one of the most famous ships ever built on the River Clyde and a testament to the great craftsmanship of the Scottish people. The cultural celebration will include Scottish drum and bagpipe music, various highland dance competitions, whiskey tastings and more.

SoCal Italian Festival

The Italian SoCal Festival 2010 takes place every May at the Seaport Marina Hotel within the interior gardens and pool area. The festival aims to keep the “taste of Italy” alive within the SoCal area with a variety of vendors including Lucci’s Gelato & Italian Ice, Unico Los Angeles Pizza, and Mediterranean Marble, just to name a few. A portion of the proceeds from SoCal’s Italian festivals will benefit Long Beach Friends of Animals.

Ho’olaule’a Tiki Beach Festival

The 10th annual Ho’olaule’a Tiki Beach Festival will take place every August on the beach from sunrise to sunset. The festival hosts a number of activities including “Night of Fire” torch lighting, fire walk, fire knife dance, the Crazy Al Evans Tiki Museum and island music. The festival has a Taste of Aloha food court where you can sample island-style food and Island Market Place and Cultural Center when you can shop for traditional island arts and crafts. A Hula praise and worship service will be held on Sunday morning.

Greek party

For more than 60 years, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Long Beach has held the Greek Festival on Labor Day weekend. The festival features a number of activities for the whole family, including carnival rides and games, church visits, Greek dance lessons, dance performances, live music, and a variety of Greek foods and desserts to try. The festival is open daily from noon to 9 pm Entry to the festival requires a small donation to the church and parking is free.

Brazilian street carnival

The annual Brazilian Street Carnival takes place in September at the waterfront amphitheater and features a colorful parade of costumed participants, dance performances, live music, and traditional Brazilian food and drinks. The people of Long Beach, California, are a diverse group of people who embrace their heritage and invite others to experience a little of their culture through host annual festivals. These cultural festivals are a great way to spend a weekend getting to know your neighbors.