Long Beach celebrates the season with drums, dancers and centuries of tradition. The Aquarium of the Pacific hosts its 25th annual Autumn Festival on November 21 and 22, 2026, a weekend honoring the cultures of Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines.
Visitors can expect exciting live performances, from taiko drumming to lion dancers, along with traditional music and dance, storytelling, cultural arts exhibits and craft demonstrations — including decorative fruit carving techniques that turn produce into sculpture. Performers in traditional festive clothing fill the Aquarium’s halls and plazas, making the festival one of the most colorful weekends of its fall calendar.
The Autumn Festival is one of the Aquarium’s signature cultural celebrations, a series that brings the diverse communities of Southern California together around the Pacific Ocean they share. Between the performances, guests can explore the Aquarium’s galleries, from the Tropical Pacific to Shark Lagoon.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach. Mark the weekend: November 21 and 22 promises rhythm, color and a delicious reason to visit.
Photo: Srishti Sethi / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
