Save the Date: Hawaiian Festival, live music events on tap

Spend Saturday in the smells and sounds of the Pacific Islands, as the annual Hawaiian Festival takes over Esther Short Park, West Eighth and Columbia streets, Vancouver, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Dancers and Polynesian singers will take the park stage to showcase the variety of cultures and styles, and there will be plenty of children’s activities, arts and crafts and food vendors. http://hawaiianfestivalpnw.com

The first of the Sunday Sounds concert series runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday with the popular Patrick Lamb Band, a soul and funk band led by the award-winning saxophonist. The series takes place at the Columbia Tech Center Park, Southeast Tech Center Drive and Sequoia Circle, Vancouver, near Columbia Valley Elementary School. The concert is free, with blankets and lawn chairs encouraged. www.cityofvancouver.us/concerts

Music fans can follow Patrick Lamb to Bethany Vineyard and Winery, 4115 N.E. 259th St., Ridgefield, as he guest stars during the 3 Grands Concert for the Blind. The concert begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, featuring the talents of award-winning blind pianists Nick Baker, Brent Gjerve and Mac Potts, along with jazz vocalist Darcy Schmitt. Tickets are $30 for ages 12 and older, with proceeds benefiting the School of Piano Technology for the Blind and the Pacific Foundation for Blind Children. 360-887-3525 or www.bethanyvineyards.com

The 16th annual Race for the Homeless is next weekend, under the trees of Officers Row. Featuring 5K and 10K runs, a 5K walk and a kids fun run, the event benefits Open House Ministries, hosted by New Heights Church. Registration opens at 7 a.m., with a race start at 8 a.m. Aug. 1 from the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver. Registration is $20, free for kids fun run. http://newheights.org/race-for-the-homeless

The Vancouver Brewfest will go beyond pilsners this year, with more than 80 beers, along with ciders, mead, wine, rum and spirits bar for attendees to try. The festival is Aug. 7 to 9 in Esther Short Park, with proceeds to benefit Disabled American Veterans, NW Battle Buddies and Second Chance Companions. Admission is $20 to $30 for all three days, and $10 for designated drivers, 21 and older. 360-619-1111 or www.vancouverbrewfest.com

With the Clark County Fair right around the corner, early birds can save on admission and carnival ride wristbands with presale tickets. Admission is $9, $7 for seniors, $6 for children ages 7 to 12, free for ages 6 and younger, with $25 for all day ride wristbands. Regular admission is $11, $9 for seniors, $8 for ages 7 to 12, free for ages 6 and younger, with $28 to $30 for ride wristbands.

The fair runs Aug. 7 to 16, kicking off with the annual free pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 7. Free entry to the breakfast requires a coupon available at local Fred Meyers. This year’s fair lets visitors meet sea lions at Sea Lion Splash, step into a comic book cityscape in Superhero Adventure, and test their video game skills at the FairCon. During the first week, the Grandstands will feature nightly concerts at 7 p.m., with Kansas performing Aug. 7, John Kay and Steppenwolf performing Aug. 8, Montgomery Gentry performing Aug. 9 and The Guess Who performing Aug. 10. In the second week, the Grandstands will be filled at 2 and 7 p.m. with mutton bustin’ and bull riding Aug. 12, Moto X racing on Aug. 13, the demolition derby on Aug. 14, the tuff trucks on Aug. 15 and Monster Trucks finish the fair on Aug. 16. All Grandstand entertainment is included with fair admission, with VIP concert tickets available for $25 to $35. www.clarkcofair.com

Is the dress blue or gold? This month’s Science on Tap Vancouver, explores “The Neuroscience of Reality: Can You Trust Your Brain?” with Michael Morgan, professor of Psychology at Washington State University Vancouver. He will use sensory illusion to show how the brain exaggerates, omits and limits perception of the world. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. There’s $8 to $10 suggested cover. www.viaproductions.org

Mark your calendar for a trip across the river with the PDX Drive-In Movie Spectacular. The Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive, Portland, will revive the drive-in movie with a modern twist, with sound accessible via FM signal, along with outdoor speakers for bicyclists and pedestrians. There will be car clubs, activities, music, short films, food vendors and beer garden starting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 to 15 and 20 to 22. Vintage movies like “The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)” will be shown Aug. 13, “Ghostbusters (1984)” will be shown Aug. 14 and “American Graffiti (1973)” will be show Aug. 15. Ticket are $10 to $15 per car, $5 for bicycles and pedestrians, with advanced tickets recommened. www.expodrive-in.com