Community
Friday, September 15, 2023
Celebrate the Fall Equinox and the Un-Damming of the Klamath at this Year's North Country Fair
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Sep 15, 2023 at 4:54 PM
Arcata’s lively fall equinox festival the North Country Fair takes place this weekend filling the plaza with happy revelers on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (free). Celebrate the diversity of the community and season over two days with 170 art and craft vendors, local food and information booths, two parades, three stages of live music, activities for the kids and a lawn performance area. This year’s theme, “Creating the Flow,” is inspired by the un-damming of the Klamath River, truly something to celebrate. The All Species Parade takes place on Saturday, led by the Arcata Playhouse. The annual Samba Parade led by Samba da Alegria takes place on Sunday at 1 p.m. Help keep the party a zero-waste event by bringing your own pint cup for beer and a refillable water bottle.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Photos: Cannifest Manifests
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 3:34 PM
People from all over the U.S. showed up for the Cannifest Humboldt 2023 held last Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9-10, and there were lots of legal smiles on the 21-or-older attendees at the fenced-in Cannabis Festival and Trade Gathering at Eureka’s Halvorsen Park. A long line-up of live and DJ music on two stages provided the afternoon/evening soundtrack. See the slideshow below for highlights.
Attendees could sample cannabis for free or at bargain prices at many vendors, unlike Cannifest here in 2017, when a medical card was needed to partake. The breezes off Humboldt Bay reduced the chances of contact highs at the open-air event, and the few beer venders and Seed Swap Circus areas were fenced off from the cannabis-consumption area.
In addition to the music, the event featured a mix of on-site events and activities, including the Cannifest Bowl Headstash Championship, the Cannabis Marketplace and Lounge, the Makers Market, an Immaculate Seed Swap Circus tent, the Humboldt Grow Games (though no participants showed up on Saturday), the popular Ganja Games, lots of local food vendors and an educators speaker schedule at the amphitheater. Headstash Championship judges worked their way through assigned Top Flower samples from 20-plus competitors.
Friday, September 8, 2023
Cannifest this Weekend at Halvorsen Park
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Cannifest, the Cannabis Festival and Trade Gathering, is back on Humboldt’s famous and fertile soil this weekend, with loads of farmers, makers, vendors and cannabis enthusiasts hashing it out on Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10 at Halvorsen Park ($55-$182.42). There’s lots to see and do, so plan your strain accordingly. Meet local farmers and makers, compete in the Humboldt Grow Games, eat local food and learn from the speakers and practitioners. Musical heavy hitters include Dead Prez, Kabaka Pyramid, Don Carlos, Balkan Bump, Think X: A Tribute to Pink Floyd and a smattering of local bands and DJs keeping the vibe mellow. Ages 21 and up. Get tickets at tixr.com/groups/cannifest/events/cannifest-2023-77025.
Thursday, September 7, 2023
2023 Cruz'n Eureka Car and Motorcycle Show
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Sep 7, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Cruz'n Eureka Car and Motorcycle Show gears up Sept. 7-9 in Eureka (most events are free). A benefit for Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods, it features a poker run, barbecue, a cruise through Old Town, car show and street fair. The fun starts with a Thursday evening Poker Run and Show & Shine event at the Eureka Teen Center, featuring live music by Quartet Noir and Tugboat Charlie’s 12-hour smoked brisket plate dinner ($15 donation). On Friday, check out Recology’s Show & Shine in Henderson Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Meet & Greet BBQ at Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods Teen Center from 4 to 5:30 p.m. followed by the Eureka Chrysler Dodge Jeep FIAT Cruz through Old Town from 6 to 7p.m. On Saturday, enjoy a car show and classic street fair in Old Town with vendors, raffle prizes and event T-shirts for sale. Get full details at bgcredwoods.org/cruz-n-eureka.
Sunday, September 3, 2023
36th Annual I Block Party Happening Monday
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Sun, Sep 3, 2023 at 6:00 AM
This Labor Day, join the festivities at the 36th annual I Block Party taking place Monday, Sept. 4 from noon to 6 p.m. in front of Los Bagels in Arcata. This fun-for-the-whole-family event is a benefit for Arcata’s sister city Camoapa, Nicaragua, where monies raised support education, clean water and humanitarian projects. The party includes live music by Lizzy and the Moonbeams, Citizen Funk and Timbata. There will be local beers and hard cider, as well as an albacore, chicken or tofu barbecued dinner, desserts, a kids’ area, a silent auction and raffle.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Festival of Dreams - Whimsical Fun
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Aug 24, 2023 at 6:00 AM
There’s a new, colorful event happening in Eureka this weekend, “celebrating everything that is whimsical, weird, and wonderful about the community and world we inhabit.” That’s according to the press release for The Festival of Dreams, happening Aug. 25-27 in the Eureka Cultural District (Halvorsen Park and Old Town). The event, developed and funded by the city of Eureka, and organized in partnership with the North Coast Repertory Theatre, features a costume parade through Old Town, a block party hosted by Bella Vita Fire Dance Company and the Festival of Dreams in Halvorsen Park with live music, performances, vendors, food, drink, games and outdoor art installations. There’s even a low-stimulation day to enjoy art in relative peace and quiet. Get the full schedule of events at ncrt.net/festivalofdreams.
