Part plant sale and part celebration of traditional activities and crafts, the Pomeroy Farm Country Life Fair will feature thousands of herbs and plants for sale among rows of other vendors selling their handmade goods from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. There will be country life demonstrations featuring various skills along with lovable farm animals, bumpy hayrides and other activities for children. Pomeroy Farm, 20902 N.E. Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt; free. 360-686-3537 or http://pomeroyfarm.org
Alder Creek Kayak’s 25th annual Spring Paddle Festival today and Sunday offers something for beginning boaters through advanced paddlers. If you’ve ever been paddle-curious, this is the time to test yourself! The event will feature more than 100 kayaks, canoes and paddle boards for visitors to try, along with clinics, demonstrations and lake tours offered throughout the day beginning at 9 a.m. and running until 4 p.m. both days. Vancouver Lake Regional Park, 6801 N.W. Lower River Road, Vancouver; free, $3 for parking. aldercreek.com/spring-paddle-festival
Mischievous garden gnomes and fairies will be hiding throughout the city during Camas First Friday’s Gnome & Fairy Tale Gala from 5 to 8 p.m. May 5. There will be activities, finding fairy houses and gnomes, art shows, a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Mesa with live music, and a screening of “Labyrinth” at the Liberty Theatre. Downtown Camas at Northeast Fourth Avenue. Free. downtowncamas.com
Friends of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and the U.S. Forest Service will host a talk and book signing event with Jim Thayer, author of “Hiking from Portland to Coast,” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. May 6. Thayer is a hiking enthusiast and local history buff. His book describes the finely researched history and natural wonders one would discover hiking the Oregon Coast range. Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd. Vancouver. www.friendsfortvancouver.org/jim-thayer-hiking
