Christmas in July: Santa and Mrs. Claus named king, queen of 2024 Camas Days

Camas Days, the annual, two-day summertime celebration that fills the streets of downtown Camas with thousands of visitors each July, may seem extra magical this year thanks to Dennis and Kooky Helland, the newly named 2024 Camas Days king and queen.

The Hellands, after all, aren’t just summertime royalty. The couple also rule Camas-Washougal’s wintertime celebrations, when they become their longtime alter egos, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“We love going to the assisted living homes to see the veterans,” Kooky, 76, also known as Mrs. Claus, said of the annual visits to nursing homes, schools and other facilities — sometimes up to five visits in one day — she and her husband of 55 years, Dennis, or Santa Claus, commit to every December. “We do this for free. We like to make people feel good.”

Dennis, 77, a retired contractor who loves classic cars, has even crafted his own Santa’s sleigh with metal runners and a convertible top, which he calls his “cabriolet” after the classic 1930s ragtop Chevrolet Cabriolet.

The couple rode in the new sleigh during last year’s Lighted Christmas Parade in Washougal, and Dennis, or Santa, has been a fixture at Camas’ annual Hometown Holidays celebration for several years, where he and Mrs. Claus gather with children inside Santa’s tent to hear Christmas wishes and have photos taken.

The couple met while they were still in school in the 1960s — Dennis at Washougal High and Kooky at Camas High — but Dennis claims Kooky didn’t like him back then. It wasn’t until later, after Dennis had returned from military service in the Vietnam War, that the two really clicked. They married in 1969, raised two children in their Washougal home, and went on to have fulfilling careers in construction (Dennis) and as a hairstylist and Camas School District employee (Kooky).

The Hellands said they have always valued having a good work ethic and find comfort and joy in volunteering their time to help others.

Earlier in the week, as they made their way out of Caffe Piccolo in downtown Camas, Dennis was approached by a young man who said he aspired to grow the type of Santa-like beard Dennis sports. When the man discovered he was not only talking to Santa Claus but also to a veteran of war, the two began to talk animatedly.

“He makes friends everywhere we go,” Kooky said of her husband, who not only dons a fake belly every winter to get into character, but also lives his life with the same level of generosity and friendliness that makes Santa Claus so endearing.

The couple said they always look forward to celebrating Camas Days in July. Most years, the Hellands drive their 1963 Chevy Nova — an original, two-door, hardtop model they’ve owned for 46 years — in the Camas Days Grand Parade, but this year the couple will lead the parade as the Camas Days Senior Royal Court’s king and queen.

The theme for the 2024 Camas Days celebration, which will take place Friday and Saturday, July 26-27, throughout downtown Camas, is “America the Beautiful,” so the Hellands will trade their traditional Santa and Mrs. Claus outfits for something more patriotic — Dennis will wear the same military uniform he returned home from Vietnam in, while Kooky will sport a red, white and blue ensemble and, of course, the royal Camas Days crown.

The couple, along with former Camas Days royalty, will be vetted at the annual Senior Royal Court luncheon at Zion Lutheran Church immediately following the Grand Parade on Saturday, July 27.

Before that, however, the king and queen must be honored in a public coronation ceremony hosted by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Camas-Washougal, which is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at The Outpost, located at 573 30th St., Washougal.

The Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce’s 48th annual Camas Days celebration will offer two parades, including the Kids Parade at noon Friday, July 26, and the Grand Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27; bathtub races; a wine and microbrew street; live music; nonprofit, craft and food vendors; and a variety of family friendly activities. The Downtown Camas Association also will host its annual Picnic in Color, a free family arts and crafts celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 27, following the two-day Camas Days festivities, in downtown Camas.

For more information about Camas Days, visit the Chamber at cwcham ber.com.