News 
Several Independence Day celebrations will be held in the Camas-Washougal area. Following is a list of a few local options to help you enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July.
Live music on Washougal waterfront
The Port of Camas-Washougal will host festivities from 4 to 10:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, at Washougal Waterfront Park, 335 S. “A” St., Washougal. There is no admission charge, and the festivities are open to the public.
Food vendors will be set up by 4 p.m., to sell tacos, gyros, fruit, ice cream and cotton candy. The Camas Lions will serve hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken strips, as well as beer from 54°40’ Brewing Co., of Washougal.
Camas Lions Club President Leslie Chasse said food and beer sales exceeded expectations in 2017, and they ran out of both during the waterfront celebration.
“At the park, with views up and down river that include the sunset to the west and Mount Hood to the east, folks bring folding chairs or blankets for the lawn and listen to the bands play,” Chasse said. “The fireworks are fired off a barge just off shore. It is very exciting stuff.”
Sadie Hayes, the Port’s community relations specialist, said because of limited resources and space, there will not be a children’s bicycle parade this year, but there will be a face painter.
The Junebugs will perform high energy folk-rock from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by some old time rock and roll provided by 5 Guys Named Moe from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Fireworks, funded by $18,000 from the city of Washougal’s lodging tax funds, will be set off at 10 p.m.
Approximately 10 Port employees will work during Independence Day, to help set up for the event, replace full garbage cans, provide traffic control and help with parking. Port Executive Director David Ripp said the Port workers will also manage and maintain restrooms, help with operations of Washougal Waterfront Park, Marina Park and Parker’s Landing Historical Park, provide crowd control and manage any electrical or maintenance emergencies that may occur.
For more information, contact Port Executive Assistant Yvette Winden at yvette@portcw.com or 360-835-8098 or visit portcw.com.
Music and fireworks to fill the air in Skamania County
An Independence Day celebration will be held Wednesday, July 4, at the Skamania County Fairgrounds, 650 S.W. Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson. Popcorn, corn dogs and cotton candy will be available for purchase. “The Big River Blues Band” will entertain beginning at approximately 7 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled to begin around 10 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more event information, call 800-989-9178 or e-mail info@skamania.org.
Celebrate Fourth at Fort Vancouver
Vancouver’s Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Columbia Credit Union, will be held Wednesday, July 4, at Fort Vancouver, 101 E. Reserve St., Vancouver.
Gates will open at 8 a.m., but event organizers recommend community members start arriving after 6 p.m. Guests can ride C-TRAN for free, with shuttles running every 15 minutes from the Fishers Landing and 99th Street transit stations, and there will be return service after the 10:05 p.m. fireworks show.
Admission will be free and open to the public. Donations for the event will be accepted, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Lower Columbia Veterans Coalition. There will be no food vendors or beer garden, but people can bring their own food and beverages (no alcohol) to the festivities. For more information, visit thehistorictrust.org/calendar/vancouvers-fireworks-spectacular.
American Legion to host parade and community festival
The seventh annual American Legion Cape Horn Post 122 and Auxiliary Fourth of July parade and community festival will begin with a parade at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 4, in the Cape Horn-Skye Elementary/Canyon Creek Middle School parking lot at 9731 Washougal River Road, Washougal.
Parade participants are advised to arrive between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Skamania County Fire District 4 firefighters and other local residents will walk in the parade, which will end at Legion Hall, 10221 Washougal River Road. To participate in the parade, sign up at the American Legion fireworks booth or Washougal River Mercantile, 4232 Canyon Creek Road, Washougal.
After the parade, a community festival will include free children’s games at Legion Hall, and hot dogs and soda or water will be available to purchase. Event proceeds will benefit the American Legion. Admission is free, and the festivities are open to the public. For more information, call 360-837-2006 or visit the American Legion Cape Horn Post 122’s Facebook site.
