Long Beach

Westside, Long Beach Neighborhood

Westside presents a serene and welcoming environment with a variety of housing options, including single detached homes and spacious apartments. The neighborhood features several parks nearby, offering ample opportunities for outdoor relaxation. A short drive provides easy access to highways, enhancing convenience for commuting. Public transit includes roughly 10 bus lines passing through, with many stops conveniently located. Dining options are diverse, including restaurants and cozy cafes, while supermarkets and schools are close by. The area benefits from gentle elevation, making cycling a pleasant and straightforward way to get around. Overall, Westside is a peaceful and convenient community with many everyday amenities.

The character of Westside is exemplified by its slower-paced atmosphere. This neighborhood is very quiet overall, as the streets are usually very calm. Finally, green spaces, like Hudson Park and Admiral Kidd Park, are very well-distributed and there are a few of them close by for residents to unwind in, resulting in them being easy to access from most locations in Westside.

Highlights of Westside

Parks, schools, dining, and what makes this neighborhood special

🌳 Drake Park

Located along Daisy Avenue, Drake Park is a historic green space that features wide lawns, tall trees, a playground, and community events, making it a beloved gathering spot for families and a central feature of everyday life in Westside Long Beach.

🏫 Cabrillo High School

Serving Westside residents on Santa Fe Avenue, Cabrillo High is a vital part of the community, known for its strong academic programs, inclusive campus culture, and robust extracurricular activities including robotics and athletics.

🍽️ Santa Fe Avenue Taquerias

Running through the heart of Westside, Santa Fe Avenue features a diverse array of taquerias and mom-and-pop restaurants, offering authentic Mexican cuisine and vibrant street food flavors popular with locals and visitors alike.

🛒 West Willow Shopping Center

Situated near Willow Street and Santa Fe Avenue, this community retail hub offers residents easy access to supermarkets, local shops, and essential services right in the neighborhood, supporting daily convenience and Westside’s local economy.

🚴 Los Angeles River Bike Path Access

Westside Long Beach offers direct access points to the scenic Los Angeles River Bike Path, allowing residents to enjoy miles of cycling, jogging, and riverside views stretching from Westside down to the ocean.

Westside

This October in Westside

Things to do, events, and what's happening this month

October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2026

Día de los Muertos Community Altar

Harte Neighborhood Library • 3:00 PM–5:00 PM

This free, hands-on series is especially convenient for Westside residents because it takes place at Harte Library on West Willow Street. Each Friday features a different craft, including paper marigolds, butterflies, calaveras, crowns, or picture frames, while neighbors help build a shared community altar.

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October 2, 2026

2026 Manhattan Short Film Festival

Billie Jean King Main Library • 6:00 PM–8:45 PM

Film fans can enjoy an international short-film program and participate by voting for favorite films and performances. The downtown Main Library is a straightforward trip from Westside Long Beach, making this a distinctive evening activity for adults who want something more cultural than a typical movie outing.

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October 16, 2026

Vida Latina: La Gran Tardeada

Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library • 3:00 PM–5:00 PM

Long Beach’s Vida Latina celebration closes with a free, all-ages afternoon featuring a Selena tribute band, a children’s Bad Bunny puppet show, a Latin-music costume contest, karaoke, arts and crafts, and more. It offers Westside families a lively way to celebrate Latin culture and community together.

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October 17, 2026

Howl-O-Ween Festival

El Dorado Nature Center • 2:00 PM–6:00 PM

Families can trick-or-treat along nature-center trails, visit an animal education village, enjoy storytelling and face painting, and take part in crafts and food-truck activities. Although it is on the city’s east side, it is a notable seasonal outing that Long Beach residents can reasonably reach for an afternoon of outdoor Halloween fun.

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October 30, 2026

Noche de Cuentos: Día de los Muertos Storytelling

Harte Neighborhood Library • 5:30 PM

Westside families can gather at their neighborhood library for acclaimed storyteller Olga Loya’s Día de los Muertos performance and storytelling workshop. The program takes place in front of Harte’s completed community altar, creating a welcoming, culturally rooted Halloween-week activity that is free and accessible to local residents.

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From the Neighborhood

Stories, updates, and things to know in Westside

Know Your Neighborhood

Local characteristics and demographics for Westside

Neighborhood Characteristics

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Demographics

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