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• OPEN DAILY Riley's Red Wagon Book Swap Open daily (unless it's raining) from about 9 a.m. until just before dark at 3040 E. First Street in Bluff Park. First-time guests can have five free books. They can keep those forever or bring them back to exchange for four more. This project is hosted by Justin Rudd. JustinRudd.com/redwagon • Interfaith Blessing of the Animals Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, 3 p.m. 21st annual, 1 Granada Ave. on the concrete boat launch ramp adjacent to Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach, 90803. Free to participate and/or spectate. Justin Rudd's nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) hosts about 250 people with their animals as they get "blessed" by about five various faith leaders. JustinRudd.com/blessing • $1,000 Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 19th annual. 5200 E. Second Street. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team host about 60 adult artists who use the sidewalks of trendy Second Street to work on their large paper canvases. JustinRudd.com/chalk • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. Cash prizes for best kid and adult costumes. JustinRudd.com/cleanup ![]() Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, 2:30 p.m., 22nd annual, NEW LOCATION: beachfront grassy park and path in front of former Belmont Pool, 4000 E. Olympic Plaza (just west of Rosie's Dog Beach), Long Beach, 90803. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) host the biggest Halloween pet event in the world. There is a vendor and pet adoption fair from 12:30-4:30 p.m., but the highlight of the day is the 400+ costumed dogs as they parade a few blocks in front of a few thousand gawkers and a panel of judges. $10/advance/dog. There is no charge for humans to walk in the parade (with or without pets), and it's free to spectate. Front-row chairs can be rented on-site for $5/cash. JustinRudd.com/howloween • Teen/Miss/Ms./Mrs. Long Beach pageant and Teen/Miss/Ms./Mrs. Southern California pageant Sat., Nov. 4, 2023: 5 p.m., concert hall/fellowship hall at Bay Shore Church, Belmont Shore. The Miss Long Beach Pageant was created in 1950 and is now produced by Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT). The eight titleholders each receive $1,500 appearance contracts to volunteer at CAT events. MissLongBeach.com and MissSouthernCalifornia.com • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023: 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Long Beach Turkey Trot & Kids 1/2-Mile Wingding for charity Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023; 21st annual; 1 Granada Ave. is the start and finish. Two start times: 7:30 and 9 a.m. Walk/run. JustinRudd.com/trot • Joy to the World! free Christmas concert - TICKETS REQUIRED Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023; 5 p.m., 9th annual; Bay Shore Church sanctuary, 5100 E. The Toledo, free with donation of cat/dog toys/treats, or canned goods or non-perishables for a local food bank. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team present this free 25-piece professional brass and percussion group from the Southern California Brass Consortium. JustinRudd.com/concert • Long Beach Christmas Cookie Contest & Long Beach Bake-off Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023; 6:30 p.m., 11th annual Bake-Off and Christmas Cookie Contest, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team host a few dozen bakers and checks to charities on behalf of the top 8 bakers with the best homemade holiday cookies and baked goods. The $5/donation awards/tasting reception follows the free, ticketed Christmas Concert by Southern California Brass Consortium (see concert listing above). JustinRudd.com/cookiecontest • Operation Santa Paws For the month of Dec. 2023, please collect pet toys, treats, cleaning supplies, and take them to your favorite shelter or rescue at a convenient time/date for you. We are not transporting items this year, nor gathering as a group to visit any shelters. Hosted by Justin Rudd, his nonprofit Community Action Team and Haute Dogs. JustinRudd.com/santapaws • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023; 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • tba Long Beach Heroes awards dinner Sunday, Jan. TBA 2023; 6 p.m., 12th annual, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team honor ordinary, unsung citizens who do amazing things in our community. Each hero receives a check for $500 to continue doing the good work they are doing. Nomination period is Jan. 1-10. JustinRudd.com/heroes • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024: 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Sock-It-To-‘Em sock drive for the homeless Jan. 1-31, 2024; 22nd annual. