‘Dog Days of Summer’ celebration off to a howling start in downtown Camas

Miss Nola’s owners, Melissa McCusker (left) and Tim McCusker (right) stand with their daughter, Cyenna, 12, outside their downtown Camas restaurant before First Friday festivities got started at 5 p.m.

The July First Friday celebration in downtown Camas is happening tonight from 5 to 8 p.m., with live music from the Vancouver-based Americana roots band, the Mudbugs, happening just outside Miss Nola’s, at the corner of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Northeast Cedar Street, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Kelly Moyer/Post-Record
Carrie Schulstad, executive director at Downtown Camas Association (left) greets Candy Jackson (right) at the “Dog Days of Summer” First Friday celebration in downtown Camas tonight. Jackson, along with her husband, Ken, makes up the Americana roots band The Mudbugs, which is playing tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for Camas’ First Friday.

Tim McCusker, owner of Miss Nola’s, helped organize a crawfish feed and dog parade for the “Dog Days of Summer” themed First Friday. At 5 p.m., the owners of Miss Nola’s were busy getting their live crawfish ready and gathering steam for the free hush puppies they’re giving away this evening.

The dog parade is Mardi Gras themed, combining Miss Nola’s low country, New Orleans inspired fare with the Barkus Parade,  the annual dog parade portion of the Mardi Gras celebration and a word-play on “Bacchus” the Roman god of wine and intoxication.

To see all of tonight’s events, visit the Downtown Camas Association and check in with the Post-Record’s Facebook and Twitter sites to see photos from the dog parade and other First Friday festivities.