In the early ’30s, the Arden-Ohman Orchestra captured society’s love affair with spectacle in the song “I Love a Parade.” Now, the city of Long Beach is capitalizing on our fuzzy feelings by hosting a brand-new parade in the heart of downtown to honor the 36 percent of its citizens who identify themselves as Hispanic. The Latin American Parade and Festival celebrates Latino culture through food, live music, vendor booths, dance classes and art lectures (with free admission to MOLAA!). The only thing that should keep you from attending is the traffic jam this celebration is sure to generate (we recommend taking Ocean Avenue).
First Annual Latin American Parade and Festival, First Street and Elm Avenue, Long Beach; www.downtownlongbeach.org. Parade winds from Seventh Street and Broadway, down Pine Avenue to festival location, 3 p.m.; festival, 4-10 p.m. Free. All ages.
Sat., Sept. 12, noon, 2009
