Camas Days returns this week after 2-year COVID interruption

One of Clark County’s biggest events – the annual Camas Days celebration, which regularly draws more than 10,000 people to the streets of downtown Camas — returns this week after a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The two-day Camas Days festival, hosted by the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce, officially kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, in historic downtown Camas. 

Camas Days visitors can browse dozens of vendor booths along Northeast Fourth Avenue; grab a bite to eat at one of the 14 food booths on Northeast Birch Street; and check out the KidsStreet, with its 50-foot inflatable slide, obstacle course and games, along Northeast Dallas Street on Friday before heading toward Camas City Hall (616 N.E. Fourth Ave.) for the popular Kids Parade, which begins at 12:15 p.m. near the corner of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Northeast Franklin Street. 

Friday night’s Camas Days festivities include a Beer and Wine Garden for those age 21 and older on Northeast Birch Street between Northeast Fourth and Fifth avenues, featuring live music by The Beth Willis Band (5 to 7 p.m.) and The Caddies (7 to 10:30 p.m.). 

The 2022 “Experience the Magic of Camas” themed Camas Days fun continues on Saturday, July 23, with the Camas United Methodist Church’s annual blueberry pancake breakfast — a fundraiser for Camas’ summertime Movies in the Park — from 7:30 to 11 a.m. and continues with another full day of vendor and food booths, as well as the Kids Street. 

Two of the most popular Camas Days’ events — the Camas Days Grand Parade and the bathtub races — are set for Saturday, July 23. The parade will wind its way down Northeast Fourth Avenue from Northeast Oak to Northeast Adams streets, beginning at 11 a.m. and the bathtub races take place at 1 p.m. near the corner of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Northeast Franklin Street. 

The 2022 Camas Days Senior Royal Queen — Washougal City Councilwoman and former Washougal Mayor Molly Coston — will ride in the Camas Days Grand Parade on Saturday, and be honored at the Senior Royalty Luncheon at Zion Lutheran Social Hall (824 N.E. Fourth Ave.) immediately following the parade. 

The beer and wine garden, with its live music acts, opens again at 5 p.m. Saturday, with The Beth Willis Band performing from 5 to 7 p.m. and The Hot Shots playing from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. 

For those craving something more substantial for dinner, there will be a steak feed at Grove Field airport (632 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas) from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 23. 

Though the official Camas Days festival runs Friday through Saturday, July 22-23, there are a ton of other Camas Days-adjacent events happening in Camas on Thursday, July 21, and Sunday, July 24, including a used book sale at the Camas Public Library (625 N.E. Fourth Ave.), which runs Thursday through Sunday, July 21-24; a Summer Concert in the Park featuring Kevin Selfe and The Tornadoes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at Crown Park (120 N.E. 17th Ave.); an open house with $25 plane rides at Grove Field from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday; the annual softball tournament from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday; and the Camas-Washougal Rotary Club’s annual Ducky Derby drawing at the downtown Camas Picnic in Color at noon on Sunday. 

See the full schedule of events below. For more information, visit cwchamber.com/camas-days.

Picnic in Color follows Camas Days on Sunday, July 24

The Downtown Camas Association (DCA) will host its annual Picnic in Color event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 24, on Northeast Fourth Avenue (from Cedar to Dallas streets) and Northeast Cedar Street (from Fourth to Fifth avenues) in downtown Camas. 

The free, family-friendly Picnic in Color encourages participants to dress in bright colors and bring a picnic lunch — or purchase food at a downtown eatery — and enjoy dining outdoors, along the tree-lined streets of downtown Camas. Those dressed in bright art- or color-themed outfits may receive raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes donated by downtown Camas merchants.
The 2022 Picnic in Color will feature an interactive puppet show, art projects, hands-on clay sculpting, child-friendly food vendors and the annual Ducky Derby drawing. 

The adventure begins at the Picnic in Color check-in booth at the corner of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Northeast Cedar Street, near the fountain. Attendees can choose from a variety of family-oriented events, including a wish-box decorating station with members of  the Artisan’s Guild of Camas; creating clay sculptures with artist Jen Hanson with Maker, Art and Play; a hands-on tie-dye project hosted by Heather Fresh of UPWARD Camas; a paper art project that will be added to a larger artwork to be displayed in the Camas library; caricature drawing with local artist Peter O’Brien; colorful hair flair at The Wild Hair booth; a puppet show by the Portland-based Pegasus Puppet Theater, which begins at noon on Sunday; and live music provided by DJ Linus. 

