Celebrate the changing of the seasons at the 13th Annual Birdfest and Bluegrass Festival at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 2012.
The Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge will be free during the Festival, and the activities are varied and plentiful both days including music, crafts, storytelling, kayak tours and canoe tours, Audubon guided birdwalks, Kiwa Trail tour, the spectacular sandhill crane tours at dawn and dusk and even a chance to get to see areas of the reserve that are normally closed to the public.
“Birdfest is the perfect time for families to experience everything this great region offers — its diverse wildlife, scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage.” ~Katie Harrison, executive director of Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge
Children’s activities in downtown Ridgefield will include guided bird and nature walks, raptor displays, craft stations, and more. Visitors can enjoy bird, plant, and nature tours and presentations by regional experts who will share fun facts and information.
The First Annual Zaandercross at Frenchman’s Bar will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012, with the first race starting at 8:40 am. Not a morning person? Dont’ worry, there are races starting all day until 3:15 pm.
I don’t know about you, but I had never heard of a bicycle race where racers rode on pavement and offroad, including obstacles that make the rider dismount and RUN WHILE CARRYING THEIR BIKE! It’s a combination of cycling, stunt riding, carrying, running and obstacle course. And, while it sounds like a lot of fun…this gal is just gonna watch the First Annual Zaandercross. I’ll get back to you about next year. ;-)
The folks at Kazoodles Toy Store know that learning doesn’t only happen at school or from a textbook…a great deal of learning happens during play!
“Occupational, physical, mental health, speech … if “therapist” is your job description, you’re invited to an Open House for Therapists on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, from 5 to 7 p.m. We’ve learned a lot about toys that can help you in your work with children (or adults, for that matter), and we want to learn from you about toys you use or toys you’d like to see.” ~Kazoodles
Enjoy goodies from Seize the Bagel, Chuck’s Produce, Great Harvest Baking Company and Larson’s Bakery, door prizes, an networking.
Celebrate the last days of summer at the Lewis River Fall Fest September 28-30, 2012 at Horseshoe Lake Park in Woodland.
The Rotary Club of Woodland is partnering with generous area businesses to create this free, fun filled family event. Enjoy live music, wine tasting from local wineries, take a stroll down “Antiques Alley”, participate in an art competition, check out the car show, enjoy some delicious food and more!
The planned Veteran’s Memorial, located in Battle Ground’s Kiwanis Park, will honor local veterans who have died in service to our country. This special place of honor will provide the community an area for private reflection as well as a gathering place for events honoring the fallen. The memorial will include the names of fallen veterans from the Civil War through our most recent wars and conflicts and embodies elements dedicated to the United States Army, Navy Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The funding of the Veteran’s Memorial is solely dependent on public donations and contributions of in-kind services and materials.
Join former Battle Ground Mayor Mike Ciraulo, and hosts Phil Haberthur, Larry J. Smith, Heather Renner and Jacki Gabbert on Thursday, September 20, 2012, 6:30 pm at the Rusty Grape Vineyard (16712 NE 219th St, Battle Ground) for a fundraising event.
In 1830 Clark County’s first apple harvest occurred – one apple. Planted near Fort Vancouver in 1826, the Old Apple Tree is considered the oldest in the Northwest and the matriarch of Washington State’s apple industry. The annual Old Apple Tree Festival will take place this year on Saturday, October 6, 2012 between 11 am and 4 pm at Old Apple Tree Park (114 Columbia Way) by the Fort Vancouver Historic Site.
As a result of last year’s success, the 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest returns to the annual Old Apple Tree Festival this year. The Scarecrow contest is hosted and sponsored by Vancouver Watersheds Alliance, and is free to the first 20 people that send in applications. Prizes will be awarded to the best three ‘traditional’ scarecrows on display at the Old Apple Tree Festival. For an application and entry rules, visit Vancouver Watersheds Alliance, or call 360-852-9189.
The central Vancouver Artisan beverage makers will be hosting DrinkThis!, a coordinated event between 17 businesses celebrating the many craft beverages made right locally.
What makes this event unique is that the actual makers will be present to give live demonstrations and answer questions about their craft. The event will include 2 wineries, 3 breweries, 4 coffee roasters, and a tea blender. The stroll stretches from 6th Street to 20th Street in the central Vancouver corridor. Businesses will be open extra hours offering unique and special tastings. Live music will be in some venues as well.
