1. Oktober in September
Get a taste of Germany right here in Clark County. After all, what’s fall without beer gardens and German food? The fifth annual Washougal Oktoberfest, starting at 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at Reflection Plaza at 1703 Main St. is an early one — starting the same month as Munich’s fest. Polka until your feet are blistered while listening to accordion tunes, and then take a load off in the beer garden, which will feature local suds from 54-40 Brewing Co. and Doomsday Brewing. The Camas Lions are providing German food specialties and 100 percent of the fest profits go to nonprofits, including aiding the Columbia River Gorge relief efforts. Ages 12 and under are admitted for free and receive a punch card for food. Those under 21 are allowed into the festival from 4 to 8 p.m., and the beer garden stays open until 10 p.m. The cost for the family festival is $5, while a commemorative stein beer garden ticket goes for $13. 360-335-1008 or www.visitwashougal.com
2. Toys from the past
Let nostalgia take over at the Vintage Toy and Collectible Show on Sept. 30. Featuring more than 100 vendor tables at WareHouse ’23 at 100 Columbia St. in Vancouver, this market runs the gamut from vintage and antique toys, games and dolls to train sets, records and other throwback trinkets. It has everything to make you feel like a kid again, and even free admission if you’ve got a kid — for those 15 and under. The show, which requires vendors to have at least 80 percent of their items as vintage or antique, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with $10 early bird tickets for entry during the first 90 minutes. After 10 a.m., general admission drops to $3. 360-513-4828 or www.facebook.com/Vancouver-Toy-Junkies-221542678050307
3. Oh hoppy day
Get the freshest hops possible, as the Vancouver Brewfest kicks off at noon on Sept. 30 not long after the hop harvest. The Brewfest extends beyond just beer, with food and live music also making appearances at the Vancouver Landing Amphitheater, 110 Columbia St. Local Vancouver breweries such as Loowit Brewing Co. and Heavy Metal Brewing Co. will be on tap. In a naming nod to “Star Wars,” Loowit will serve “Lando Hoprissian,” an IPA that clocks in at 6.4 percent alcohol by volume, while Heavy Metal will present “Fresh Hop Slippery When Wet,” which has 6.8 percent alcohol by volume. The Brewfest is for those 21 and older. Tickets are $15 and only available for purchase online. A ticket includes admission, one pint glass and eight tokens for beer. Additional tokens cost $1.25 each. vancouverbrewfest.com
4. Quilt expo
Who doesn’t love a good quilt? At the annual Northwest Quilting Expo at the Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive, you can do more than just buy something to snuggle with during the upcoming cold season. This expo includes quilt exhibitions, a quilting competition, vendors, classes and lectures from quilting experts. One of the featured quilters, McKenna Ryan, who has a showroom in Portland and handcrafts her quilts piece by piece, will display her “Simply Beautiful, Beautifully Simple” quilt designs, which depict some of her favorite things: the woods, the sea and animals. The expo runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 30. Admission is $10 per day. 503-736-5200 or www.nwquiltingexpo.com
