During a lion dance performance at the Chinese Festival in Eureka, children presented the lion dancers with lettuce which the lion dancers "ate" and then "spit" the lettuce out onto the audience. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
The end of the year always feels like a mad scramble here at the Journal. It’s one reason we’re grateful to have Mark Larson’s annual archive to share with readers and to fathom the timeline of the past 365 days for ourselves. As a photographer (and a human), his eye is drawn to boisterous community gatherings and quiet moments in the natural world, to whimsy and drama. Here is a sample of his chronicling of our county in its plays, protests and people.
Grab a beverage and play the full slideshow at northcoastjournal.com for a look back. It always makes us a little more hopeful looking forward.
These costumed participants performed a Perilous Plunge for a good cause – raising money for the Redwood Discovery Museum by jumping into a chilly Humboldt Bay on Saturday, March 29.
Awards: Grand Poohbahs: Eric Stackpole and Winston Papstein Team Royalty: Redwood Quackital Bank Special Recognition: Team Wonderglow Rookie of the Year: Alexis Hildebrandt Distinguished Plunger: Stephanie Carter Best Jump: Tyler Graham and Jennifer White Best Group Jump: Coast Central Doowop Dippers Best costume: J&G Lawn & Gardeners Best Team Costume: Corcoran Icon House Hunters Kayak Judges Award: Raine Kates AKA Goosetoph’s Epic Swim
Total Raised: $31,310 Awards: Grand Poohbahs: Eric Stackpole and Winston Papstein Team Royalty: Redwood Quackital Bank Special Recognition: Team Wonderglow Rookie of the Year: Alexis Hildebrandt Distinguished Plunger: Stephanie Carter Best Jump: Tyler Graham and Jennifer White Best Group Jump: Coast Central Doowop Dippers Best costume: J&G Lawn & Gardeners Best Team Costume: Corcoran Icon House Hunters Kayak Judges Award: Raine Kates AKA Goosetoph’s Epic Swim
Total Raised: $31,310 Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonPastels on the Plaza had many talented artists willing to kneel on concrete for hours creating their amazing pastels-on-concrete art as a fundraiser benefit for the Northcoast Children’s Services on Saturday. This artist created a memorial tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonPastels on the Plaza featured many talented artists willing to kneel on concrete for hours creating their amazing pastels-on-concrete art as a fundraiser benefit for the Northcoast Children’s Services on Saturday. An artist created this pastel-chalk portrait in memory of the late Kathy Montagne (long-time head of NCS). Credit: Photo by Mark Larson“Papaya Lounge: Supernatural(s)” at Dell’Arte’s Carlo Theatre in Blue Lake starred comedians Sarah McKinney, as Velvet Q. Jones, the buxom and busy host with very big hair and even bigger singing voice; Alyssa Hughlett, as Velvet’s frumpy, non-sexual life partner Nancy Schwartz; and Janessa Johnsrude, as Velvet’s personal bartender, psychologist, chaos coordinator and witch-best friend Musty Beaver. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson“Papaya Lounge: Supernatural(s)” at Dell’Arte’s Carlo Theatre in Blue Lake starred comedians Sarah McKinney, as Velvet Q. Jones, the buxom and busy host with very big hair and even bigger singing voice; Alyssa Hughlett, as Velvet’s frumpy, non-sexual life partner Nancy Schwartz; and Janessa Johnsrude, as Velvet’s personal bartender, psychologist, chaos coordinator and witch-best friend Musty Beaver. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson“Papaya Lounge: Supernatural(s)” at Dell’Arte’s Carlo Theatre in Blue Lake starred comedians Sarah McKinney, as Velvet Q. Jones, the buxom and busy host with very big hair and even bigger singing voice; Alyssa Hughlett, as Velvet’s frumpy, non-sexual life partner Nancy Schwartz; and Janessa Johnsrude, as Velvet’s personal bartender, psychologist, chaos coordinator and witch-best friend Musty Beaver. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonDuring Saturday’s North Coast Open Studios, pottery artist Peggy Loudon paused next to a kiln that she’ll be loading in a few days at her Arcata studio to create her latest wheel-thrown, high-fired ceramic project. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonArtist Linda Mitchell displayed work, including her own, from 13 local women artists at the Mitchell Gallery in Eureka on First Friday Art Night during North Coast Open Studios. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonPainter Alan Sanborn, Arcata, began a new water color in the good light falling over his workspace at home in Arcata on First Friday Art Night, North Coast Open Studios. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe 4th annual Obon Humboldt Festival on Sunday in Arcata included traditional Bon odori folk dancing with a live local band playing for a few songs. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe 4th annual Obon Humboldt Festival on Sunday in Arcata featured a performance by the local Taiko Drummers. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe 4th annual Obon Humboldt Festival on Sunday in Arcata featured a performance by the local Taiko Drummers. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMushroom Fair poster-designer Charlie Wheat (on right in her Clathrus ruber mushroom helmet) also made the the Porpolomopsis calyptriformis mushroom hat worn by Ashlie Pitchform that Wheat featured on the poster and t-shirt. