The rather obvious thing about a sleek race car zipping by you on a street normally reserved for day-to-day traffic is this: It's pretty hard to look in any other direction.
That's what captivates the tens of thousands of fans who attend the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach each year, those ferociously fast vehicles taking turns and twists near Shoreline Park and Rainbow Lagoon that lend the top-notch speed showdown its international reputation (that reputation being, in short, the place to see some extreme street circuit action and the pros who can deliver).
But should you attend the April 15 through 17 odometer-awesome extravaganza, and you find yourself not looking at the cars for a moment, you may be looking at the many booths of the Lifestyle Expo, where well over a hundred exhibitors will set up shop.
Or you could be looking at a concert, as shows will take the big Long Beach Performing Arts Center's Terrace Theater stage on both April 15 and 16. The Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert features Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible," while the Saturday performance features Cheap Trick.
As for the forever bustling Family Fun Zone? Look for "rock climbing walls, games, video games and racing simulators" as well as "action sports demonstrations."
Every devotee does the Grand Prix in their own way, with a mix of food, sunshine, speedy machines, and a little expo or concert time, too. What will your perfect combo be? Just glance away from the whooshing cars, for half a sec, to plan your weekend in the stands and at the other off-the-street to-dos of the Toyota Grand Prix.
