Press Release
Merry Everything on 2nd Street: Candified Makes Belmont Shore Long Beach's Sweetest Holiday Destination
Gingerbread Beach House builds (we provide everything!) and free weekly Storybook & Cocoa mornings — steps from the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade and the Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade
BELMONT SHORE, LONG BEACH, Calif. – November 10, 2026 – Looking for things to do in Long Beach this holiday season? Candified, the interactive candy wonderland at 5334 E. 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, is turning the holidays into a full-day family destination. From now through December 31, families can build Gingerbread Beach Houses with everything provided, make candy crafts and DIY gifts, shop stocking stuffers and holiday candy, and join a new free weekly Storybook & Cocoa morning for little ones.
Candified is led by Jackie Sorkin, “The Candy Queen,” star of Hulu’s “Candified: Home for the Holidays,” and Co-Founder “Amazing Amy” Kavanaugh Mason. This season they invite Long Beach and Orange County families to make Candified their home base for Belmont Shore’s biggest holiday traditions.
Holiday sessions fill fast. Book a Gingerbread Beach House or reserve a free Storybook & Cocoa spot today at www.itscandified.com/create.
Make a Day of It: Belmont Shore's Holiday Calendar
Candified sits right on 2nd Street, so families can pair a craft session or holiday party with the neighborhood’s best-loved Long Beach holiday events.
| Event | Date & time | Make it a Candified day |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business Saturday: Shop the Shore | Sat., Nov. 28, from 8 AM (free parking all day) | Free Storybook & Cocoa kickoff at 11 AM, plus stocking stuffers and holiday gifts |
| 42nd Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, “Light Up the Night!” | Sat., Dec. 5, 6–9 PM, east on 2nd St. from Quincy Ave. to Bayshore Ave. | Build a Gingerbread Beach House in the afternoon, grab treats, then find your curb spot. Candified is open 10 AM–10 PM on parade day |
| Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade | Sat., Dec. 12, 7–8 PM | Sweet treats to go before the lighted boats circle the Naples canals |
Parade details: Belmont Shore Business Association, BSBA events, Visit Long Beach.
New This Year: Storybook & Cocoa Wednesdays
Inspired by library story time, Candified is launching a free weekly holiday story hour for little ones starting on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, then every Wednesday in December, all at 11 AM (Nov. 28; Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23). Kids gather in the Candified Creators’ Studio for a holiday picture book read aloud by “Amazing Amy” and The Candy Queen, a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and a candy cane stir stick, and a sweet surprise to take home. Best for ages 2–6, siblings welcome, with a grown-up staying for each child; space is limited, so families can reserve at www.itscandified.com/create.
Book line-up (one per week):
| Date | Book | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 28 (kickoff) | Pete the Cat Saves Christmas — Eric Litwin | Sing-along fun to launch the series |
| Wed., Dec. 2 | Gingerbread Baby — Jan Brett | Kicks off gingerbread house season |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | The Polar Express — Chris Van Allsburg | Pajama morning: golden tickets, hot cocoa, a jingle bell for each child |
| Wed., Dec. 16 | How to Catch Santa — Adam Wallace | Silly, interactive, great for ages 3–6 |
| Wed., Dec. 23 | ’Twas the Night Before Christmas — Clement C. Moore | Classic for the last week before Christmas |
Festive Creation Stations: Holiday Crafts and Gingerbread House Decorating in Long Beach
Book any station at www.itscandified.com/create.
NEW: Gingerbread Beach Houses · $49
Starting Nov. 16. A beachy twist on the gingerbread house. We provide everything: the house, icing, marshmallows and tons of holiday candy to decorate.
Christmas Cookie Pizza · $34
A giant cookie covered in icing and holiday candy.
Christmas Geode Cookies · $34
Sparkling crystal-candy “geode” cookies in holiday colors.
Christmas Candy Kebabs · $34
Holiday candy kebabs to give as gifts or eat yourself.
Candy Sushi & Sashimi Bento Boxes · $34
Roll realistic candy sushi and sashimi, then pack your own bento box.
Candy Mosaic · $34
Build a candy Christmas tree mosaic, one sweet piece at a time.
DIY Custom Swag · $34
Paint your own holiday tote bag or bucket hat.
Christmas Slime · $34
Mix up your own sparkly holiday slime.
Christmas Glamified · $39
Make your own glittery holiday lip gloss and glam.
Holiday Gifts, Stocking Stuffers and Candy Delivery
Candified’s shop is stocked with holiday candy, stocking stuffers, gifts and toys. Can’t make it in? Order Candified candy for delivery on Grubhub: order on Grubhub.
A Word from the Founders
“The holidays in Belmont Shore are pure magic, with the parade, the boats and the lights on 2nd Street,” said Jackie Sorkin, The Candy Queen and Co-Founder of Candified. “We want Candified to be the sweet stop that makes the whole day feel like a holiday movie.”
“Merry Everything means everyone is welcome,” said “Amazing Amy” Kavanaugh Mason, Co-Founder of Candified. “Whether it’s a toddler at Storybook & Cocoa or a family building their first Gingerbread Beach House, we’re here to make joy easy to find this season.”
Celebrate at Candified
The Candified Creators’ Studio hosts birthday parties, holiday parties, team building and office get-togethers. See packages at www.itscandified.com/celebrate. Want Candified to come to you? Book Fun Food Catering at www.itscandified.com/catering.
About Candified
Candified is an interactive retail candy wonderland on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, Long Beach, where imagination, creative play and candy art create outrageous moments of joy. SHOP • CREATE • CELEBRATE. Visit 5334 E. 2nd Street, Long Beach, CA 90803, or www.itscandified.com.
Press Contact: Candified PR · (562) 588-9008 · Media@itscandified.com