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonTopher Reynolds organized Humboldt Marble Weekend 2025 for glass marble artists and collectors in Eureka. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonTopher Reynolds organized the Humboldt Marble Weekend 2025 for glass marble artists and collectors in Eureka. The first 90 finishers of Sunday’s Photographic-Scavenger Hunt won these marble prizes purchased from the artists participating in Humboldt Marble Weekend. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe Magic in the Redwoods 2025 Saturday tournament in Arcata started at 11 a.m. with 102 participants in a Swiss-system non-eliminating tournament format featuring seven rounds of competition that pairs competitors so that each competitor plays opponents with a similar running score, but not the same opponent twice. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonArtist Emily Cook created the Magic in the Redwoods game mat with Bigfoot wearing Pedro’s hat for the Magic in the Redwoods 2025 Saturday tournament in Arcata. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonLove’s The Best Doctor, adapted and directed by Michael Fields from the play by Moliere, opened at the start of the 35th annual Baduwa’t Festival in Blue Lake.
Sganarelle (David Ferney), father of Lucinde, is entangled with Clitandre (Evan Grande), lover of Lucinde, as Clitandre plans to help Lucinde find her way away from her father. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonLove’s The Best Doctor, adapted and directed by Michael Fields from the play by Moliere, opened at the start of the 35th annual Baduwa’t Festival in Blue Lake.
Lisette (Cynthia Martells), housekeeper to Sganarelle, intervenes in the conflict between Sganarelle and his daughter Lucinde (Victoria Timoteo), comforts her and then comes up with a plan to help her find a creative path forward in love and life. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonWritten and directed by Michael Fields, The Logger Legends, Liars and Lookers featured a veteran ensemble that includes, Cynthia Martels, Lily Rich, David Powell, Alex Blouin, William English III, Zera Starchild, Wilda Thompson, Shawn Wagner, Jeff Landen and Biscuit the bar dog. The band included: Marla Joy, Tim Randles, Jeff Kelley and Mike Labolle. The scenography was by Lynnie Horrigan and light design by Michael Foster.
Longshadr Productions is a production company started by Michael Fields in 2020 when he retired from Dell’Arte. The name references the long shadows that are cast in the winter when the sun dips to the horizon behind the hill and the dark of the days become longer until the light of late spring. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAt the noon whistle, Kinetic Grand Championship racers began their laps around the plaza before heading west to the Samoa dunes and the Pacific Ocean beach…and then into Eureka and end of Day 1. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAt the noon whistle, Kinetic Grand Championship racers began their laps around the plaza before heading west to the Samoa dunes and the Pacific Ocean beach…and then into Eureka and end of Day 1. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAt the noon whistle, Ghoul Scout Pine Box Derby’s pilot Malia Penhall and the other Kinetic Grand Championship racers began their laps around the plaza before heading west to the Samoa dunes and the Pacific Ocean beach…and then into Eureka and end of Day 1. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAt the noon whistle, Kinetic Grand Championship racers began their laps around the plaza before heading west to the Samoa dunes and the Pacific Ocean beach…and then into Eureka and end of Day 1. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonKinetic Dream Team pit crew member Christy Wagner was surrounded in bubbles as the team brought their Kinetic Grand Championship vehicle to the start of the race on the Arcata plaza. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonRutabaga Queen Lucy Lips, the newest member of the Kinetic Royal Family, was everywhere at the finish line of the Kinetic Grand Championship in Ferndale. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe finish line for the Kinetic Grand Championship race in Ferndale found Team 111 FLYtLESS arriving in style and eventually being named Grand Champion and given an Ace Medal and Biggest Splash award. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonTattoo artist Ash Franks, of Hidden Veil Tattoo in Chico, added the first of two more tattoos at the Inked Hearts Tattoo Expo in February to Michael Meyer, of Eureka, who was covered with extensive tattoos (the second design can be seen under his left wrist). Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonTattoo artist Karley Andrews, of Boise, Idaho and the Hidden Crow Tattoo shop, paused in her work to respond to an onlooker’s question at the Inked Hearts Tattoo Expo in February. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAccess Humboldt’s Sunshine Week “Illuminate 2025” event at the Eureka Theater included a presentation of the first Ray of Sunshine award to Thad Greenson, editor of the North Coast Journal, by Access Humboldt’s executive director Christina Marie Jeffers.
