Save the Date: Kumoricon, dogs in pools, folkies, fun at the fort

Today’s a great day to sit back and watch the fun as Kumoricon returns to downtown Vancouver. The convention for Japanese anime and pop culture brings hundreds of colorful costumed fans to Esther Short Park throughout the day. Those interested in attending the convention can register for day-of tickets from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. Admission is $40 for today and Sunday, $30 for Monday, and $10 less each day for ages 12 and younger. www.kumoricon.org

• Watch dogs of all sizes jump into the pool during the Pooch Plunge. From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, 50 dogs can take part in the five swim periods at the Marshall Community Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver, with a $10 fee for each participating dog. Outside in the park will be a bevy of dog-themed activities for Bark in the Park, hosted by Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington, or DOGPAW. www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec

Upcoming

• Enjoy the sounds of guitarists, singer-songwriters and musicians during the third annual Clark County Folk Festival. The lineup features indie folk duo Kate Power and Steven Einhorn, Celtic performer Peter Yeates and A Fine Mess, fiddler Aaron Carter and more from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12. There will be wine, food, arts and crafts also on display at Moulton Falls Winery, 31101 N.E. Railroad Ave., Yacolt. Tickets are $12 to $15, free for ages 12 and younger. 360-686-4070 or www.clarkcountyfolkfestival.com

• It’s a walk through local history during the annual Campfires and Candlelight. Visitors can explore the different eras at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site at dusk, and see how U.S. Army soldiers, Oregon Trail immigrants and the residents of Fort Vancouver Village and the Hudson’s Bay Company spent their evenings, recreated by costumed volunteers. The free event runs 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 12. It’s also a great preview of the annual Lantern Tours, which kick off Oct. 10. 360-816-6230 or www.nps.gov/fova/index.htm

• Vancouver USA Singers will host a benefit concert for members Bart and Valerie Moore, who lost their home in a Fourth of July fire. The choir and soloists of Vancouver USA Singers will perform, along with bluegrass group Misty Mamas, Tony Rocci, jazz vocalist Darcy Schmitt and more musical guests. The benefit concert takes place 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at the First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver. Donations encouraged. www.vancouverusasingers.org

• If you can’t make it to the Pooch Plunge, save the date for the Doggie Dive on Sept. 26. Each fall, the Lake Shore Athletic Club opens up its outdoor pool to the dogs, with proceeds benefiting the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. The swimming day runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at Lake Shore Athletic Club, 2401 N.W. 94th St., Vancouver. It is $15 per dog. http://southwesthumane.org/engage/events/doggie-dive

• Though BirdFest and Bluegrass won’t happen until Oct. 3 and 4, the festival’s popular special events and tours are now open for reservation. Highlights include the Sandhill Crane Tours, which lets participants see hundreds of sandhill cranes returning to their night roost, an introduction to watercolor painting and bird language for beginners. Registration also is open for the guided kayak tours and the big canoe paddle, offering a water-side view of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Sandhill crane tours are $25, paddle tours are $30, the canoe paddle is $10, and all other events are free. www.ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfest