It's that time of year again where the bright and colorful statues ride around the plaza and across the land and into the sea — sort of — to find their terminal point on Main Street in Ferndale on Memorial Day. It's a unique local event we locals tend to take for granted but is a fairly special thing if one stops to consider it for a moment. I am usually working or out of town for it, but this year I find my schedule open enough to allow me to observe the kick-off, so that's something to look forward to. Here's hoping that there's a nice crowd, good weather and, if neither of those things, a free seat in the Alibi for me to listen in to the mirth with cocktail-assisted ears. Or perhaps an oasis somewhere on the sand strip route in Manila. I'm easy to please.

Have a good one, see you all in the funny pages.

Thursday

Come check out Just Joshin', the only not-quite-late-night comedy variety show in Humboldt County, hosted by Josh Barnes at 9 p.m. Comedy is a priceless commodity in the age of extinction and this show is value-priced at a mere $5. Where you might ask? Why, the only comedy club in Eureka, named after a periodical which was itself named after a character from a desultory anecdote told by the protagonist in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the Savage Henry Comedy Club.

Friday

I wanted to only showcase Blue Lake tonight but I found something pretty compelling a few miles south. So real quick, write this down: The Mad River Brewing Co. is hosting the ninth annual birthday bash for Bob Dylan starting at 5 p.m. This free celebration of the poet of Hibbing, Minnesota, will be helmed by Chris Parreira and friends.

Nearby at The Logger Bar at 9 p.m., another free shindig goes down as Mojave Green and The Scum Lourdes team up to twang up the night. However, I have found a real corker of a double feature so read on, please.

The Eureka Theater is hosting two horror staples of the silent film era with a live soundtrack which will be provided by the talented group Invincible Czars. First up at 7 p.m. is the Lon Chaney masterpiece The Phantom of the Opera, which I prefer in this format because the musical gets a giant "boooo" from this writer. Next up at 9 p.m. is F.W. Murnau's ragged treasure Nosferatu, a movie that flutters in a series of strobe-lit silent screams. Admission to each showing is only $10, which will surely leave you some money in the budget for a bit of velvet and makeup.

Saturday

It's the kick-off to the now probably world-famous Kinetic Grand Championship on the Arcata Plaza. I usually get to the plaza — it's all literally downhill from my place — around mid-morning to get a good eyeball on the entries before the high noon peel-out, so perhaps you will want to do the same. Regardless, if you have any fuel left in you this evening, I suggest you go check out the Eastern European string sounds of Chubritza at Cafe Mokka for free at 8 p.m. Say hello to a certain handsome orange feline with a wandering nature named Chester while you are there. He's good people.

Sunday

For more than 40 years, Riders in the Sky has been entertaining families with fun and theatrical western music. If Toontown from the seminal half-human flick Who Framed Roger Rabbit? had a cowpoke house band for a cartoon saloon, it could only be voiced by these buckaroos. In fact, the group recorded "Woody's Roundup" from Toy Story 2. Tonight the bright chuckwagon stops at the Old Steeple at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of be-hatted harmonizing. Load up and bring the kids, this show's made for them ($45).

Monday (Memorial Day)

From Crab Park to Main Street, Ferndale, it's the end of the line for yet another iteration of the earth and water race of brightly absurd human-powered craft. Come revel in the glory somewhere along the route, sometime before afternoon. I'll be away and en route to a much-needed voyage of my own out of town, so take a few pics for me, please.

Tuesday

RampArt Skatepark is hosting yet another all-ages punk show tonight at 8 p.m. ($7). Tonight's headliner is Atlanta, Georgia's Malevich, a group whose harsh sound is built on the notion of inclusivity and tolerance instead of nihilistic edgelord cruelty. Joining in for local support will be Cross Oceans CA, KLOD and FHOG aka Finger Hash of the Gods. Cool.

Wednesday

It's sci-fi pint night at the Arcata Theatre Lounge again. Tonight's offering is the 1973 film GodMonster of Indian Flats, and alls you need for admission is a $5 purchase of food or beverage. It's a good deal and one made sweeter by the free raffle of science fiction curios and artifacts into which one is automatically entered by simply walking in the door. The hour of power tonight is 6 p.m., so shake a leg and come watch what is in all likelihood a truly terrible, albeit fun, flick.

Full show listings in the Journal's Music and More grid, the Calendar and online. Bands and promoters, send your gig info, preferably with a high-res photo or two, to music@northcoastjournal.com.

Collin Yeo is still waiting for the day when one moving sculpture will overtake another sculpture, defeat it in a brief scuffle and triumphantly consume the loser and its crew while Mars, the Bringer of War from Holst's The Planets plays at ear-splitting volume. He lives in Arcata or, as it will be called on that day, Valhalla.