Annual Camas Days celebration returns to downtown Camas this weekend

Are you ready for 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 21-22. 

This year’s “A Fairytale” themed Camas Days will help celebrate the Camas Public Library’s 100th anniversary with a full array of family friendly activities, two parades — the Kids Parade at noon on Friday, July 21, and the Grand Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 22 — food and vendor booths along Northeast Fourth Avenue, the popular “Kids Street” with its inflatable rides and other child-focused attractions, 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” on Saturday afternoon and a luncheon following the Grand Parade to honor Jeanette Jester, the 2023 Camas Days queen. 

An annual event since 1974, Camas Days regularly attracts between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors during the fourth weekend in July. The event is organized by the local Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Georgia Pacific’s Camas paper mill, Waste Connections, Wafertech LLC, Columbia Credit Union, Vancouver Clinic, Ziply Fiber, The Columbian, You Move Me, Bath Planet, Minuteman Press Camas, Sip & Paint for Fun Art Farm, Camas Boutique Hotel, Camas Light Brigade, Camas-Washougal Post Record, 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 20-23.

For more information about this year’s Camas Days festival, visit downtowncamas.com/wp-content/uploads/Schedule-of-Events.pdf.

Following is an itinerary of events for the 2023 “A Fairytale” Camas Days celebration:

Thursday, July 20

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.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Concert in the Park: The city of Camas’ 29th annual Summer Concerts in the Park series runs through Aug. 15. Shades of Huey will perform Huey Lewis cover songs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20, at Crown Park (120 N.E. 17th Ave.).

Friday, July 21

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 8 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 judging: Parade attendees will meet in front of Camas City Hall 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, 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 Sonny Hess Band from 5 to 7 p.m. and The Caddies from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The cost is $8 at the door and participants are encouraged to bring cash for beverage tokens. This event is for ages 21 and older.

Saturday, July 22

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 8 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 grand parade kicks off at 11 a.m. and heads through downtown Camas along Northeast Fourth Avenue, between Northeast Oak and Adams streets. This year’s theme is “A Fairytale.” Camas City Councilman Don Chaney is the 2023 grand marshal of the Camas Days Grand Parade.

Immediately following Grand Parade — Senior Royalty Luncheon: The annual Senior Royalty Luncheon will honor 2023 Camas Days’ Royal Queen Jeanette Jester 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 Sonny Hess Band from 5 to 7 p.m. and The Caddies from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The cost is $5 at the door. Participants should bring cash for beverage tokens. This event is for ages 21 and older.

Sunday, July 23

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 23, 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.