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) hold an annual collection of new pairs of socks with a goal to collect 20,000 pairs for area homeless men, women, and youth. The socks are distributed to area agencies. Most requested are men’s black crew socks. Wish lists at JustinRudd.com/target and JustinRudd.com/amazon JustinRudd.com/socks • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, 10 a.m., or arrive at 9:30 to get a head start, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. Rain or shine. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Bulldog Beauty Contest & Haute Dogs Contests Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, 9 a.m - noon, 18th annual, concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave., at Rosie's Dog Beach, 9 a.m. til noon. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) host this event billed as one of the largest annual gathering of English bulldogs in the world. Some of the other contests that day for all breeds/mixes include National Mutt Show, Best in Show, best large dog, and best small dog. The dogs will parade down the red carpet and get judged by real-life beauty queens, all to help raise money for CAT/Haute Dogs and animal welfare causes. $10/advance per dog; free to spectate. Co-sponsored by Port of Long Beach. Register at JustinRudd.com/hautedogs • TBA Long Beach Giving Project Sunday, March, 2023, 6 p.m., 14th annual, Bay Shore Church fellowship hall, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team give $500 cash to about 13 teams of local volunteers, and tasks them to go out and buy goods and services for those in need in the city. And, they have only one week to do the giving. The week concludes with a dinner, and each "giver team" presents what he/she did with the money, in front of their peers and a panel of judges. JustinRudd.com/giving ![]() Sunday, March 10, 2024, 2 p.m., 22nd annual, Bay Shore Church sanctuary, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd's Community Action Team hosts students in grades 3-5 from across North America as they try to spell correctly to win the $1,000 cash prize. JustinRudd.com/bee •$1,000 National Adult Spelling Bee Sunday, March 10, 2024, 4:30 p.m., 18th annual, Bay Shore Church sanctuary, 5100 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd's Community Action Team hosts teens and adults from across North America as they try to spell correctly to win the $1,000 prize, and half of that will go to the speller's favorite charity. JustinRudd.com/adultbee •30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, March 18, 2023, 10 a.m., or arrive at 9:30 to get a head start, 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Long Beach Mom Prom - dance for moms and their kids (combined with Father/Daughter Dance this year) Sunday, March 24, 2024, 4-6 p.m., Youth Center of Bay Shore Church, 5200 E. The Toledo, Belmont Shore. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team host their 8th annual dance that includes live DJ, homemade refreshments, prom photos, dance contests, and the crowning of a prom queen. Early bird tickets are $10/couple, or $20/couple on the weekend of the event. JustinRudd.com/momprom ![]() Sunday, March 24, 2024, 4-6 p.m., 18th annual, Bay Shore Church youth center, 5200 E. The Toledo. Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) host dozens of dads and their little girls for dancing, homemade refreshments, and dance contests. Tunes by a live DJ. Prom-style photos by Woody Woods. Early bird tickets are $5/person before event day, or $10/person/cash at the door on event day. JustinRudd.com/dance • ONE DAY ONLY: Operation Easter Basket April 2, 2023, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Bay Shore Church's youth center, 5100 E. The Toledo. 19th annual. Baskets include items like art supplies, school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and candy and should be valued about $20. Please bring items to donate. Sign up to volunteer at JustinRudd.com/easter • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup Saturday, April 15, 2023, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have been hosting the monthly cleanup since June 1999. Approx. 175 volunteers of all ages attend to help rid the sand of debris, so our beach remains clean and safe. JustinRudd.com/cleanup • Long Beach Touch-A-Truck Sun., May 7, 2023, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 1 Granada Ave. This 7th annual event is free, and it's CAT's largest event with about 6,000 kids of all ages who get to sit in the drivers' seats. It is hosted by Justin Rudd, his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT), the Port of Long Beach and Councilwoman Kristina Duggan. About 100 large vehicles are expected to be stationed in the beachfront parking lot. Come climb aboard and explore. Some of previous years' vehicles included a street sweeper, garbage truck, cement mixers, a John Deere tractor, firetrucks, 18-wheelers, police cars, motorcycles, a city bus, cranes, forklift, and more. Free tickets available: JustinRudd.com/truck • 30-Minute Beach Cleanup |