The local Rotary Club will host the annual Ducky Derby Kid Races during the Picnic in Color event. Children can decorate a retired rubber duck (those used in previous Ducky Derbies) to race down a working flume. Rotarians will be at the event, selling tickets for  the 28th annual Ducky Derby, a fundraiser for the local Rotary Club’s annual scholarships. Visit facebook.com/cwduckyderby for more information or to purchase Ducky Derby tickets. 

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Used Book Sale: The Camas Public Library (625 N.E. Fourth Ave.) will host its summertime Used Book Sale during the Camas Days festival. Find thousands of hardcover and paperback books at bargain prices.

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Kids Street: Bring the young ones to this festival favorite at Dallas Street and Fourth Avenue and enjoy a 50-foot inflatable slide, obstacle course, games and more.

11:30 a.m. — Kids Parade judging: Parade attendees will meet in front of Camas City Hall for a parade line-up and judging.

12:15 p.m. — Kids Parade begins

5 to 11 p.m. — Beer & Wine Garden: Come enjoy adult beverages and live music on Birch Street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues in downtown Camas, at this 21-and-older, roped-off beer and wine garden. Entertainment includes the Beth Willis Band from 5 to 7 p.m. and The Caddies from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Cost is $5 at the door. Bring cash for beverage tokens. This event is for ages 21 and older.

SATURDAY, JULY 23

7:30 to 11 a.m. — Blueberry Pancake Breakfast: The Camas United Methodist Church (708 N.E. 14th Ave.) hosts its annual blueberry pancake breakfast, a fundraiser for Camas’ annual “Movies in the Parks” event.

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Vendor Booths: Dozens of vendors will sell handmade crafts, gifts, food and more along six city blocks in historic, downtown Camas.

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Food Booths: Find food from all over the world at the food booths on Birch Street, between Third and Fourth avenues in downtown Camas.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Used Book Sale: The Camas Public Library (625 N.E. Fourth Ave.) will host its summertime Used Book Sale during the Camas Days festival. Find thousands of hardcover and paperback books at bargain prices. Book sale proceeds will benefit the Camas Public Library and help bring enrichment programs to the community.

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Kids Street: Bring the children to this festival favorite at Dallas Street and Fourth Avenue and enjoy a 50-foot inflatable slide, obstacle course, games and more.

11 a.m. — Camas Days Grand Parade: A beloved part of the annual Camas Days’ tradition, the grand parade kicks off at 11 a.m. and heads through downtown Camas along Fourth Avenue, between Oak and Adams streets. This year’s theme is “Experience the Magic of Camas.”

Immediately following Grand Parade — Senior Royalty Luncheon: The annual Senior Royalty Luncheon will honor 2022 Camas Days’ Royal Queen, Molly Coston, at Zion Lutheran Social Hall (824 N.E. Fourth Ave.)

1 p.m. — Bathtub Races: Teams will steer their bathtubs filled with ice-cold water through a street course during the annual Camas Days bathtub races. The popular event begins at 1 p.m. in front of the Camas Public Library (625 N.E. Fourth Ave.) in downtown Camas.

5 to 11 p.m. — Beer & Wine Garden: Come enjoy adult beverages and live music on Birch Street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues in downtown Camas, at this 21-and-older, roped-off beer and wine garden. Entertainment includes the Beth Willis Band from 5 to 7 p.m. and The Hot Shots from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Cost is $5 at the door. This event is for ages 21 and older, only.

6 to 8 p.m. — Steak Feed at Grove Field: The Camas-Washougal Aviation Association will host a Steak Feed at Camas’ Grove Field airport (632 N.E. 267th Ave.) with proceeds benefitting the CWAA’s scholarship fund. The cost is $15 per person and includes an introductory membership in the CWAA. Dinner includes a field-barbecued 6-ounce steak (chicken also available), salad, baked potato, pork and beans, lemonade and cake. Participants should bring their own steak knife.

SUNDAY, JULY 24

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Grove Field Open House: The folks from the Camas-Washougal Aviation Association will offer first-come, first-served plane rides for $25 per person. There also will be airplane displays, refreshments and more on hand at this annual aviation-themed open house.