British reggae powerhouse Steel Pulse is coming to the Mateel Community Center on Tuesday May 20th, 2025. Show starts at 7pm. Tickets will be available online in advance for $40 starting on Friday January 24th, 2025. Visit mateel.org for details and ticketing.
Author: Cassandra Curatolo
Get ready, Willow Creek! Bigfoot Daze is moving downtown for a Bigfoot Block Party like never before. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 12, 2025, and prepare for a celebration filled with music, local vendors, delicious food, and, of course, Bigfoot magic!
Many would argue that Humboldt County’s favorite summer past time is baseball. Arcata is home to the Humboldt Crabs – the oldest, continuously-operated, collegiate, independent, wood-bat, summer baseball team in the country. So bring your friends, grab a hot dog and a local brew, dance in the bleachers to the one and only live Crabgrass Band, and root, root, root for the home team! Be sure to check the schedule & dress up for themed home games! This year, the Crabs celebrate their 80th season!
The 2025 home game schedule and tickets are available online at www.humboldtcrabs.com.
A celebration of local produce and goods, the Arcata Plaza comes alive on Saturday mornings. Live music, hot food to go, dozens of local producers selling seasonal veggies, meat and more pop up along the streets of the Plaza. Free entry.
Open every Saturday, year round, rain or shine!
- April – November: 9am – 2pm
- December – March: 10am – 2pm
Hosted by the North Coast Growers Association.
Soak up the SoHum sun and fun at the 48th Summer Arts & Music Festival June 21 & 22. The festival will be held at a new location – the Southern Humboldt Community Park in Garberville. As always, there will be dozens of arts & crafts vendors, plenty of live music, dancing, food and good vibes. Families welcome. Ticketing information and music line ups to come.
Humboldt Roller Derby plays a double header against the Bay Area Derby at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5pm, first game starts at 6pm. Second game to follow. Concessions and local brews available on site. Live band, DJ and much more!
Tickets available in advance for at STIL, Wildberries Marketplace and www.humboldtrollerderby.com, and at the door for until capacity is reached.
Polish up those shuckers, the 35th Annual Arcata Bay Oyster Festival, Humboldt County’s most highly anticipated annual event, is just around the corner. This year’s Oysterfest will take place on Saturday, June 15th from 10am -5pm. Thousands take to the streets of the Arcata Plaza to imbibe in local brews, shop fun local goods, dance to live music and of course slurp down a few (dozen) of some of the world’s finest oysters – harvest a stone’s throw away in Humboldt Bay.
Free admission. Hosted by The Arcata Chamber. Stay tuned for more details: www.arcatabayoysterfestival.com
A Humboldt tradition since 1969, the Kinetic Race is no typical parade. In the Kinetic Grand Championship, bodies of art and artist’s bodies are put to the test. There’s more than 30 miles to go over land, sand, water and mud. These intrepid Kinetinauts are a unique breed of human. With a heart full of joy and a bucket full of tools, they face innumerable obstacles for just one reason: The Glory. Founded by artist Hobart Brown, this North Coast tradition has grown from a two block dash down Main St Ferndale to a three day marathon through Humboldt County’s towns, beaches, trails and rivers, every Memorial Day Weekend.
For spectator and participant information, visit: https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/
Considered one of the most beautiful run’s in the world, the 53rd Avenue of the Giants Marathon is set to take place on Sunday, May 4. The paved course winds through stunning stands of old growth in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Half and 10k Marathon. A certified and Boston Qualifying event.
More information about the course and registration: https://theave.org/
Celebrate the local flora at Eureka’s annual Rhododendron Parade, which will take place on Saturday, April 26, rain or shine. Local organizations deck out floats of all shapes and sizes in celebration of the rhododendron. The Parade Begins at 7th & E streets at 10:00am, and continues east on 7th Street, south on H Street and ends at Henderson Center & C Street.
For more information, visit: https://eurekarhodyparade.com/parade-main-page
What better way to raise funds for the Redwood Discovery Museum than a quick dip in the Humboldt Bay? Join the leagues of do-gooders who brave the cold water each spring to help fund exhibits, programs, education and scholarships for local kids.
A parade with Cal Poly’s Marching Lumberjacks leads jumpers to the docks along the foot of F Street in Old Town Eureka for THE PLUNGE. Then, the Salty & Soaked are invited to head to the VIP tent for R&R in the hot tub, warm lunch, and a cocktail (21+). Awards ceremony for Best Jump, Wackiest Costume, and more will follow the plunge.
Register online, minimum pledge is $175, participants must be 18+: https://www.discovery-museum.org/perilous-plunge.html
Photo by Matt Filar.
The world’s oldest student run film festival takes place April 19-20. The 58th Humboldt International Film Festival includes 3 days of public screenings, presentations and workshops. For more information, visit https://www.hsufilmfestival.com/
A beloved celebration unique to Humboldt County, the Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival returns April 17-20, 2025. Join naturalists, wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers and community members as they honor the Marbled Godwit and the remarkable ecosystems to which it belongs. The festival includes field trips, lectures, and workshops led by experienced local guides.
For more information, and to register for the event, visit https://www.godwitdays.org/
The annual California Indian Big Time & Social Gathering is a day of song, resource sharing, community building and arts and crafts to honor and celebrate California Native Traditions. Vendors and more on site. 11am-6pm at the Cal Poly Humboldt West Gym, Forbes Complex.
Hosted by ITEPP. For more information about the event, visit https://itepp.humboldt.edu/california-indian-big-time-social-gathering
Reggae on the River returns to Southern Humboldt August 1-3. This three-day event brings festival goers from far and wide to the banks of the Eel River to partake in music, dance, cannabis, art, camping and more.
Presented by the Mateel Community Center & Hot Milk Entertainment. Tickets, lineup and event information are available at reggaeontheriver.com.
First Saturday of the Month, 6-9pm
On the first Saturday of every month, Old Town Eureka transforms into myriad venues for music and art. Galleries, restaurants, bars and businesses welcome patrons and spectators with exhibits, demonstrations, live performances and more. Celebrating the work of local artists, Arts Alive is just one of the many ways that Humboldt County lives up to claim “most artists per capita.”