Love is in the air at February First Friday in downtown Camas

Love will be in the air in downtown Camas this week, as the Downtown Camas Association (DCA) hosts its annual “A Chocolate Affair to Remember” First Friday event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, throughout the city’s historic downtown business district.

Participating merchants will have an array of Valentine’s Day themed goodies for shoppers, including chocolate treats, sweets and romantic gifts.

“Nothing brings people together like chocolate,” Jan Carter, the DCA’s volunteer coordinator, said. “There’s such a variety of games and activities for all ages, plus all of the wonderful shopping and dining specials throughout town. It’s a fun opportunity for everyone to come downtown Camas and make some sweet memories.”

The event also marks the fifth anniversary of one of the DCA’s most memorable February First Fridays, when Camas couple Nick and Tami Calais — who had participated in every First Friday event since moving to the area in the spring of 2015 — invited the entire community to share in their love with a downtown Camas wedding celebration officiated by then-Camas Mayor Scott Higgins.

Nick and Tami will be on hand to greet First Friday shoppers on Feb. 3, and will be available for photos from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Feb. 3 First Friday celebration also includes the re-opening of Truly Scrumptious, a baked goods shop owned by longtime Camas Farmers’ Market vendor favorite, Kimberly Koch. The DCA will host a ribbon-cutting at Truly Scrumptious, located at 231 N.E. Fourth Ave., at 5 p.m. Friday, and the shop will have a “kissing booth” set up with free chocolate kisses for all participants.

Other events planned for the Feb. 3 “A Chocolate Affair to Remember” First Friday include special sales inside participating downtown businesses, free children’s activities, heart-health booths sponsored by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs inside Journey Church, at 304 N.E. Fourth Ave., and art receptions at several downtown art galleries, including:

• The Attic Gallery, at 421 N.E. Cedar St., will feature live music and refreshments to celebrate artists Deb McCarroll and Anna Wiancko Chasman;
• The LOFT Gallery, at 411 N.E. Dallas St., inside the Lara Blair Studio, will feature a Nostalgic Sugar exhibit;
• The Camas Public Library’s Second Story Gallery continues its two-month “Read All About It” show featuring front pages of the Camas-Washougal Post-Record newspaper (formerly known as The Camas Post and The Lacamas Post) from the early 1900s.
• The newly opened Pike Art Gallery, at 302 N.E. Sixth Ave., inside Minuteman Press, will feature paintings by gallery owner Liz Pike; and
• The Camas Gallery, at 408 N.E. Fourth Ave., will feature new artwork by several local Camas-Washougal area artists.

For more information about the Feb. 3 First Friday event, visit downtowncamas.com/event/chocolate-affair-remember or facebook.com/camasfirstfriday/timeline.