Organized by Access Humboldt and co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County, the event highlighted how independent media supports good governance and citizen participation. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonA large group of cyclists with butterfly wings on their backs crossed the Kaleidoscope Crossing Bridge (old railroad bridge) over the Eureka Slough on the recently opened section of the Humboldt Bay Trail in Eureka on Aug. 23 as they headed to Arcata as part of Sanctuary Day. Credit: Photoby Mark LarsonThe Dancing Witches filled the center of the Arcata plaza with their closing performance on Halloween. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonFriendly people in creative costumes in search of trick-or-treating candy giveaways from plaza shops filled the Arcata plaza on Halloween. Duane Flatmo was back with another of his original masks. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCannifest 2025 in Eureka on Saturday, Aug. 30 was busy with farmers and vendors of all types…and lots of live music. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCannifest 2025 in Eureka on Saturday, Aug. 30 was busy with farmers and vendors of all types…and good music. The Main Stage on the east end featured Africali, Object Heavy (in photo), Pawpaw Rod , Larussell and Souls of Mischief on Saturday. Sunday included Bella Rayne, Moonalice and the Stringcheese Incident. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMulti-Grammy winner Michael Doucét joined Tom Rigney & Flambeau in a lot of fun together performing their Cajun and American Roots music at the Redwood Coast Music Festival’s closing set Sunday evening at the Adorni Center. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe “Ladies of Song” soloists (Dawn Lambeth (left), Alice Spencer and Valerie Kirchhoff) were featured along with guitar legend Duke Robillard in a late Sunday afternoon set backed by a jazz/swing band led by trumpet player Marc Caparone and several other musicians at the Redwood Coast Music Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonIn Ribbon Roping competition at the Fortuna Rodeo, a rider chases and ropes the escaping steer (with a bright ribbon attached to its tail). The rider’s teammate, on foot and waiting at a distant location in the arena, attempts to run over after the steer is roped and snatch the ribbon from the steer’s tail and and then run with it to the finish line in the timed event. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonLongtime Humboldt Folklife Festival volunteer and emcee Patrick “Bigfoot” Cleary introduced the last performance of the day by the band Kingfoot with Kevin Johnson on bass, Joe King on vocals, ukulele, harmonica and guitar, and Jimmy Foot on guitar and mandolin. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMembers of the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls displayed athletic horsemanship and rope-spinning skills at the Fortuna Rodeo. The performance team from Three Rivers, California has traveled widely to 22 countries around the world and even performed at Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMany of the Saddle Bronc riders at the Fortuna Rodeo were bucked off before the 8-second buzzer sounded for no score in the event. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonBarrel Racing at the Fortuna Rodeo, the premier women’s rodeo event, tests the speed and agility of rider and horse as they run a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels in the fastest time possible. Touching the barrel is a 5-second penalty. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonSaturday afternoon Fortuna Rodeo action got underway with Mutton Busting, a timed rodeo tradition of seeing how long the child can hang on to and ride a lively sheep after it bursts out of the chute. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonAs a brass band provided the soundtrack, an estimated 3,000 No Kings Humboldt protesters filled the steps of the Humboldt County courthouse and then temporarily blockaded 5th Street/Highway 101 from G Street to J Street in Eureka from around noon until 2 p.m. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonChoosing not to carry at sign at the No Kings Humboldt protest at the Humboldt County courthouse in Eureka, talented make-up artist Karen Nicole Echegaray instead created her protest message on her face. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonInspired by seeing inflatable frogs at protests in Portland and elsewhere, attendees in inflatable frog costumes also appeared at the anti-Trump administration No Kings protest in front of the Humboldt County courthouse on Saturday, next to one skilled and loud vuvuzela player. