• photo by Bob Doran
• it's green

Weed, green weed,

Grow it from seed.

Sell it for money,

And buy what you need.

Pot, smelly pot,

Legal it's sort of not.

Blow up your house,

But watch out for those cops.

Cannabis, oh cannabis,

Fuel for the long hippie bus.

Everyone smokes so much,

What's with the Man's big fuss?

Bong hits, blunt wraps, joints and hash.

Nuggets, tinctures, crystals and cash.

Big outdoor plants and trendy young trimmers.

Our renowned cash crops make us all winners.

Celebrate your marijuana,

Offer up and smoke that ganja.

Four-twenty is THE day to party,

And to bring on that stoner nirvana.

You know the drill around here: Redwood Park goes off at 4:20 p.m. on 4/20, Arcata is taken over by stoner tourists, Clam Beach may or may not see some action and nighttime brings loads of excellent live music. So, let's talk shows.

Eureka Theater brings soul, blues and hip hop to the stage via G. Love and Special Sauce. Noodle-dancing bonanza: guaranteed. Berel Alexander Ensemble opens. Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets $25 and it's an all ages show. Details: eurekatheater.org. For those 21 and over, the afterparty is at the Red Fox Tavern with local electro-funk band Moo-Got-2.

Arcata Theatre Lounge hosts the revolutionary hip hop crew The Coup plus Z-Man and a local hip hop showcase featuring Dub$tax, Never Die, Gobi, Kiki, One Eye and Tony Mac. Doors at 9 p.m. Advance tickets $25. Details: arcatatheater.com.

CenterArts' show No. 1 is Maceo Parker, the groovy-jazzy-funky sax player formerly with both James Brown and George Clinton. The show is all ages and starts at 8 p.m. in HSU's Kate Buchanan Room; Tickets $35, $25 for HSU students. Details: humboldt.edu/centerarts.

Center Arts' show No. 2 was going to be New York Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, but they have unfortunately had to cancel the rest of their tour due to the death of a bandmember's immediate family.

Humboldt Brews has über-groovy Grateful Dead associate Melvin Seals and JGB (as in Jerry Garcia Band, without Jerry) coming in for the holiday. Doors at 9 p.m., show starts around 10 p.m., $25 cover charge, and this is definitely a 21-plus show because it's a place selling "brews." Details: humbrews.com.

Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville has the Jamaican artist Lutan Fyah since reggae seems to go with 420 like a match goes with a spliff. Supposed to start at 9 p.m.

Even Blue Lake Casino is in on the action this year with a 420 Party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Wave lounge, with live music by Chico-based reggae/hip hop band Mystic Roots andspecial guests Marko and Top Shelf. Details: bluelakecasino.com.

The dankest comes last in this list, and this one is definitely for all the grow-bros and their hos. Yes, Jambalaya has a special-themed reggae night this week: OneWise Weedsday 420 Dancehall -- an even more weed-oriented Reggae Wednesday than usual (if that's possible). Music starts at 10 p.m., ladies get in free before 11 p.m., and, as always, this event is 21 and over. Hang out on the Plaza for more info.

Happy 420, Humboldt.