Locals enjoy Camas Days

People from all over the region flocked to downtown for the Camas Days festival. Everyone from tots to grandparents spent time sampling festival fare, perusing vendors booths and watching the various parades.

The weather also cooperated, with temperatures in the 80s for most of the weekend.

Children had their pick of activities to choose from at Kids Street, where ticket lines stretched around the block and young participants literally bounced from one activity to the other.

Some of the choices included a bounce house, two bouncy slides, a rock wall and fast pitch area.

Jennifer Harness came with her three young daughters. She has taken them to the festivities every year.

“I love all the rides and especially the caterpillar (bounce ride),” 7-year-old Andie Harness said. “And I love the candy and horses in the parade.”

Her sister Alyssa, 5, enjoys the kids parade.

“I love all the horses and the chicken,” she said.

Jennifer enjoys getting out and seeing friends.

“I just enjoy seeing the people,” she said. “I don’t get out that often so I get to see everyone, plus all the new small businesses.”

Heather Montez came to the festival Saturday with her children, 8-year-old twins Lukas and Holly. “We live in San Antonio now, but we come home every year to visit during Camas Days,” said Montez, who grew up in Camas. “I’ve been bringing the twins since they were born.”

Lukas’s favorite part of the festival is, “everything.”

“I like to play and run into my friends,” he said.

Holly enjoys the Kids’ Street activities the most.

“The caterpillar is my favorite because it is fun,” she said. “And I also love the food.”

Vendors also joined in on the fun.

Bonnie Jourger, who owns Brownie From Heaven with her husband Gary, spent the time tending to those with a sweet tooth.

“This is just fun,” she said. “It’s a great event that brings the neighborhood together.”

Her “brownies from heaven” are indeed that. Each one contains a truffle inside, and is layered with cream cheese that comes in eight flavors, smothered in a chocolate ganache.

“People usually love it,” Jourger said. “We’re pretty successful because we have a unique product.”

Locally, her brownies are sold at Twilight Pizza Bistro.

“The community here is very supportive,” she said.

Tammy Thiemann, who owns the Maui Wowi shaved ice and smoothie stand, is in her second year at the festival.

“I just love all the people here,” she said. “It’s a great community and I get to see lots of my friends.”