Friday, August 18, 2023
59th Annual Klamath Salmon Festival on Saturday
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Aug 18, 2023 at 12:32 PM
The salmon may be absent from the plates this year, but they’ll certainly be in the hearts and minds of all who attend the 59th annual Klamath Salmon Festival taking place Saturday, Aug. 19, starting at 10 a.m. at the Yurok Tribe Headquarters (free to attend). The festival’s theme this year surely makes for one heck of a party: “Celebrating Dam Removal and the Healing of the Klamath River.” This year’s event will have a parade, the Yurok Tribal Court’s Ney-puey Run, cultural demonstrations, stick game, softball and Indian card game tournaments, plus live music, kids’ activities, the Ter-ker-kue’ (valley quail) Travelling Petting Zoo Therapy Animals, an ax-throwing competition and 130 local vendors. Plus, many food options ranging from Indian taco booths to an assortment of food trucks.
Saucy Time in Bridgeville
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Aug 18, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Have a fling at BridgeFest 2023, coming to a small town on earth near you this Saturday, Aug. 19. Gather with friends from near and far from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bridgeville Community Center for the festival’s 27th trip around the sun. Enjoy live music from Attila & the Hunz, Knights of the Van Duzen and Melange, bring the young’uns to have fun in the kidz zone, pick up some homemade pies, check out the plentiful arts and crafts vendors and savor the barbecue. Don your finest alien apparel for the costume contest, take part in the parade, give the flying saucer trials a fling, enter the raffle and more.
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Fair Time!
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Wed, Aug 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM
It’s the time of year just about everyone looks forward to: county fair time! From thrilling rides to live performances, food, contests, showcases and horse racing, there's something to satisfy everyone’s nostalgic jones at the 127th annual Humboldt County Fair. The fair opens its gates for 10 days and nights of fun, running Aug. 17-27 (closed Monday, Aug. 21), noon to 9 p.m. at Humboldt County Fairgrounds (entry: $5-$15, free for kids under 6; $45 carnival ride pass, $5 parking). Highlights this year are the Chili Cook-off on Thursday, Aug. 24 with hometown celebrity chef Guy Fieri hosting, and the 11th annual Ladies Hat Day at the Races on Saturday, Aug. 26. Check humboldtcountyfair.org for complete schedule of events.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Scenes from the Humboldt Obon Festival (Slideshow)
Posted By Mark Larson on Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 11:50 AM
The second annual Humboldt Obon Festival got underway under warm sunshine on Sunday outside the Arcata Playhouse. The festival again drew a large crowd to celebrate traditional Japanese foods, Bon Odori dancing and culture. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors.
In a ceremonial opening after shakuhachi (Japanese flute) music by Rick Kruse, Rinban Gerald Sakamoto, minister for the San Jose Betsuin Buddhist Church, blessed the festival and shared the stories and traditions of Obon. The family-friendly event featured two energetic Totoro, a spirit altar to honor ancestors, food vendors with Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, children’s activities, music, traditional Japanese Bon Odori folk dancing (in a circle, rather than a line) and Humboldt Taiko drumming with Gary Ronne and special guests from San Jose Taiko.
For more information about the tradition of Obon and the organizer (Humboldt Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI)), see hapihumboldt.org.
In a ceremonial opening after shakuhachi (Japanese flute) music by Rick Kruse, Rinban Gerald Sakamoto, minister for the San Jose Betsuin Buddhist Church, blessed the festival and shared the stories and traditions of Obon. The family-friendly event featured two energetic Totoro, a spirit altar to honor ancestors, food vendors with Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, children’s activities, music, traditional Japanese Bon Odori folk dancing (in a circle, rather than a line) and Humboldt Taiko drumming with Gary Ronne and special guests from San Jose Taiko.
For more information about the tradition of Obon and the organizer (Humboldt Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI)), see hapihumboldt.org.