Primary Participants are: Burnt Bridge Cellars, 1500 Broadway; Gouger Cellars, 1812 Washington St.; Loowit Brewing Company, 507 Columbia St.; Salmon Creek Brewery and Pub, 108 W. Evergreen Blvd., Mt Tabor Brewery, 113 W. 9th St.; Compass Coffee, 1304 Main St.; Torque Coffee Roasters, 501 Columbia St.; Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters, (serving at Cakes by Design); Tea Bar Downtown, 1015 Main St.; Brewed 360, 603 Main St.; and Bader Beer and Wine Supply (demonstrating at Burnt Bridge Cellars).
Also, hosting other local liquid masters are Niche, 1013 Main St.; Kiggins Theater, 1011 Main St.; Brickhouse, 109 W. 15th St.; Mint Tea, 2014 Main St.; Cakes by Design, 207 E.McLoughlin Blvd.; and By the Bottle, 104 W. Evergreen Blvd.
The fun starts at noon and lasts until 4 pm at the Public Safety Complex – 505 NW 179th Street (located at the back entrance to the Clark County Fairgrounds). This Complex houses the Clark County Sheriff’s Office West Precinct, the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office and a volunteer fire station shared by Fire Districts 6, 11, & 12.
This free community event gives you a chance to meet your local firefighters and law enforcement, check out the emergency vehicles on display, and enjoy various demonstrations throughout the day. They will be serving up free hot dogs, chips, popcorn and pop. There will also be a Bounce House, Jr. Firefighter Challenge, Child ID and Fingerprinting, Health Screenings, Community Information, giveaways and more…
WSU Clark County Extension invites the public to the 14 th annual Harvest Celebration Day on Saturday, September 15, 2012 between 10 am to 3 pm.
Tour as many as thirteen local farms throughout Clark County showcasing the bounty and variety of agriculture in Clark County at this free family friendly event. Meet some of your local farmers; purchase fresh produce, cut flowers, and farm products; see alpacas, draft horses, chickens, goats, and other livestock; tour vineyards, fruit orchards, vegetable fields and flower gardens.
Farm descriptions with maps and an events schedule are available online from WSU Clark County Extension or from the Extension office in Vancouver located at 1919 NE 78 th Street. Participating farms will be open to visitors from 10 am to 3 pm.
The Downtown Camas Association is hosting its third annual Girls’ Night Out, a day into evening celebration in support of women and local cancer charities on Saturday, September 29, 2012.
This event will add a broader education component this year with an afternoon of sessions focusing on awareness and action and taking care of yourself. Three education options will be offered from 1-4pm. The evening “party with a purpose” will be from 5-9pm.
Focusing on the long term wellness of women and in keeping with this year’s theme Girly Parts—Bring Your Girls!, the daytime portion includes a FREE three part health seminar called “Girly Parts Ed” covering breast and ovarian cancer awareness and treatment options with prevention tips and healthy lifestyle incentives. The three separate workshops include: “It’s Not Always a Lump”, “What’s In Your Jeans?” and “Girly Self-Care”. During breaks, Rushing Water Yoga and Columbia Chiropractic will be on location for yoga demos and FREE massage. Registration for “Girly Parts Ed” begins at noon at Journey Community Church at 304 NE 4th Avenue. Check in and enjoy lunch in Historic Downtown Camas.
The evening portion of the event celebrates with fun activities, dining, shopping, and just “getting our girly on” with registration starting at 4:00pm at Journey.
The evening begins at 5:00pm with opening ceremonies at Journey with a welcome to the event, survivor stories, introduction of the charities, and always a surprise or two! After this, gals will explore all the fun in the Downtown Camas businesses including free massage and beauty treatments, photo shoots, art projects, shopping and dining promotions, blessing boards, temporary tattoos done by a professional artist, treats and pink drinks, Hoops for Pink (make a basket, get a boa!), live music, raffle baskets in the businesses, and much more. At 8:30pm will begin the end of evening ceremony back at Journey with raffle prize drawings including merchant baskets valued at over $500 each and the grand prize of a trip to Cabo San Lucas donated by Westlie Ford.
