How do you know when you're dealing with a major, major, major event?
First, over 175,000 people just show up. Second, celebrities from all disciplines participate. And third? There are enough happenings outside the main focus to fill up a bustling, variety-brimmed three-day weekend.
Why yes, good guess: We are in fact speaking of the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which vroom-vrooms and zoom-zooms through the streets of the ocean-close burg from Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13.
Wait -- are three "majors," with one in italics, big enough for the Toyota Grand Prix? Does it need a fourth? Because it is huge. 175,000 people huge. Fast car huge. Huge.
- More Events: NBCLA Mobile App
A host of races, with the luminaries of racing and film, are the street-fast centerpieces, but for tag-along friends not into extreme speed, there's oodles to do off the squeal-wheeled course.
Like? The mega, mega, mega Lifestyle Expo, where "more than 270 displays" draw thousands of lookie-loos into the Convention Center Arena. Alternative energy vehicles, an exhibit detailing Four Decades of Racing in the Streets -- yep, it's a look back at huge Grand Prix times and people -- and electric cars for kid-racing'll all be in the house.
Outside of the expo? Tecate throws a free concert on Friday night, April 11, featuring rock-electronica cool group Kinky. The stage? It's Convention Center-adjacent.
- Images: Celebrity Racers in Long Beach
And food and beverage shall rule the racing roost. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is hosting the Turn One Club, while other eat-and-watch clubs are springing up at other points along the route.
The Scene
Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.
Truth? Given the major, major, mega, mega nature of the motorized proceedings, you can get down with the race action and give the Lifestyle Expo some love. For all of the race/non-race happenings, eye the always helpful, always pdf, always chock-packed-with-info Grand Prix Fan Guide.
