Beginning in mid-October, travelers can fly non-stop between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Long Beach Airport (LGB) on JetBlue. The award-winning airline will add two daily flights between SFO and LGB on October 18; on November 2, a third daily flight will be incorporated into the schedule as well. Effective November 2, there will be departures from SFO at 7am, 11am and 4 pm. Returning flights from LGB will depart at 9am, 2pm and 6pm. Fares start at $49 one-way and include all the perks JetBlue customers love, such as unlimited free snacks. For more information, visit the JetBlue website.

The 21st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival is happening this weekend. Today.com’s Long Beach Blog has the details here, or see the Jazz Festival website.

The 75th Annual Great Sand Sculpture Contest and Youth Bay Day make their return to Long Beach on Saturday, August 9, 2008. Beginning at 9:00 am, teams of sand castle builders will turn their creative juices into sand architecture. Long Beach Parks and Recreation will also be bringing more than 900 students to enjoy a day of fun at the beach. The festivities will be centered by the Granada Launch Ramp; registration for sand castle teams begins at 8:00 am and the sand creations can be viewed between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

A Long Beach icon, Acres of Books, is bidding its last farewell to the city. After a long history in Long Beach, the landmark used bookstore will shortly be shutting its doors once and for all. A massive store closing sale is to be held beginning at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 17, 2008. With everything priced to sell, you’re sure to find a deal that can’t be passed up.

Acres of Books is located at 240 Long Beach Boulevard.

Want to pull a plane? On Saturday, August 16, 2008, the Long Beach Airport will be hosting the 2nd Annual Special Olympics Plane Pull. This popular event is your opportunity to pull a 155,000 lb. FedEx 727-200 airplane on the airport’s tarmac, while raising money for a worthy charity! Put together a team of your strongest friends and you could win this good-natured competition. Prizes will be awarded to the fastest and slowest teams.

For more information, contact Maricela de Rivera, Airport Public Affairs Assistant, at (562) 570-2674 or maderiv@longbeach.gov.

To register visit www.socalplanepull.com and click on “Register Now.”

Click here to view the So Cal Plane Pull Flyer.

Shakespeare by the Sea will be presenting Antony & Cleopatra at Bluff Park in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 16 at 7 pm. The oceanfront event is fun and free, perfect for a family activity. Come early and enjoy a picnic before the show begins. Don’t forget to bring a low chair or blanket for seating.

Shakespeare by the Sea performs in Los Angeles and Orange County every summer. For more information and a full calendar of events, please visit www.shakespearebythesea.org.

The Long Beach Sea Festival is presenting its annual Moonlight Movie Series; shows will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings between July 8 and August 27, 2008. The movies will begin at dusk (approximately 8pm) at Cherry Beach and Granada Beach. For movie schedule and directions, please visit alfredosbeachclub.com.

The Queen Mary and Gridlock present an extraordinary 4th of July celebration with festivities featuring live performances from some of today’s most popular artists and DJ’s, carnival rides with games and one of California’s largest firework shows. VIP accommodations are also available and include access to the Starlight Viewing Lounge, which will host an open food buffet and sponsored Vodka & Champagne Bar. With an outside private deck, the VIP area is the premiere location for firework viewing.**

* Event Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
* Firework Show: 9:00 p.m. sharp
* Event Admission: Adults: $44.95, Children: $21.95 (ages 5-12), children under 5 years old are free*
* VIP Admission: $94.95

*Parking not included in admission prices.

**Early arrival to event is strongly encouraged. With the high volume of people attending the event, traffic is likely to build in the later afternoon hours. Please arrive no later that 4:00pm to ensure that you get into the event timely and without hassle.

VIP ticket includes cut-in-the-line privileges for all carnival rides! The VIP dinner buffet is from 7:00–9:00pm
Performers for the evening include:

* Surprise Multi-Platinum Artist after Fireworks Show
* Ray J performing Live
* Colby O’Donis performing Live
* Special Guests “Girlicious”

Over 15 Local Bands and DJs including:

* Warner Drive
* Leah Turner
* The Transfer
* Check One Two
* Lauren Mayhew
* Jason Winkler Band
* RORY
* Metal Shop
* The Boogie Nights Band
* Double Wide
* The Spazmatics

Tickets available at Queen Mary July 4th Celebration Tickets available at Want Tickets www.wantickets.com. Please print out your receipt with your online purchase as you will be required to show it at the entrance of the event for faster entrance into the property. Pre-purchase strongly encouraged.

Long Beach Transit will be operating its Museum Express this June through August, transporting guests in air-conditioned buses to popular Southern California museum attractions. Destinations include the Richard Nixon Library & Museum, Irvine Museum of Art, Getty Center, Ronald Reagan Library & Museum, LA County Museum of Art and the Griffith Park Observatory. Round trip fare from Long Beach is only $6; this does not include your museum admission. To learn more about museum destinations and dates available, please visit www.lbtransit.com.

On May 31 and June 1, 2008, 145 years after the initial fight, the Battle of Gettysburg will be recreated at El Dorado Regional Park East during the Long Beach Civil War Re-Enactment. Hundreds of uniformed combatants from the North and South will recreate the epic conflict of the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg. This is one of the premiere re-enactments in the western states with some of the largest re-enactment groups in California.

Visitors will be given a first-hand experience of the sights and sounds of America’s most costly war, including cavalry charges, artillery barrages and infantry assaults, along with the field provisions, cooking tools, music and crafts from the era.

WHEN:
Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1, 2008

TIME:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day

WHERE:
El Dorado Regional Park East – Long Beach
7550 E. Spring St (605 Freeway exit Spring Street West)

EVENTS:
Camps Open — North & South — 10:00 am
Battles will take place at 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm both days
Artillery, infantry, cavalry and historic presentations throughout the day

SPONSOR:
Vision In Time Foundation Inc. (501c3)

MEDIA:
Tracy Marks 619-203-6468
Erica Barnett 619-206-1122

ADMISSION:
Adults $10
Seniors (62+) $8
Children 11 and under $5
4 & under free

Park admission & event parking $7

MORE INFO:
Gold Coast Festivals Inc. (805) 496-6036