Here on the North Coast, we love our crabs. We named our summer collegiate baseball team after them and have a festival every year celebrating them. However, this year, due to an unstable crab market and unpredictable wintry weather, the Eureka Crab Celebration has been shelved and a new event has taken its place.
Bounty by the Bay, a rolicking, pirate-themed festival that focuses on the many natural and cultural resources Humboldt has to offer, sets sail May 18-19 in and around Historic Old Town Eureka. Eureka Main Street's event includes a Pirate Pub Crawl, a Pirate Run 5k and an all-day festival on the Boardwalk. Shiver me timbers.
On Friday, May 18, roam the storied streets with other scallawags in search of rum and something to soak it up at the Pirate Pub Crawl happening throughout Old Town and downtown bars and restaurants from 5 to 9 p.m. (pay-as-you-go). Come back Saturday, May 19 for an invigorating Pirate Run 5k along the new Humboldt Bay Trail starting at 10 a.m. at F Street Plaza ($10 entry fee). Or settle in for a relaxing afternoon of food, vendors, music, speeder car rides, Madaket cruises and kids' activities at the Bounty by the Bay Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fun stretches from Madaket Plaza all along the boardwalk to F Street Plaza (free admission). Wrap it all up at the Eureka Theater with a special showing of The Goonies (1985) at 5:30 p.m. (free admission, donations welcome).
Don't worry, crab lovers, your Humboldt Crabbies are still set to swing at the Arcata Ballpark starting in June.