The 29th Annual Oyster Festival on the Arcata Plaza features chefs and merchants, award wining oysters, contests, art and live music.

Giant puppets, games, concession stands and great food.

The traditional Oyster Calling and Shuck-and-Swallow contests are entertaining and fun. Enjoy locally crafted beers and wines from local vineyards.

Kumamotos, a smaller, more delicately flavored variety of oyster and the Pacific variety are farmed on six farms, hundreds of acres of Humboldt Bay.

PVC hoops are seen  in the middle of the bay at low tide, organized into rows, racks and long lines above the bay floor.

Recycling is a prominent theme of the day emphasized by the volunteers  and the Green Team. The merchants supply only compos tables.  Every oyster shell                                                                                                         is composted.  All cups are recycled and nothing goes to the dump.

Dine on barbecued salmon and whitefish and enjoy locally crafted beer and wine from grapes grown in Humboldt County vineyards. Additionally, this year there will be activities at the pier. The landmark light house has been moved from the bluff overlooking Trinidad Bay, due to erosion issues, to Trinidad Bay.

There are Lighthouse Tours available. The Coast Guard provides helicopter rescue demonstration. Local business owners, yours truly included, volunteer their time, pick up trucks and energy
to help clean up after this phenomenal fish fry..

Activities include Live music and entertainment, locally produced micro brew, cider and wine, an animal education exhibit,  KIDZ science safari, science shows, livestock and art exhibits, wood fair and more.

Also, the California Carnival Company, cowgirl tricks and Annie the Clown will entertain at this festive family favorite.

Great food options are available at concession stands. Vendors display crafts, fine art and other merchandise at their booths.
Kids will enjoy horse carriage rides, the speeder card rides and the Johnston Amusement Carnival located at the foot of D Street. Adults and kids may admire fire trucks, classic and antique cars and motorcycles.

The festival runs to 5:00 pm.

 Fireworks begin at 10:00 pm. Any where you can find a spot along the waterfront is a good place to view the fireworks display.

A ‘super duper’ kids zone, face painting, bean bag toss and skateboarding are popular with the youth.
Arts and Crafts Booths and a variety of food concession stands exihibit locally produce products, including beer and wine.
Street dancers entertain.

The first significant event of the event is the Kick Off Party at Mad River Brewery, a favorite of your humble  Humboldt host.

Music, dancing and locally brewed beer will set the tone for the remainder of the event, showcasing local musicians , songwriters and  stage actors during the most musical week of the year.

Rodeo events include Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding, Team Roping, Bareback Riding, Tie-Down Roping and Breakaway Roping. The rodeo was initially introduced to entertain the local rancher families and has since become the focal point event of the summer season in the Eel River Valley.

A booming local economy resulted from servicing miners during the
the CA Gold Rush, crews logging old growth redwood, cattle ranchers, dairy’s and others.

Finally,  GYMKHANA will have competitive games on horse back at Kjer Rodeo Grounds starting at 9:00 am Saturday & Sunday.

Historically held on Fortuna’s Main Street between 9th and 10th Streets, the 29th Annual Redwood Auto Xpo, which showcases product from Auto industry, is the most attended family friendly local event.

Be mindful of the thematic 1950’s, rock ‘n’ roll, pink poodle skirts, white bobby socks, sunglasses, and cool cars.
Attendees are encouraged to participate and win prizes in the costume contest!

At one point, this event morphed into ‘Reggae Rising’, was staged at a different venue and frankly, lost some of it’s pizazz.  

In 2013, the Reggae on the River Event returned to it’s roots, Frenches Camp, a sandy bend on the Eel River, 10 miles South of, Garberville, California.

Dance parties, jam sessions and after parties continue until dawn.  

 The greater majority of festival goers camp in tents up and down the river.

The high rollers are ‘glamping’ in their RV,s and Tour Buses in their ‘elite’ neighborhood, hidden away from the seemingly endless line of porta potties on the other side of the tracks.

There, the party never ends..

A non profit event supporting the Mateel Community Center, volunteer groups are largely responsible for the logistical ‘heavy lifting’, arriving weeks early to organize and set up the event.

It is worthwhile to volunteer.

Disregarding the ‘perks’ which include access backstage to  meet with world renowned  artists including the iconic Stephen  Marley,  the volunteer group is a close-nit grass roots family that return each year for what has become a county wide reunion.

Cannabis is legal in California, obviously celebrated, prevalent and available at this culturally rich, family friendly, believe it or not, Reggae event. 

Located at the epicenter of the Emerald Triangle,  Reggae on the River
openly celebrates the Rastafarian  sacred herb.

MEMO: The long history of Humboldt Countys’ black market 420 produce hasn’t ended yet. However, the era of prohibition apparently has, providing relief to local families and rude boy growers who have been literally ‘under the gun’ and risking everything for decades,

HOT TIPS!  Nudity is prevalent, especially on the rocky river bed where sunglasses and a pair of sneakers are a must.

In 1996, the Rio Dell Chamber of Commerce passed the torch to the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department.
Currently, Wildwood Days is a fundraiser for the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department.