Driving north in the rain from Arcata early Saturday morning, the prospects for the 60th annual Klamath Salmon Festival didn’t look good. But by the 9:30 a.m. start of the parade, the rain had stopped, the sun came out from behind the clouds and this year’s festival celebrating tribal elders (because the event was turning […]
Slideshow
Posted inArts + Scene
Photos: NCJ’s Best of Humboldt Party
The Journal‘s Best of Humboldt party at the Arcata Theatre Lounge Aug. 10 featured a little music from Best Vocalist Elle Penner, a little comedy by Best Stand-up Comedian Shannon Foster, local trivia hosted by our publisher Melissa Sanderson and plenty of celebration among the winners. Blessed as we were with good company and good […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Obon Drums and Dancing
After Japanese shakuhachi flute music by Rick Kruse, the Rev. Rinban Gerald Sakamoto, minister for the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, returned this year to bless the opening of the third annual Humboldt Obon Festival on Sunday afternoon. The program shared traditions of Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors coming to earth […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Photos: Return of ROTR
For the 35th year, Reggae on the River, which has seen its share of tumult and financial struggle, brought crowds, musicians, artists and vendors to a multi-day party on the North Coast after a five-year absence. From Aug. 2-4, reggae lovers returned to County Line Ranch for camping and live performances, hosted by the Mateel […]
Posted inNews
Eureka Street Art Festival’s Last Splash
If there’s a drab, gray concrete wall in Eureka, it’s not the fault of Jenna Catsos, Michelle Cartledge or Swan Asbury. The three women have been the driving force behind the annual Eureka Street Art Festival for the past seven years. “It got started in 2018, when Michelle Cartledge was on the Economic Development Commission […]
Posted inNews
Scenes from the Junior Rodeo
Nearly 200 boys and girls signed up for a chance to compete in seven age divisions for saddles, lots of buckles and cash awards at the Fortuna Junior Rodeo at the rodeo grounds in Rohner Park earlier this month. When I asked rodeo participants “What event or events are you participating in?” the most common […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Humboldt Folklife Draws a Crowd
The Humboldt Folklife Festival delivered its usual week-long supply of Humboldt County musicians and bands to Blue Lake this past Sunday through Saturday, July 14 through July 20. The only problem? How to pick and choose what to attend, given the festival program was competing with what seemed like an unusually packed social calendar countywide. […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Washed Up Love
I’ve noticed less love on Humboldt County’s beaches than on beaches elsewhere. And I think I have some ideas about why. But our beaches do become home to some of the love people make. Some of this love is toxic. And some love entangles, chokes and smothers. But some love is fun! Fun love is […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Fourth Fun in Old Town
Under unusually warm sunshine, Eureka Main Street’s Fourth of July Festival in historic Old Town attracted its usual large crowd of attendees enjoying a wide variety of foods, crafts, commercial items and fine art, while community groups tabled to get word out about their organizations. Two stages featured performances by North Coast Dance and live […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
My Juneteenth Revelation of Embracing Culture in Humboldt
My great-great-granny Momma Martha, my great-granny Madea and my granny Jonnie saw the remnants of slavery, the peak of Jim Crow, witnessed MLK Jr. speak and experienced so many other pivotal Black moments that I’ve only read about in books. Growing up in East Texas, everything granny Jonnie did felt like Black History Month, her […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Best Oyster Goes Pop-up
By 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, chefs, staffers and volunteers were pushing through the doors of the former Mazzotti’s, carrying platters of oysters on drifts of white salt, cold stones and ice. Most of the restaurant, slated to open as another Italian spot under new owner Jack Wu, was dark, but there was plenty […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
A Shell of a Time
The Arcata Plaza was packed for the 34th Oyster Festival on Saturday, June 15. Locals and visitors alike stood chatting in long lines for beer and foraged festival foods amid the crowd of vendors and trucks. Meanwhile on the lawn, folks picnicked and danced to live music, and competed in oyster calling in the sun. […]