Hundreds of people stepped back in time and celebrated summer in Long Beach at Rancho Los Cerritos’ Fiesta del Rancho on Saturday, July 11.
The festival welcomed visitors to explore regional history through era-themed activations, live performances, local food vendors and family-friendly activities.
Different areas of the historic Long Beach landmark were set up with immersive reenactments that represented key eras in the rancho’s history, from cattle and sheep ranching to the 1930s, organizers said. The reenactments were paired with games and crafts that fit each era.
Visitors also explored the adobe home and gardens, visited the current exhibition “Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano,” and enjoyed lawn games, crafts and hands-on activities across the rancho.
Guests enjoyed food and beverages from local restaurants and vendors such as Tony’s Kitchen, Battambong BBQ, Dutch’s Brewhouse, Cali Cuisine, Very Berry Sweets Co., and Rene’s Churros. Carina Lavin from Generous Earth Co. also did a free demonstration on indigenous foods centered around the acorn, where people ground acorns and learned about their culinary uses.
Live entertainment included Long Beach indie folk rock band Fine Folk, known for rich acoustic instrumentation and poetic lyrics, as well as Bread & Butter performing jazz standards and boleros inspired by the sounds of the 1930s and 1940s.
