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The Downtown Camas Pumpkin Pageant returns this week with a new “Nightmare Before Christmas” theme for the Downtown Camas Association’s First Friday event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, throughout downtown Camas.
Festivities will include voting for the “People’s Pumpkin” inside participating merchants, “Nightmare Before Christmas” themed and Autumn-themed crafts and games, prizes, themed photo opportunities, after-hours shopping, dining and a themed costume contest at 7 p.m.
Fans of the “Nightmare Before Christmas” film can stop by Bookish, the downtown Camas children’s and young adult bookstore that recently celebrated their one-year anniversary, for potion making in “Sally’s Apothecary”. They can also meet the character “Oogie Boogie” and enjoy gummy worms. Local tarot card reader and Caffe Piccolo Manager Allie Baden will be at the shop with her tarot deck for those interested in a reading.
First Friday activities include:
- The 18th annual pumpkin pageant: Participating downtown businesses will each have a carved or decorated pumpkin vying for the “People’s Pumpkin” award. Vote for the favorite and enter to win a fall-themed prize basket donated by downtown merchants. The merchant that wins the “People’s Pumpkin” award also receives a prize;
- “Nightmare Before Christmas” costume contest: People of all ages are invited to show off their best NBC costumes. Prizes will be given for “best costume” in homemade and store-bought categories for adults and children, as well as a prize for Best Group Costume. The contest starts at 7 p.m. at Journey Church, 304 N.E. Fourth Ave. Participants can sign-up that night at the DCA tables there between 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.;
- Themed children’s crafts with the Girl Scouts at LiveWell Camas;
- An “Oogie Boogie” dice game;
- A “Nightmare Before Christmas” photo opportunity;
- A STEM activity featuring a Pumpkin Geo Board;
- Art shows at downtown Camas galleries, including the 411 Art Collective (411 N.E. Dallas St.), Attic Gallery (421 N.E. Cedar St.), Camas Gallery (408 N.E. Fourth Ave.), Pike Art Gallery (302 N.E. Sixth Ave.) and the Second Story Gallery, located on the second floor of the Camas Public Library;
- Fall-inspired shopping, dining and live music throughout downtown.
“The new ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ theme will bring out new fans and exciting new costumes to First Friday,” said Leah Nichelson, the DCA’s event and project manager. “We can’t wait to see how the downtown Camas merchants use this year’s theme to carve and decorate their pumpkins for the Pumpkin Pageant in exciting new ways. Everyone is invited to dress up and celebrate the changing seasons at this festive event.”
For more information, visit downtowncamas.com/event/october-first-friday-pumpkin-pageant-costume-event or the DCA’s First Friday Facebook page.
