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    Event emcee and deejay Fred Oystair picked up his order of Humboldt Bay Oysters from Maggie White.
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    Festival volunteers Shannon Maciel and Steve Spain helped greet arrivals at the plaza and helped transform cash into drink tokens this year.
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    Alanna Powell, executive director of Humboldt Made, offered some Humboldt Bay-grown (naturally) oysters to Mason Saveliff, of McKinleyville.
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    Juan Avellaneda (left), Frank Mele and Justin Mojonnier handled grill duties for Hog Island Oysters.
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    Photobombed by a giant puppet from Arcata Playhouse on the Arcata Plaza.
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    James Hildebrandt, of Arcata and the Arcata Playhouse, danced with his skeleton puppet to the live music on the Arcata Plaza.
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    What to do with thousands of empty oyster shells? Volunteer Dan Tangney (also an Oyster Festival Board member) helped thousands of attendees used the correct recycling bin for recyclables, trash and a compost bin for the oyster shells. The shells will be crushed and used to help cover trails in the city forest.
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    Members of the Humshuckers (Zack Mathiu, left, of Eureka, and Stephan Park, of McKinleyville) were back after four consecutive wins to defend their title in the oyster Shuck-n-Swallow Contest.
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    The Humshuckers celebrate their fifth consecutive win in the oyster Shuck-n-Swallow Contest. Each team started with 48 oysters; the second-place team still had 18 oysters to shuck and suck when Mathiu and Park finished their 48.
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    A never-ending supply of fluids and electrolytes kept thousands in attendance refreshed at the Oyster Festival.
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    Tens of thousands of locally produced oysters met their fate at the 27th annual Oyster Festival.
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    Humboldt Bay Oyster volunteers wore T-shirts and aprons with logos from past several years.
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    Humboldt County 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn volunteered his skills with Humboldt Bay Oysters’ massive barbecue racks.
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    Local newscaster David Silverbrand, who still collects royalties from his small role in the movie “Outbreak,” which was filmed in Ferndale, offered incentives to participants in the Oyster-Calling Contest: His autographed photo attached to trophies and medals.
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    Bryan Sian, 16, of Eureka, was a crowd favorite in the Oyster-Calling Contest (13-17-year-old category) with his innovative use of technology: “Siri … call an oyster!”
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    “Amaranth” (age unknown but we can guess hometown was Blue Lake) won the adult category in the Oyster-Calling Contest.
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    The Bayou Swamis (including Marla Joy on guitar in photo) were one of five live bands rocking out on the Arcata Plaza stage during the Oyster Festival.
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    Karen Echegaray, of Eureka, took a break from her work with Butterfly Body Art in the Family Fun Zone to rock out with live music by the Bayou Swamis on the Arcata Plaza.