Seasonal celebrations

With Christmas right around the corner, there is no shortage of events and activities to celebrate the festive season.

The following is a listing of upcoming holiday events in Camas, Washougal and beyond.

Camas

Sip & Shop

The Holiday Sip & Shop is an after-hours shopping, dining and historic home tour event. It will be held Thursday, Dec. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. A fundraiser for the Downtown Camas Association, it will feature food and beverage tastings, shopping specials and caroling.

Ticket-holders receive a ride on a double-decker bus and a tour of the recently renovated historic 1923 Mill Manager’s House.

Tickets are $25 each, and can be purchased at www.downtowncamas.com.

Hometown Holidays

The Hometown Holidays community celebration will be held Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m., in downtown.

Photos with Santa, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., will be provided by Windows on Life Photography free or by donation, under a tent that will be set up on Birch Street near Northeast Fourth Avenue. The tree lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. The event will also include entertainment provided by more than 15 school and community choirs, bands and dancers.

The Liberty Theatre will show the holiday movie “Home Alone.” It begins at 8 p.m., in the main auditorium at 315 N.E. Fourth Ave. General admission is $4.50 per person.

For more information about Hometown Holidays, call 834-5307.

Holly Days Arts and Crafts Bazaar and Breakfast with Santa

The Holly Days Arts and Crafts Bazaar is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Liberty Middle School, 1612 N.E. Garfield St., Camas.

A pancake breakfast and photos with Santa will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Camas High School grad night party.

For more information, contact Leslie Quintana at 852-4294.

C-W Community Orchestra Christmas Concert

The Camas-Washougal Community Orchestra holiday concert will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m., at Camas United Methodist Church.

The concert will feature seasonal favorites and other selections. The event is free; donations will be accepted.

CUMC is located at 706 N.E. 14th Ave.

For more information, visit www.camasumc.org.

Celtic Muse

Harpists with the group Celtic Muse will perform in the fireplace area of the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., Thursday, Dec. 10, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 834-4692.

Caroling at the Library
People of all ages are invited to come to the Camas Public Library for an indoor caroling sing-along Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. Song booklets will be provided.
Free apple cider will be served.
For more information, call the library at 834-4692.

Washougal

Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade

Washougal’s annual Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade will be held Thursday, Dec. 3, at downtown’s Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main St. The parade on Main Street starts at 6 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 6:30.

Santa Claus will be part of the parade, and then stick around afterwards to distribute candy canes, listen to children’s Christmas wish lists and pose for photos taken by Windows on Life Photography.

For more information, call 835-8501, Ext. 602.

Festival of Trees

The sixth-annual Washougal Festival of Trees returns to Hathaway Elementary School, 630 24th St.

It will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. The event will feature decorated trees and gift baskets which will be given to the people who bid the most during a silent auction.

Breakfast with Santa will be held Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Proceeds will be distributed to all seven Washougal schools.

For more information, follow the event’s Facebook page at Washougal Festival of Trees.

Winter Craft Series

Create decorations for the holidays during the the Washougal Community Library’s Winter Craft Series.

On Thursday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m., create ornaments from a variety of materials. Wassail and cookies will be served. Books will be available to purchase as part of a fundraiser for the Friends of the Washougal Community Library.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., it will be time to make wreaths and centerpieces. Greenery, wreath forms and ribbon will be provided by Friends of the Washougal Community Library. Participants should bring their own embellishments and clippers.

The library is located at 1661 “C” St. For more information, call 906-4860.

Christmas Ships

The Christmas Ships will parade at the Port of Camas-Washougal marina Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m.

The doors of the port office, located at 24 S. “A” St., in Washougal, will open to the public for viewing at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.portcw.com.

Stevenson

Christmas in the Gorge

Christmas in the Gorge will be held Friday, Dec. 4 though Sunday, Dec. 6, in Stevenson.

