This outrageously offbeat contest merges art and engineering in a three-day endurance race. Competitors build wacky, human-powered contraptions that can traverse land, sea, mud, and dunes, then pilot them over a 42-mile course between Arcata and Ferndale.
What Is the Kinetic Grand Championship?
Creativity, contraptions, and costumes—those are the mantras for the Kinetic Grand Championship, a wacky three-day Memorial Day weekend event on an out-there stretch of the North Coast.
Dubbed the “triathalon of the art world,” bewigged, decked-out contestants must maneuver their handmade, people-powered race vehicles from the college town of Arcata, near Eureka, roughly 30 miles south, to the quaint hamlet of Ferndale. Everything in between—beaches, steep inclines, the waters of Humboldt Bay, and even a river—must be traversed with a single vehicle of the contestants’ design.
It all brings out some decidedly bizarre entries of both the mechanical and flesh-and-bone variety; cheer them on from the side of the road, or bring bikes to join along for a stretch of scenic country road. Either way, participation is free.
Where and When to See the Kinetic Grand Championship
Day 1 starts with celebratory fanfare at Arcata Plaza; things quickly get serious though, in the most lighthearted way, as dunes and the notorious Dead Man’s Drop must be survived before crossing the bridge into Eureka. Day 2 pits contestants against the waves of Humboldt Bay in the first amphibious section of the race. On Day 3 contestants must contend with the Eel River and the streets of Ferndale, where finishers triumphantly roll into town, welcomed by cheering throngs. It’s all low-key, family-friendly, and good fun.
How to Get Tickets to the Kinetic Grand Championship
The Kinetic Grand Championship is generally a free community event for spectators, with no general-admission tickets required. People are welcome to watch from public viewing areas along the route without purchasing tickets.
Instead of a ticketing system, the event encourages donations to support the nonprofit organization that produces the race and helps cover event costs. On the official website and at spectator zones, you’ll often see options to make a donation or purchase merchandise to contribute to the event’s continued operation.
More Things to Do While You’re at the Kinetic Grand Championship
Between kinetic antics, make time to explore Humboldt County’s standout sights. Wander beneath towering redwoods at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, where highlights include the 366-foot Rockefeller Tree (also known as Tall Tree) and the fallen Dyerville Giant in Founders Grove.
For an overnight stay with character, check into Victorian Inn, a landmark property where soaring ceilings, carved redwood details, and vintage furnishings set the scene—especially around the mahogany bar at cocktail hour. To unwind, reserve a private outdoor hot tub or red-cedar sauna at Finnish Country Sauna and Tubs, then refuel with a cappuccino at Café Mokka. For live entertainment, check to see what’s on the calendar at The Old Steeple, a former Methodist church that hosts concerts and comedy.
For a classic road trip, tackle the Lost Coast Scenic Drive. Start in Ferndale by heading south on Mattole Road to Capetown, descend to the coast for six miles of dramatic shoreline views, then follow the Mattole River inland before looping back to Ferndale via U.S. 101.