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Arcata Bay Oyster Festival
Category: Local Flavor Local Flavor [Edit]
Arcata PlazaJune 14th 2008
Arcata, CA 95518
(707) 822-4500
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Arcata Bay Oyster Festival
9 reviews in English
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Review from Jess G.
Chico, CA
6/22/2011
Probably my favorite festival.
Not kid friendly (partly why I like it). To many people for kids to enjoy it.
Open street drinking. Great variety of food choices.
Live music.
LOVE IT! -
Review from Traci B.
Arcata, CA
3/3/2012
Very Busy, bustling and crammed with social opportunities. If you don't mind waiting 20-30 minutes for 2 oysters that will cost you $6.00. Thats the downside. The oyster calling contest brings out local celebrities and it can be very entertaining. Food and beer are very expensive. Beer cannot be brought, must be bought on site. $$$
Lots of activities for kids, many of which are free. -
Review from Melinda S.
Eureka, CA
6/28/2010
This year was my first Oyster Festival. I was astounded how many people could fit on The Arcata Plaza! My one complaint was that the line to get beer tokens was MASSIVE but their were other alternatives. Instead of waiting in the line, my friends and I hit up The Alibi and Tomo's for a couple drinks.
The oysters were delicious and I had a fantastic time.
If you're coming with kids, I suggest you come early in the day as the crowd may not be as child-friendly toward the end. -
Review from Susan H.
Eureka, CA
6/20/2010 6 photos
Oyster festival was wonderful! I had a great time this year, there was a wonderful selection of oysters cooked or uncooked- every way imaginable! My favorite was sushi spot's- soy and chili with daikon radish shooters!
It was a windy but the weather here is unpredictable, the first half of the day it was really hot outside. I really enjoyed myself and I got to try lots of oysters as well as other kinds of food. The lines moved pretty fast. The only thing I could say I didn't like was the cost of beer and wine was pretty steep- about seven dollars per drink in small plastic cups. The oysters where more affordable than any of the beer or wine was.
The square was very crowded but everyone was nice, and it was enjoyable to see everyone so interested and enthusiastic about the local oyster business. -
Review from Tosh R.
Eureka, CA
3/8/2011
This is by far my favorite Humboldt event! My husband and I get there early, I'm talking 10 am when it starts so we can try everything and find parking. We also bring at LEAST $100, most booths charge about $5 for 3 oysters...it adds up.
This event does get pretty crazy as the day goes on. I personally don't like being there after noon for two reasons; the lines are out of control and people get trashed. -
Review from Mennlay A.
Oakland, CA
5/17/2008 1 photo
When I moved to California from the East Coast this was my home -- it always will be. The Humboldt Bay and North Coast region is one the most beautiful places you'll ever go and the Oyster Festival is just one of the raging local community events...
Oyster Fest ( around June 14th) falls around my birthday. So every year when the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter settle into Gemini, I age one year and eat a tasty aphrodisiacs - oysters
Humans have cultivated oysters for thousands of years. A shell mound on Indian Island dates back more than 7,000 years! Legends of their delectable taste, magical powers, and wondrous pearls have come to us through the ages.
On California's most northwest corner in the scenic and wild redwood coast, we are blessed with an abundance of this most desired of mollusks. The Arcata Bay Oyster Festival began 17 years ago as a way to promote our local aquaculture industry. Over 70% of the fresh oysters consumed in California are grown in 450 acres of Arcata Bay where the conditions are ideal. -
Review from Adina F.
Portland, OR
6/26/2011
Awesome! Go early. We went at 10am and left by 2pm. It does get rowdy especially on the North side of the square. But thinking of making it an annual trip. It is pricey. But if you are prepared with $100, a windbreaker, and some insoles...soooo worth it.
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Review from Gina A.
San Francisco, CA
6/20/2009
OMG, oysters, oysters, everywhere oysters! Did you know that a majority of oysters served in California restaurants come from Arcata Bay, in Humbolt County? 450 acres of oyster farms. They hosted one spectacular festival in Arcata Plaza this year that boasted oysters prepared in many different ways; BBQ'd w/lime & cilantro, mango salsa, garlic butter, raw, rockafeller, tempura & hand-rolled into sushi (heavenly), and even the good 'ole oyster poor boy. Sure they had other stuff, like fish tacos, tri-tip sandwiches, rocky mountain oysters, and your typical meat-on-a-stick festival fare. But really, why bother when you can have dozens, and I do mean dozens, of oysters prepared nine ways from hell? Nice, two dozen oysters for $20.00! Eat oysters, listen to live music on the lawn, drink a local Lost Coast brew, people watch, shop the square, and just enjoy the interesting day. If you get a chance, plan to go next year (on the Saturday before Father's Day), well, only if you like oysters.
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Review from Braiden H.
Eureka, CA
6/29/2010
Too many people, too many drunks, too many fights and no parking. If that is what you are into, then you probably had a great time. We couldn't leave fast enough.
