Camas Days expected to draw thousands to historic downtown this week

Camas Days, the annual downtown Camas festival organized by the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce will bring thousands of visitors to Camas’ historic downtown this weekend, with a full range of events planned for Friday and Saturday, July 26-27. 

This year’s “America the Beautiful” themed Camas Days will help celebrate all things “America” with a full array of family friendly activities, two parades — the Kids Parade at noon on Friday, July 26, and the Grand Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27 — food and vendor booths along Northeast Fourth Avenue from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; the popular “Kids Street” with its inflatable rides and other child-focused attractions running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days; a beer and wine garden for the 21-and-older crowd with live blues- and classic-rock music from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; the classic “bathtub races” at 1 p.m. Saturday; and a luncheon following the Grand Parade to honor current and past members of the Camas Days Senior Royal Court.  

An annual event since 1974, Camas Days regularly attracts between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors to downtown Camas the fourth weekend in July. The event is organized by the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Georgia Pacific’s Camas paper mill, Waste Connections, TSMC Washington, Columbia Credit Union, Vancouver Clinic, Ziply Fiber, The Columbian and Camas-Washougal Post-Record newspapers, You Move Me, Bath Planet, Santa’s 3D Toys, Fiber Federal Mortgage Company, The Red Door, Minuteman Press Camas, Sip & Paint for Fun Art Farm, Camas Boutique Hotel, Camas Light Brigade, the city of Camas and the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce.

Other events, including the The Friends & Foundation of the Camas Library’s annual used book sale, the Downtown Camas Association’s Picnic in Color, the city of Camas’ annual Concerts in the Park series, and the Camas-Washougal Rotary Club’s annual Ducky Derby fundraiser, also are set to take place throughout downtown Camas Thursday through Sunday, July 25-28.

For more information about this year’s Camas Days festival, visit cwchamber.com.

Following is an itinerary of events for the 2024 “America the Beautiful” Camas Days celebration:

Thursday, July 25 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Used Book Sale

The Friends and Foundation of Camas 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 bring enriching events to the Camas Public Library. 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Concert in the Park

Ty Curtis will bring his blues rock to the city of Camas’ Dorothy Fox Park (2623 N.W. Sierra St., Camas) for the City’s free “Summer Concerts in the Park” series, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25. 

Friday, July 26

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 Northeast Birch Street, between Northeast Third and Northeast Fourth avenues in downtown Camas.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Used Book Sale

The Friends & Foundation of the Camas 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 bring enriching events to the Camas Public Library. 

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Kids Street

Bring the young ones to this festival favorite at Northeast Dallas Street and Northeast Fourth Avenue and enjoy a 50-foot inflatable slide, obstacle course, games and more. 

11:30 a.m. — Kids Parade line-up and judging

Parade attendees will meet in front of Camas City Hall (616 N.E. Fourth Ave.), near the intersection of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Northeast Franklin Street, for a parade line-up and judging at 11:30 a.m. 

12:15 p.m. — Kids Parade begins 

The annual Kids Parade will begin in front of Camas City Hall (616 N.E. Fourth Ave.), head southwest on Northeast Fourth Avenue and wind its way through the heart of downtown Camas.  

5 to 11 p.m. — Beer & Wine Garden

Come enjoy adult beverages and live blues and classic rock music on Northeast Birch Street, between Northeast Fourth and Northeast 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. The cost is $8 at the door. This event is for ages 21 and older.

Saturday, July 27

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 Northeast Birch Street, between Northeast Third and Northeast Fourth avenues in downtown Camas.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Used Book Sale

The Friends & Foundation of the Camas 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 bring enriching events to the Camas Public Library. 

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Kids Street

Bring the young ones to this festival favorite at Northeast Dallas Street and Northeast 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 Camas Days Grand Parade begins at 11 a.m. and heads through downtown Camas along Northeast Fourth Avenue, between Northeast Oak and Adams streets. This year’s theme is “America the Beautiful.” Brent Erickson, the former executive director of the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce, is this year’s grand marshal of the Camas Days Grand Parade. 

Following the Grand Parade — Senior Royalty Luncheon

Immediately following the conclusion of the Grand Parade, the annual Senior Royalty Luncheon will honor past and current members of the Camas Days Senior Royal Court, including this year’s king and queen, Dennis and Kooky Helland, at the Zion Lutheran Social Hall near the corner of Northeast Third Avenue and Northeast Franklin Street.

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. near the corner of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Northeast Franklin Street in downtown Camas. 

5 to 11 p.m. — Beer & Wine Garden

Come enjoy adult beverages and live blues and classic rock music on Northeast Birch Street, between Northeast Fourth and Northeast 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. The cost is $8 at the door. This event is for ages 21 and older.

Sunday, July 28

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Picnic in Color

The Downtown Camas Association’s free, family friendly, arts- and crafts-focused Picnic in Color event helps wrap up the Camas Days festival weekend with an annual picnic in the heart of downtown Camas. The annual Picnic in Color asks participants to wear bright colors and bring a picnic basket, or purchase food from local vendors/restaurants, to eat together at a designated dining area set up on Northeast Cedar Street between Northeast Fourth and Northeast Fifth avenues. Participants who wear bright colors to the event can enter to win raffle tickets for prize baskets.

Noon — Ducky Derby Drawing

The Camas-Washougal Rotary Club will host its annual Ducky Derby drawing during the Picnic in Color. All ticket proceeds benefit the Rotary’s local programs and scholarships. 

Noon to 4 p.m. — Used Book Sale

The Friends & Foundation of the Camas 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 bring enriching events to the Camas Public Library. On Sunday, July 28, there will be a bag sale and customers can fill a shopping bag with books (other than those on the shelf of higher-value books) for $5.