Parents are invited to bring their kidlets to the "First Annual Kidlantic Summer Camp Fair" at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.) where four Bixby Knolls area businesses -- Averyboo Arts, Chef Tech Cooking School, Digital Revolution, and Jammin' Music & Arts -- will showcase summertime activities for kids (details below):

In addition, tonight's First Friday will present pioneering Long Beach urban farmers whose raw ingredients will be turned into creative and tasty delights by chefs at selected Bixby Knolls restaurants in special districts along Atlantic Ave. (details below.)

At the Expo Arts Center (from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.), parents and kids can preview some of the activities coming this summer to Bixby Knolls:

• Art workshops at Averyboo Arts
• Cooking camps at Chef Tech
• Filmmaking classes at Digital Revolution
• "Music & the Mind" music and academic enrichment camps at Jammin’ Music & Arts.
• Other local businesses -- Bundts on Melrose, Long Beach Creamery and Mo's Place will also be hand.

"Where can kids learn to play an instrument, learn how to cook, learn how to make their own movies, and how to draw and paint, all in one half mile stretch? They can do it all this summer at the businesses on Atlantic Avenue," says Kerri Hikida, Director of Operations at Jammin' Music & Arts. "This fair is a great opportunity for families to discover unique and affordable summer activities right down the street in Long Beach," adds Stefanie Puente of Digital Revolution.

Meanwhile, in special districts along Atlantic Ave., selected restaurants will offer Long Beach-grown fruits and vegetables with items ranging from edible flowers to habanero honey, stuffed Long Beach cabbage, Long Beach parsley and mint in tabouli and medleys of fresh Long Beach root vegetables.

Long Beach Fresh says there'll also be "extreme" county fair-style food: Georgie's Place will fry up Oreos, candy bars and Twinkies, local/seasonal restaurant the Factory Gastrobar will offer "the World's Spiciest Burger Invitational" and farm-to-fork Long Beach caterer Primal Alchemy will have a savory BBQ chicken chili over sweet corn pudding with grilled corn salsa and crema fresca and a candied black pepper beignet with apple cinnamon cider syrup & confectioners sugar.

And the BKBIA says there'll also be animals, including a goat petting zoo, Reptile World exhibit (displaying some cold blooded creatures) and the presentation of two local bee hives [!] from the Bixby Bees and Honey Pacifica (with a honey tasting bar provided).

Also highlighted will be displays showing early ranch life at Rancho Los Cerritos, Aquaponics demonstrations, Rockview Farms, displays by LBCAP Spring Street Farm, Localism and Beachgreens and more.

Organizers also promise music by multiple bands, in-store events and demonstrations, art shows, parties and surprises.

There are more details at this link. T

It's all happening tonight along Atlantic Ave. from Bixby Rd. to San Antonio Drive. Further info is at this link.