Go: Open Cockpit Day, Portland Rose Festival, Memorial Day

1. Soar

Clear skies mean the planes come out to play during the annual Open Cockpit Day. Aviation fans young and old can get a pilot’s-eye view of vintage aircraft at the Pearson Field Education Center, 201A East Reserve St., Vancouver. There will also be activities like a glider-building station and flight simulator lab from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 27. The Young Eagles Program of EAA Chapter 105 will sponsor free airplane rides for youth ages 8 to 17, with written permission from parents or guardians. Rides will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, weather permitting. Admission is free. 360-992-1815 or fortvan.org

2. Festival starts

The Portland Rose Festival kicks off this weekend with the opening of CityFair, complete with opening night fireworks. CityFair features music, attractions, arts and crafts, local food and brews, plus a variety of carnival rides at Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 S.W. Naito Parkway, Portland. There will be the Point One Run at 10:30 a.m. May 27, a race inspired by the last tenth of a mile of a marathon, held inside the fair as participants navigate beverage stations, groups of clowns and rock ‘n’roll bands. Advanced registration required, which is $30, $15 for ages 12 and younger. There will also be the Vortex II Show, a two-day music celebration of Portland bands. It starts at 2 p.m. May 27 with artists such as El Ten Eleven, Fruit Bats and more for $28 to $32. And the show continues with Patrick Lamb, Tyler Conti, Haley Johnsen and others at 6:30 p.m. May 28 for $10 to $13. The fair is open 5 to 11 p.m. May 26; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 27-29, June 2-5 and June 9-11. Fair admission is $8 for ages 7 and older, free admission for military members. www.rosefestival.org

3. Honor

In commemoration of Memorial Day and the men and women of the armed forces, two remembrance runs will be held.

The Run to Remember will feature a Memorial Day Mile, along with 5K and 10K routes for participants, hosted by Why Racing Events. The Memorial Day Mile begins at 8 a.m. May 27. It is a flat, fast and point-to-point race to go all out and see how fast participants can run a mile. The event benefits the nonprofit Northwest Battle Buddies, which provides service dogs to veterans. The 5K and 10K races will start at 9 a.m. May 27 at Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main St., Washougal. Registration is $50 for 5K; $40 for the mile, $65 for 10K and $35 for ages 16 and younger. 360-574-7292 or whyracingevents.com

The Race to Remember is a nonprofit that uses its events to help support veterans through various causes. The group’s Memorial Day Race features a half-marathon, 5K, 10K and Honor One Mile family walk, with each starting from the Vancouver “Remembrance Wall” on Columbia Street and Phil Arnold Way. The event will run from 2 to 6 p.m. May 29, with race day registration open at 12:30 p.m. Registration is $65 for half, $45 for 10K, $35 for 5K and $25 for mile. 503-806-7145 or www.facebook.com/RacetoRemember

4. Bread and butter

The Cedar Creek Grist Mill will host its first event of the season with Bread and Butter Day from noon to 4 p.m. May 27. Visitors can explore the 1876 building while enjoying fresh bread made from wheat milled on site, topped with butter churned by hand. Recipes and flour will be available at the grist mill, 43907 N.E. Grist Mill Road, Woodland. Admission is free, donations welcomed. 360-225-5832 or cedarcreekgristmill.org

5. Hidden park

If you’re looking for an afternoon of mini-golf, lounging by the water or hiking some nature trails, this is the weekend to explore Alderbrook Park, 24414 N.E. Westerholm Road, Brush Prairie. Over Memorial Day Weekend, the 63-acre private park will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27-29. Admission is $5 to $10, $3 to $6 for ages 4 to 14; free for ages 3 and younger. 360-882-4444 or www.alderbrookparkevents.com