1. Community appreciation
It’s a celebration of community and past in Camas and Washougal. It begins with Wheels and Wings, the annual community appreciation day hosted by the Port of Camas-Washougal, featuring classic cars and vintage planes on display. There will be live music by the Fabulous Farelanes, food vendors, along with free hot dogs, chips and soda from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17. Attendees can enter their classic cars, trucks or motorcycles for dash plaques and trophies. Admission is free at Grove Field Airport, 632 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas, with $10 to $15 for car entry. 360-335-3676 or www.portcw.com
Then, become immersed in the local past during the annual Heritage Day celebration. Hosted by the Camas-Washougal Historical Society, the day is aimed at connecting community members with the past. It features live music, root beer floats, sundaes, vendors, demonstrations and exhibits, include creating rugs on an antique traveling loom and basket weaving. The Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Society will bring old engines and equipment to demonstrate, along with other groups such as Clark County Flying Eagle A’s Car Club, Navy Mothers, Camas-Washougal Fire Department, and Friends of the Washougal Library. The event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Two Rivers Heritage Museum, 1 Durgan St., Washougal. Admission is free. 360-835-8742 or www.2rhm.com
2. Dinosaur fish
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sturgeon Festival, with all-day learning and hands-on activities with local organizations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17. Visitors can learn about the ancient sturgeon and other wildlife that call ecosystems of the Columbia River home. There will be a Birds of Prey show at 10:30 a.m., along with Eartha the Ecological Clown performing at 11:20 a.m., a fish dissection at 12:30 p.m. and a live reptile show at 2 p.m. at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver. Visitors can also find painted Sturgeon Festival rocks, with attendees encouraged to bring their own painted rock. 360-487-7111 or www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter
3. Classic season
Approaching autumn means the return of classical music. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will kick off its season of Chamber Music Series performances by adding a live soundtrack to a silent film classic by Charlie Chaplin. Music arranger Rodney Sauer will return to present his own arrangement for the comedy-drama “The Kid.” Written, produced and directed by Chaplin, it’s widely considered one of the greatest films of the silent era. Sauer will play piano and conduct an ensemble of soloists starting at 3 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Tickets are $25 and $10 for students. 360-735-7278 or vancouversymphony.org