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe soundtrack for the anti-Trump administration No Kings protest in Eureka on Saturday included musicians from Harmonic Howl (Ruby Ruth George (left) and Elle Penner in photo), Humboldt Musicians for Peace, The Humboldt Song Brigade, Bandemonium the Raging Grannies and others. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonA reference to the First Amendment was made in these Handmaids’ signage at the anti-Trump administration No Kings protest in Eureka on Saturday. An estimated 3,000 showed up starting at 11 a.m. in a march from the Eureka Co-op to the Humboldt County courthouse on 5th Street at noon. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonIn the absence of horse racing this year, June Moxon and her Sparkle the Horse & the Rhinestones team returned the equine spirit to the Humboldt County Fair racetrack in the Kinetic Obstacle Exhibition Derby. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson“Hategory” winners at Ladies Hat Day at the Humboldt County Fair included: Best Couple or Group: June’s Moxon’s Sparkle & the Rhinestones team; Most Original: Yavanna Reynolds; Funniest or Most Outrageous: Tracy Jackson; and Most Glamorous: Tilly Thompson. Honorable Mentions recognition went to Alice Roberts, Lucy Lips, Barbara Sweigart and Ellie Green. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonLadies Hat Day organizers Debbie Retzloft-Olson and Cindy Olsen (front row right and center) joined Grand Prize winner in the Ladies Hat Competition Kinetic Rhutabaga Queen-for-Life Olivia Gambino(top center), First Runner-Up Elle Penner, Second Runner-Up Carolyn Polasek, Tilly Thompson and Yavanna Reynolds for a photo on the Brown Chicken Brown Trout Kinetic sculpture just before it headed off to next join the Kinetic Obstacle Exhibition Derby at the Humboldt County Fair. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe Grand Prize in the Humboldt County Fair’s Ladies Hat Competition of $1,500 was awarded to Kinetic Rhutabaga Queen-for-Life Olivia Gambino. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCarolyn Polasek, second Runner-Up in the Ladies Hat Competition at the Humboldt County Fair, was awarded the $500 prize for her hand-made peacock feather-themed hat. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe Rutabaga Royalty Hobby Kinetic Kreature Race participants at the Humboldt County Fair including Christina Swingdler showed a variety of form while leaping over the race hurdles. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThese Rutabaga Royalty Hobby Kinetic Kreature Race participants at the Humboldt County Fair were headed for the starting gate with their hobby horses (from left, Robert Adams, Monica Topping-Adams, Yavanna Reynolds, Nikki Lokks, Christina Swingdler, Lucas Thornton, Raelina Krikston and Wendy Burns). Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonJedi Master Christopher Ericson, of Foster Bay, paused before walking the Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo during the Forest Moon Festival in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThese Star Wars characters and an Ewok (Tyler Murray and Ivette Mendoz, of San Francisco) were among the early invaders of the Forest Moon Festival event at the Sequoia Park Zoo and Redwood Sky Walk on Saturday evening. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonOne loud and very fun moment at the Arcata Farmers’ Market on Saturday for Forest Moon Festival photo opps with costumed Star Wars characters included reproducing Darth Vader character sound effects. 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 chilly river crossing at Little River for the 59th annual Trinidad to Clam Beach Run – Honoring Ford Hess featured the usual entertaining dash-and-splash (intentional or otherwise) methods by runners. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe Good Trouble Lives On march/protest got underway at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, starting on the new Humboldt Bay South trail behind Target in Eureka and crossing over the Eureka Slough Bridge. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonArriving anti-Trump administration protesters found a sign-making table near the Eureka North Coast Co-op on 4th Street on Saturday for the No Kings march coordinated by Humboldt Democracy Connections to the Humboldt County courthouse on 5th Street. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe Miss Jubilee band (featuring singer Valerie Kirchhoff, Eathan Lienwant, TJ Miller and Andy Schumm) opened Friday’s sets at the Eagle House during the Redwood Coast Music Festival. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
