By T. Raabe
The Yes We Cann Parade and Hullabaloo went down on Saturday, August 12th and for the cannabis friendly community here in Arcata, CA right in the heart of Humboldt, it did not disappoint. There was an overall family friendly vibe, and the mood was jovial in the light of California’s cannabis legalization.
The floats were decorated trailers and farming equipment like quads wrapped with green tinsel garlands and plastic plants and flowers. Even the participants were decked out head to toe in ganja inspired attire. A walking bunch of gold balloons was proudly displayed tied to a local’s dreadlocks has he paraded the streets with this delightful display of a community coming together to show support and appreciation for medicinal and recreational marijuana.
Many local businesses came out to promote as well as participate in the Parade and Hullabaloo. The Hullabaloo took place in Arcata’s city owned ballpark after a stomp through the city streets and around the infamous Arcata Plaza. The parade that began on the green at Humboldt State University was greeted by a great cheer and loud applause when it reached the plaza on Saturday afternoon and could be heard from several streets over.
The highlights of the parade were an entire band begin pulled on a flat bed trailer playing Beatles covers and the goat in attendance who joined the Hullabaloo after was seen grazing on the baseball field’s green grass as children happily played with bubbles and a giant inflatable rainbow. After the parade ended at the Hullabaloo, the Beatle’s cover band rounded the block for about half an hour after still spreading love and good vibes to the onlookers and city shoppers of Arcata.
Inside the ballpark was a medical cannabis section with loads of recently legalized cannabis companies showing off and comparing new products from Humboldt. My favorite vendor was a local artisan Tommy Hernandez, who’s line ‘Homeboldt’ had eye catching clothing and art that embodied the local flare for looking good and ‘representing’ which is a big part of the vibe here in Humboldt.
Also at the event, several stages played music late into the night starting with a Humboldt favorite, reggae artist Windstrong who got the party started by covering classic rock and R’n’B songs that he rewrote the lyrics in a cannabis friendly fashion. The music carried late into the evening on several stages and had a variety of genres like bluegrass and hip hop. After parties were advertised at three different locations and in true Humboldt fashion, the celebration continued till the sun came up!
