The percussive beat of Samba da Alegria led by Neil Bost helped members of the Samba Parade move around the Arcata Plaza on Sunday. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
“Rise Up!” was the theme for the free and family-friendly 51st annual North Country Fair on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, at the Arcata Plaza. The fair’s organizers said the theme was a reminder “that as a community we can work together to celebrate and advocate for a healthy environment, a vibrant alternative economy and justice for every person and all forms of life.”
The plaza was packed with almost 200 arts and crafts and food vendors, including potter Mark Cortright, of McKinleyville, back in his same location for the 51st year in a row. “Little did I know I would still be doing it after five decades … it’s my only show I do now,” said Cortright. Along with browsing, local bands, dancers and entertainers on three stages and activities for children kept the masses entertained.
A large crowd gathered as usual on Saturday for another All Species Parade of persons dressed in their favorite animal, creature or species costume. The event was started decades ago by the late Tim McKay, director and co-founder of the Northcoast Environmental Center. On Sunday the Samba Parade led by Samba da Alegria and Samba do Mar attracted even more people in the warm sunshine.
“I first attempted the Samba Parade in 2007,” said Danielle Villari Felsenthal, of Arcata. “I learned the choreography but quit before the actual parade because I was scared and intimidated. I remember watching the performers that year and feeling so inspired and committed to the parade for the next year. I have done it every year since, including while pregnant or dancing next to my daughter or drumming alongside my son.”
The North Country Fair was organized by the Same Old People, a nonprofit group of community members dedicated to promoting local arts and crafts, as well as zero waste efforts like using food and drink reusables/refillables and diverting festival waste from going to the landfill. For more information visit northcountryfair.org.
Mark Larson (he/him) is a retired Cal Poly Humboldt journalism professor and active freelance photographer who likes to walk.
Even Bigfoot was carrying this year’s “Rise Up!” theme for the 51st Annual North Country Fair on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, at the Arcata Plaza. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonA large crowd gathered as usual on the Arcata Plaza on Saturday for another All Species Parade of persons dressed in their favorite animal, creature or species costume. The event was started decades ago by the late Tim McKay, director and co-founder of the Northcoast Environmental Center. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAll ages dressed in their favorite animal, creature or species costume joined the All Species Parade on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonEven a jellyfish joined others dressed in their favorite animal, creature or species costume at the All Species Parade on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThis year’s All Species Parade included several persons carrying advocacy signs about environmental issues. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThis jumping spider indeed jumped around as the All Species Parade circled the plaza. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSamba da Alegria’s Neil Bost and Samba do Mar’s Maria Vanderhorst (center) organized a group photo of their musicians and dancers on the lawn of city hall prior to Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSamba da Alegria’s Neil Bost and Samba do Mar’s Maria Vanderhorst (center) organized a group photo of their musicians and dancers on the lawn of city hall prior to Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSamba do Mar’s Maria Vanderhorst (center) began leading her dancers around the plaza in Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSingers and musicians joined Samba do Mar’s dancers as they moved around the plaza in Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of Samba do Mar danced to the beat of Samba da Alegria as they moved around the plaza in Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of Samba do Mar danced to the beat of Samba da Alegria as they moved around the plaza in Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe percussive beat of Samba da Alegria led by Neil Bost helped members of the Samba Parade move around the Arcata Plaza on Sunday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of Samba do Mar danced to the beat of Samba da Alegria as they moved around the Arcata Plaza in Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThese young dancers dressed as Comets followed the adult Star dancers from Samba do Mar as they moved around the Arcata Plaza in Sunday’s Samba Parade. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSoloist Halimah Collingwood and the tie-dyed Redwood Interfaith Gospel Choir, directed by Jim Hubbard (right) and Jenni Simpson, opened Saturday at 10 a.m. followed by other local bands, dancers and entertainers on three stages during the two days of the North Country Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSoloist Yemaya Kimmel and the tie-dyed Redwood Interfaith Gospel Choir performed Saturday morning at the North Country Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSoloist Wilda Thompson and the tie-dyed Redwood Interfaith Gospel Choir performed Saturday morning at the North Country Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe driving rhythms of Tibata got the attendees of the North Country Fair up and dancing on Saturday morning. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonBandemonium performed on the Lawn Stage before some of its members joined the All Species Parade walking around the Arcata Plaza at the North Country Fair on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonElle Penner (left), Ruby Ruth George and Brianna Penner brought their recently formed Harmonic Howl band to the Daydream Stage on Sunday at the North Country Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThese visitors from the moon (Jamie Astrid Hill (left), Caroline Griffith, Gabrielle Bacchus and Jeannie) found themselves on the Arcata Plaza on Saturday in the midst of the North Country Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
Potter Mark Cortright, of McKinleyville, was back in his same location for the 51st year in a row at the North Country Fair. “Little did I know I would still be doing it after five decades…it’s my only show I do now.” Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonFor 25 years in a row, Tara Cooper of Eureka (founder of ‘Ohana Organics) has brought her skincare line of products “made with integrity, sustainability and lots of Aloha” for sale to the North Country Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonArtist and activist Cate Be brought her Garden of Action (in background) and an array of pots and pans to illustrate “Cacerolazo” (Spanish for pan/pot), a form of popular protest that has been adopted by protestors globally which consists of a group of people making noise by banging pots, pans and other utensils to call for attention in an accessible, noisy and non-violent way to voice dissent. It was one of four interactive art exhibitions on the plaza also including the Arcata Playhouse, Centro del Pueblo and Humboldt for Palestine. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