On Friday, at 6:55 p.m., a Christmas tree will be lit in downtown Stevenson at the Skamania County Courthouse, 170 N.W. Vancouver Ave., followed by the Starlight Parade at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be a breakfast with Santa event at Rock Cove Assisted Living Center, 986 S.W. Rock Creek Drive. Seatings for the free event are scheduled for 9, 9:30, 10 and 10:30 a.m. Call the Stevenson Chamber of Commerce at 427-8911.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a handcrafted arts and crafts bazaar at the Skamania County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 710 S.W. Rock Creek Drive.

A display of more than 100 ecumenical nativity scenes will be available for viewing at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 650 N.W. Gropper Road, Friday and Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.cityofstevenson.com.

Vancouver

Vancouver Rotary Foundation Festival of Trees

The Vancouver Rotary Foundation’s Festival of Trees will be held Friday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Nov. 29.

Festival tree viewing hours are Friday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 29, from noon to 4 p.m.

The 12 trees will be raffled off Sunday, at 4 p.m. Raffle tickets are $5 each. Proceeds support the Rotary’s scholarships for local students and other programs.

For more information, visit www.rotaryfestivaloftrees.org.

Vancouver Farmers Market Holiday Market

The Holiday Market will be held Saturday, Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Vancouver Hilton, 301 W. Sixth St.

For more information, visit www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com.

‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’

Magenta Theater performances of “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,” will be held Dec. 3 and 4, 10-12 and 16-18 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 5 and 19, at 2 p.m.
For more information or to pre-purchase tickets, visit http://www.magentatickets.com/tickets

Va Va Voom performs “A Christmas to Remember”

The Va Va Voom theater troop will perform its original production of “A Christmas to Remember.”

The comedic show follows the adventures of Santa and Mrs. Claus, when they are suddenly thrown into the dating scene as singles.

Shows are scheduled for Dec. 9, 10 and 11 at 2 p.m., and Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., at The Barberton Grange, 9400 N.E. 72nd Ave., Vancouver.

Cost is $10 per person at the door.

For more information, call (503) 314-0299 or email info@vavavoomtroupe.com.

Christmas at the Fort

Experience the sights and sounds of the 1840s holiday season at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Saturday, Dec. 12. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors will be able to view and participate in activities undertaken by residents at the fort during the holiday season.

Admission is $5 per person for ages 16 and older, and free for children ages 15 and younger. Fort Vancouver is located at 1001 E. Fifth St.

For more information, call the visitor center at 816-6230.

Columbia Dance performs ‘The Nutcracker’

“The Nutcracker” will be presented by Columbia Dance in December.

A cast of more than 90 dancers will present the story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they battle the Mouse King and embark on a journey through the Land of Snow and into the Kingdom of Sweets.

Local performers include Jenny Wang and Sophie Shang of Camas, and Hannah Gutkind and Cassidy Morris of Washougal.
Performances are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 20, at 1 and 5 p.m., and Monday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m., at the Royal Durst Theater at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, 3101 Main St.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and students, and $10 for children.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.columbiadance.org.

Portland
ZooLights

More than 1.6 million sparkling lights and brilliant hues transform the Oregon Zoo into a winter wonderland during ZooLights. The traditional holiday light show opens Friday, Nov. 27 and runs through Jan. 3.

ZooLights hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday. ZooLights will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. Admission on Value Nights, Monday through Thursday, from 5 to 8 p.m., Nov. 30 to Dec. 17, is $9.95 for adults, $7.95 for seniors, $4.95 for children and free for children ages 2 and younger. Regular ZooLights admission, Fridays and Saturdays, from 5 to 9 p.m., is $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for senior citizens, $9.95 for children, and free for children ages 2 and younger.

Zoo members may attend for free.

The zoo, located at 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, in Portland, opens at 9 a.m. daily. It is accessible by MAX light rail line. Visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $5 off general admission.

For more information, visit bit.ly/ZooLightsFAQ.