The cost for the evening portion of the event is $15.00 when you preregister, $20 at the door. The first 250 women who register online will receive a free goodie bag. If you “Bring Your Girls!”, and pre-register for 6 or more women, you will automatically be entered in a raffle for a VIP “pre-func” cocktail party for your group at Nuestra Mesa from 4-5pm, preceding the opening ceremonies.
“This event is an exceptionally fun way to celebrate with your friends, be inspired to be more proactive, and raise funds for valuable local charities”, says Carrie Schulstad, chair of the event committee. “We have some fun new activities this year, and it is always a blast to spend time with your girlies in our charming downtown. Thank you to PeaceHealth this year for doing the education sessions and for being our title sponsor!”
The Kiggins Theatre will be having a Grand Re-Opening Gala on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 5pm.
“We are thrilled to be finally celebrating our Grand Reopening on Saturday, September 8th. Doors open at 5:00pm for a food reception. Pre-show begins at 6:15. THE MAJESTIC starring Jim Carrey starts at 7:00pm.
Are you a salsa connoisseur? Vancouver’s Urban Growers Market is having a Salsa Showdown at the next market on Friday, September 14, 2012 from 5-6:30 pm, and you’re the judge!
There are ten entries in the First Annual UGM Salsa Showdown, there will be some great prizes for the top 3 salsas, plus guaranteed bragging rights, and all proceeds will go to the Council for the Homeless.
The vacant, unsightly Block 10 in Downtown Vancouver (bordered by 8th, 9th, and Washington Streets), and the previous site of the Lucky Lager office building, is going to be turned into a park, thanks to Vancouver’s Downtown Association…and a lot of volunteers!
The WSU Vancouver Diversity Council sponsors a yearly film festival, the Diversity Film Festival, which will offer the community a chance to view four different films for free between Monday, September 10, 2012 and Thursday, September 20, 2012.
“The festival’s goal is to encourage and promote awareness and dialog about diversity issues present within the WSU Vancouver campus, the Vancouver community, and the world beyond. Films are chosen based on specific themes that reflect on multiple aspects of cultural diversity present in the world around us.” ~WSU Vancouver
The first week focuses on issues of political diversity, and the second week is about American Indians and native culture.
Enjoy living history at the annual Fort Vancouver Campfire and Candlelight event on September 8, 2012 from 4 pm to 10 pm. A full schedule of events are planned, with free admission to both Pearson Air Museum and Fort Vancouver.
“Campfires and Candlelight is Fort Vancouver’s largest costumed re-enactment, only possible with the help of more than 150 costumed interpreters from the park’s volunteer team, the park’s youth volunteer team, and multiple community partners. This year, the event includes signature components like cannon firings, Oregon Trail families, and blacksmiths, bakers, and carpenters hard at work, in addition to an extensive Timeline of History to showcase military history at Vancouver Barracks over time.
Campfires and Candlelight begins at Pearson Air Museum, which focuses on pre-World War II aircraft and features a dramatic lighting scheme to complement the candlelight ambience at the fort.
Enjoy an evening out in historic Downtown Camas on September 7, 2012 for the First Friday Art Walk; Art, Women and Wine.
The art walk begins at 5pm at Elida Art Studio at 421 NE Cedar in Downtown Camas where you can pick up a walking map for the Art Walk and a ballot to vote for your favorite artwork for the “people’s choice award.”
Clark County High School Football…it’s the rivalries, the bands, the cheerleaders, local heroes and past legends, fans and fanatics; and the season starts NOW!
The Clark County High School Football Season 2012 kicks off this year on Thursday, August 30, 2012 and runs until Friday, October 26, 2012. While you can’t catch ’em all, here’s the schedule for the 2012 Greater St. Helens League Football Games (that’s us!). For more local high school football updates, visit 360Preps. Who are you cheering for?
The 35th Annual Clark County Parade of Homes will take place this year September 7-23, 2012 and will include the NW Natural Parade of Homes in in the gorgeous Evergreen Pointe development in Vancouver overlooking the Columbia River, as well as the Open House Tour and the Remodeled Homes Tour throughout Vancouver/Clark County.
The NW Natural Parade of Homes is produced by the Building Industry Association of Clark County, and has become a summer tradition for families, couples and everyone looking to find innovative ideas for building, remodeling, landscaping, decorating or buying a new home. The event will showcase four homes highlighting the best in custom design, luxury, energy efficiency and creative use of space. Homes will range between 3,000 and 6,500 square feet and be furnished and fully decorated.
