The gates have opened — and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is officially underway.

Friday, April 13, marks the start of the 48th iteration of the Grand Prix, with the city’s biggest annual event also taking over downtown on Saturday and Sunday.

Day 1 of “Southern California’s 200-mph beach party,” as the event has been dubbed this year, will mostly feature practice and qualifying runs for the various races that will take place the rest of the weekend. But the first Super Drift Challenge will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Beyond that, race fans can also watch qualifying for the IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix, which will take place Saturday, and Porsche Carrera Cup races that will occur on both Day 2 and Day 3. For a complete schedule, go here.

And in the evening, music fans can also party during Fiesta Friday, returning for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic — with electronic dance music.

Los Angeles DJ Boombox Cartel will be the star at that show, which will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center plaza.

Before then, however, visitors can enjoy plenty of other activities within the Grand Prix concourse.

Guests can check out the Lifestyle Expo at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, which will feature more than 100 retailers featuring automotive, home, recreation, travel and entertainment products.

The expo will also host the NTT IndyCar Series Fan Experience and will be home to the Historic Formula 1, Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Stadium SUPER Trucks series paddocks.

The Convention Center will also have some thrills for the young ones at the Family Fun Zone — boasting inflatables, a bungee jump, a rock-climbing wall and electric-powered cars.

And then there are the tasty treats.

Among the most notable options is the Food Truck Village, where the famished can find some of Southern California’s best cuisine-on-wheels — including Cousins Maine Lobster, Heritage LA Food Truck, SeoulmatesLA and the Deli Doctor.

There’s also Bistro Row, which offers a variety of other food choices and places to sit nearby.

King Taco, a popular Mexican fast-food favorite, will have three different locations around the Grand Prix: One in Vendor Row, another behind Grandstands 24 and 25, and the last at the base of Acura Bridge near Grandstand 29.

And for those who would like to imbibe an adult beverage or two, there are multiple options.

The WhistlePig Sugar Shack, on the Promenade, will offer distinctive cocktails mixed with the brand’s PiggyBack bourbon, rye and barrel-aged maple syrup.

Modelo, meanwhile, will also have two sports bar popups at the Grand Prix — one in Marina Park behind Grandstand 31 and the other on the Promenade.

But folks should make sure to stay hydrated. To help with that, they can buy water that, for the first time, will come in aluminum, reusable containers, one of several sustainability initiatives the Grand Prix has this year. Long Beach’s Quench Buggy will be on-site to offer free water refills.

And hopefully those who show up will be wearing comfortable shoes.

Folks usually have to walk a lot at the Grand Prix — and navigate large crowds.

The Grand Prix, after all, usually attracts at least 180,000 over its three-day run and organizers said previously that ticket sales were trending above last year’s record turnout.

Related links

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“Both our corporate sales (and) our ticket sales have been really strong — and we’re comparing them to last year, which was our best year of the modern era,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.  “So the numbers, if they’re comparable or plus, that’s a very good sign. Everything is coming into shape.”

For those still en route to the Grand Prix — or who haven’t yet left home — and are first-time visitors, fair warning: While fun, the experience can be a bit overwhelming at times.

But don’t worry, we have you covered: You can check out our first-timers guide to the Grand Prix here.

And if you can’t make it this year, but still want to be in the know, you can come back here throughout Friday to read about the most interesting goings-on.

To check out all of our Grand Prix coverage, you can go here.