Holiday Tree -December 5th 2025

This holiday season in Long Beach, something truly special took shape—born from the shoreline, shaped by young hands, and rooted in community spirit.

The Long Beach Arts Council and LB Clean Up came together to celebrate the holidays in a way that reflects the heart of our city: honoring our ocean, uplifting creativity, and creating lasting memories for our youngest residents.

Throughout the fall, LB Clean Up collected seashells from our local beaches—natural treasures shaped by the rhythm of the Atlantic. Instead of letting these shells simply return to the sand, the Arts Council helped give them a second life through art and imagination.

These collected seashells were distributed to two of our local elementary schools—East Elementary School and Lindell Elementary School—where art teachers guided students in transforming them into beautiful holiday ornaments. With paint and boundless creativity, the children turned each shell into a one-of-a-kind work of art.

The finished ornaments now adorn the City of Long Beach Christmas tree, proudly displayed as symbols of collaboration, sustainability, and joy. Each shell tells a story—of the beach, of teamwork, of creativity, and of a moment in time when children were invited to contribute to something larger than themselves.

More than decorations, these ornaments represent memories made: hands busy with paint, classrooms filled with laughter, and a shared sense of pride knowing their artwork would be part of the city’s holiday celebration.

This project beautifully captures what Long Beach does best—bringing together environmental stewardship, the arts, and education to strengthen community bonds. We are deeply grateful to LB Clean Up, our dedicated art teachers, and the incredible students who helped make this holiday season sparkle with meaning.

From our beach to our classrooms to our city tree—this is Long Beach holiday magic. ✨🌊🎄