Arts Alive

On the first Saturday of each month, Eureka throws a big art party and invites everyone. All the galleries in town, as well as coffee houses, gift shops, hair salons, boutiques, restaurants and — well, any venue in town with wall space — throw open their doors, put out food (and sometimes wine) and invite Humboldt to come out and celebrate the arts.

Even in the fiercest weather, people do indeed come out, in droves. Between 70 and 80 venues participate, drawing a cumulative crowd of hundreds. People come to town for a chance to connect with friends and peers or to enjoy the food, street theatre and music, but more importantly, they come to celebrate the art.

At the Cody-Pettit each month, new paintings and furnishings are assimilated and redistributed, "rooms" are created, flowers are arranged, cookies are baked, wine and lemonade are poured and the party begins.

A few people arrive before 6:00 p.m. (the official opening time) in order to "beat the rush." These are the serious connossieurs, the ones who want to study the exhibit before the crowds arrive, which generally happens between 7:00 and 8:00. The event officially ends at 9:00, but most venues still have their lights on for at least an hour after that. After the party, people still overflow the restaurants, bars and coffee houses, violins still pierce the air and "fire throwers" still entertain the crowds. The town feels more alive that at any other time of the month.

Arts Alive! is co-sponsored by Eureka Main Street and Humboldt Arts Council. Event calendars are available in the North Coast Journal or Eureka's Times-Standard.