July 4: Attend the annual Vancouver Fireworks Spectacular and Independence Day Celebration from 4 to 10:30 p.m. at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 612 E Reserve St., culminating in the Northwest’s largest fireworks show at 10:05 p.m. Bring blankets and chairs to reserve your viewing spot and enjoy food trucks and live entertainment. www.thehistorictrust.org
July 4: Enjoy big-time small-town fun at the Ridgefield Fourth of July Celebration from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Main Avenue and in Overlook Park. Activities run the gamut from a pancake breakfast, pie-eating contest and parades (kids, pets and patriotic) to face painting, bounce houses and dancing in the plaza. ridgefield4th.com.
July 4: Clark County and ilani will host the first Clark County 4th at the Fairgrounds, 17702 N.E. Delfel Road, from 5 to 10:30 p.m., featuring the eight-band Battle of the Bands at 5:45 p.m. followed by a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Also enjoy on-site food vendors, games, the Activity Zone and beer and wine gardens. Admission is free; parking is $6 cash. www.clarkcounty4th.com
July 4: Enjoy scenic views of the Columbia River at the Camas-Washougal Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at the new Washougal Waterfront Park, 56 S. First St., Washougal. Hear The Junebugs and 5 Guys Named Moe, enjoy food carts and a beer garden, and stay for the fireworks at 10 p.m. 360-835-2196 or portcw.com
July 5: Get your poker face on at the Camas First Friday Poker Tour and Game Night, 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Camas along N.E. Fourth Ave. Collect a “poker card” from participating merchants, and turn in your cards to the “dealer” at Camas Antiques by 8 p.m. to win prizes. Other games, kids’ activities, art shows and after-hours shopping will be offered throughout downtown Camas. www.downtowncamas.com
July 5: It’s a Summer Celebration at the Vancouver Waterfront, Columbia Way between Grant and Esther streets, with a free concert by Top Shelf from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a showing of “Mary Poppins Returns” (PG) after dark. Bring blankets, chairs and picnics, or enjoy dinner from food trucks or one of the waterfront restaurants. 503-245-1976 or thewaterfrontvancouverusa.com
July 6: Find your next treasured heirloom from one of 500 vintage and antique dealers at the NW’s Largest Garage and Vintage Sale, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Admission is $5, kids 12 and under are free; early birds can come at 7 a.m. for $20. www.nwgsales.com
July 6: Celebrate all things potato at Ridgefield Spudder Fest, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Avenue and in Overlook Park. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, farmers market, kids’ crafts and storytime, juggling and science with Rhys Thomas, then join the Potato Games, Potato Olympics and Potato 500 Races. End the day with a glass of wine in the Spudder’s Crest wine garden. ridgefieldwa.us/event/homecoming-and-spudder-fest
July 6 and 13: Kids ages 8 to 12 can get hands-on archaeology experience during Kids Dig at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 1001 E. Fifth St., Vancouver. At 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day, kids will excavate a mock archaeological site using real tools and techniques. The program is free with paid adult admission ($10). RSVP at go.nps.gov/kidsdigs.
July 7 to Aug. 11: Columbia Tech Center Sunday Sounds is a free outdoor concert series at Columbia Tech Center Park, 17701 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. in east Vancouver. Bring blankets and chair to enjoy live music from local bands, 6 to 8 p.m. every Sunday. Bring a picnic or buy prepared meals from food vendors. www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec/page/summer-concert-series
July 10 to Aug. 14: Get musical inspiration at the free Noon Rhythms Concert Series, noon to 1 p.m. every Wednesday in Esther Short Park, West Eighth and Columbia Streets. Grab a spot on the lawn and enjoy your own lunch or buy food from on-site vendors. www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec/page/summer-concert-series
July 11 to Aug. 15: Summer is officially here when the Six to Sunset Concert Series comes to Esther Short Park, West Eighth and Columbia Streets, from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Enjoy beer and wine at Pub in the Park, grab dinner from a food truck or bring a picnic. Admission is free and seating is your own blankets and chairs. www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec/page/summer-concert-series
July 12 to Aug. 16: When the evenings are warm and the kids are restless, enjoy free, family-friendly Movies in the Park, 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays in a different city park every time. Pre-movie activities start at 7 p.m. and movies start at dusk. Bring picnic dinners; movie snacks can be purchased on location. For the complete lineup, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec
July 13 to 27: Learn about Clark County’s rich history during July’s History Walking Tours, hosted by the Clark County Historical Museum. July 12-13 is Uptown Village, July 19-20 is the Hough neighborhood, July 21 is Arnada Gardens and July 26-27 is the Old City Cemetery. Tours are generally from noon to 1 p.m. on Fridays and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays; locations vary. The cost is $12. RSVP at cchmuseum.ejoinme.org/summer_walking_tours.
July 13: Bring your little ones to Second Saturday at the Water Center, 1 to 3 p.m. at 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver, to learn about “Wildflowers and Pollinators.” This free afternoon features kid-friendly information, activities and crafts about the insects, birds and mammals that pollinate crops and wild plants. www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/second-saturday-water-center
July 13: Saturday in the Park PRIDE is Vancouver’s free, family-friendly gay pride event, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Esther Short Park, West Eighth and Columbia streets, Vancouver. Enjoy live entertainment, food and artisan vendors and get connected with LGBTQ+ resources. 360-524-2661 or www.facebook.com/VanUSAPride
July 20: From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Vancouver’s Main Street — all the way from 28th Street in Uptown Village to Sixth Street in downtown Vancouver — will be transformed into a nonstop parade of classic cars and hot rods during Cruise the Couve. Join the cruise to show off your sweet ride or grab a lawn chair and watch from the sidewalk while more than 1,000 vehicles vroom on by. www.cruisethecouve.net
July 25-28: Go to Hawaii without ever leaving the Couve during Four Days of Aloha, the Ke Kukui Foundation’s annual Polynesian cultural festival with workshops, a fun run, tropical music, Hawaiian food, hula dancing and artisan vendors in Esther Short Park, 301 W. Eighth St., Vancouver. Admission is free, although fees and registration are required for workshops. hawaiianfestivalpnw.com
