Members of North Coast Dance rocked red, white and blue costumes and danced at the gazebo stage at Second and F streets at 1 p.m. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Old Town was full of July 4 revelers during Eureka Main Street’s holiday street fair on Saturday. Folks wound through vendor booths, information tables and food stalls, and tapped toes and danced to the music on spread out stages. The gazebo served as a backdrop to dancers and bagpipers alike as performances peppered the afternoon. Things also got messy with a kids’ whipped cream pie-eating contest and a watermelon-eating contest that ended in a tie-breaking applause finish.
Uncle Sam (Mike Jones) joined the Humboldt Bay Fire Honor Guard (Matt Dennis, at left, Michael Porter, John Goodman and Rebecca Ciszewski) for a photo op at Clarke Plaza after the opening ceremony. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Fireworks to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, however, went off earlier than its usual 10 p.m. start as planned and announced. In a Facebook post, the city of Eureka apologized for “an oversight in our contract with the pyrotechnics company” that led to the show opening at 9:30 p.m., leaving many who missed it disappointed. “We know many people planned their evening around the posted time, and we understand the disappointment of those who missed all or part of the fireworks display because of our error,” the post continued. “We sincerely regret that experience.”
Nick Venema and Thelma McFarland, of Eureka, were dressed up in red, white and blue jackets as they boarded the speeder car for a ride on First Street offered by the Timber Heritage Association. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Photographer Mark Larson was on hand for the daytime fun, more photos of which you can see at northcoastjournal.com.
The Humboldt Highlanders Pipe Band kitted out in kilts at the gazebo in Old Town during the street fair on July 4. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonParticipants in Eureka Main Street’s whipped cream Pie Eating Contest demonstrated a variety techniques in the three-minute competition in the Game and Activitiy Zone. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAfter the honor guard ceremony, Clarke Plaza and E Street between Second and Third streets was busy with DJ music and a touch-a-truck zone popular with children. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe July Fourth celebration in Eureka began with the Humboldt Bay Fire Honor Guard Ceremony at Clarke Plaza, followed by Brad Curtis singing the national anthem and a loud, low flyover by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonYoung & Lovely (Elle and Brianna Penner) kicked off the music at the gazebo stage at Second and F streets in Old Town. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe stage at Second and C streets opened at 10:30 a.m. with the band A Banjo Makes 3. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonEureka Main Street organized a Best Dressed contest and Marcus Gooch (far right), of Eureka, joined the other competitors dressed in red, white and blue. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonZoltar the fortune teller watched over the always popular Fourth of July book sale outside Eureka Books in Old Town. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonKristen Collins, president of Eureka Main Street, sprinkled on the finishing touches for the Pie Eating Contest. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSeven eager children showed up and tried to eat as much whipped cream and crust as possible in three minutes during Eureka Main Street’s whipped cream Pie Eating Contest. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSeveral children and three adults awaited the delivery of their watermelon for Eureka Main Street’s eating contest. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonElaine was impressed with the size of her serving in Eureka Main Street’s Watermelon Eating Contest. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe participants in the Eureka Main Street’s Watermelon Eating Contest, including Jeron and Elaine on the right, tried to eat as much as they could in three minutes. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe participants in the Eureka Main Street’s Watermelon Eating Contest, including Jeron and Elaine right, tried to eat as much as they could in three minutes. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonA virtual tie after three minutes led to an audience poll to determine the winner in Eureka Main Street’s Watermelon Eating Contest. Jeron, on the left, received the most votes. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of the Mainstage’s cast of Annie sang and danced at the gazebo stage at 1 p.m. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of North Coast Dance rocked red, white and blue costumes and danced at the gazebo stage at Second and F streets at 1 p.m. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of North Coast Dance rocked red, white and blue costumes for their holiday number. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe dance performance by members of Main Stage Humboldt’s Young Performers Company attracted a large crowd to the gazebo area during the July 4 street fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonA bagpiper from the Humboldt Highlanders Pipe Band performed by the gazebo in Old Town during the Fourth of July street fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe distinctive sound of bagpipes and drums filled the gazebo stage area in Old Town as the Humboldt Highlanders Pipe Band performed at 12:30 p.m. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonVendors and information booths lined Second Street from the intersections of C Street to G Street during the Fourth of July street fair in Eureka. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonFace painter Lela Annotto used a steadying hand as she created a dragon face on this young boy at the Fourth of July street fair in Eureka hosted by Eureka Main Street. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
