Summertime is just around the corner

The torrential downpour of rain the area received yesterday doesn’t indicate it, but summer is (hopefully) right around the corner. And in small communities like Camas and Washougal, the summer months bring many opportunities for local residents to get out and about, interact, and enjoy all that the area has to offer.

Upcoming community events include:

Camtown: Saturday’s Camtown Youth Festival is a free, youth-focused event and includes a variety of games and interactive amusements, arts and crafts activities, entertainment, food, dunk tank, youth art show, a petting zoo, a kids’ flea and craft market, and kid-related information booths. This year’s event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crown Park.

Hamllik Park Safety Fair: The free event will be held Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hamllik Park, located at Addy Street and Addy Loop. It will include a barbecue with information about fire safety from the Washougal Fire Department, emergency response from the American Red Cross and personal and bicycle safety from the Washougal Police Department.

Hike on the Dike: The fourth annual “Hike on the Dike,” which supports the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, will be held Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hike will begin at the WCGHS, 2695 S. Index St., Washougal.

Graduations: Nothing brings out the community like local high school graduations, and hundreds of Camas and Washougal seniors will be celebrating theirs in the coming weeks. This Friday, Excelsior High School will hold its graduation event, followed by the Panthers’ ceremony on Saturday. Camas High School students will cross the stage on Friday, June 15, followed by Hayes Freedom High School grads on Saturday, June 16.

Camas Farmer’s Market: The Market opens its fifth season Wednesday, June 13, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. weekly, through Oct. 10, between Everett and Franklin streets. According to organizers, the market will offer fresh produce, locally produced food products, meal and snack offerings, live music, and educational programs including cooking demonstrations and free children’s activities.

Liberty Theatre 85th anniversary: The downtown Camas landmark will celebrate Thursday, June 14, with special film screenings and other events.

Camas Days: The annual community festival on July 27 and 28, with the theme “Three Ring Circus,” will bring street vendors, parades, food, wine and microbrew street, bathtub races and kids activities to downtown Camas.