1. You say tomato
Savor the summer’s bounty during the Tomato Tasting Festival at Shorty’s Garden Center, 10006 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 24. Sample new tomato varieties as well as old favorites, plus heirloom and unusual varieties. Vote for your favorite and start thinking about which varieties you’ll plant next summer for your own homegrown harvest. Mill Creek Pub will be selling BLT sandwiches and caprese salads, made with garden-fresh tomatoes. Wash it down with craft beer from Fortside Brewing while enjoying live music by Caryn Hart. Bonus: low-cost garden tool sharpening will be available on-site. 360-892-7880 www.shortysgardencenter.com
2. Law, order and locomotives
Ride the rails through the Old West during the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad’s Train Robbery Weekend, with trains departing at noon and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 24 and 25 from the station in Yacolt at 207 N. Railroad Ave. Bandana-bedecked “robbers” will chase the train down on horseback, halt and board the train, then make off with valuable (well, OK, fake) coins and jewelry — but not before the sheriff arrives and saves the day. The train will make a stop at Yacolt Falls for photo opps and to cool your heels in Yacolt Creek. Tickets are $18 per person, $17 for military and seniors or $12 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are free. 360-686-3559 or www.bycx.com
3. Garden of delight
Enjoy a summer’s evening amid the blooms of the Heritage Garden at Fort Vancouver, 1001 E. Fifth St., during the Garden Anniversary Party honoring the 103rd birthday of the National Park Service. The free celebration, 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 24, features live music, tours of the garden, complimentary birthday cake, plus a Wine & Beer Garden for those 21 and older. Buy heirloom seeds harvested from the garden, as well as garden-themed items from the Visitor Center Bookstore, including keepsakes made by the Fort Trades Guild volunteers. Mystery writer Christine Carbo, who sets her novels in national parks, will be on hand to autograph books. 360-816-6216 or friendsfortvancouver.org
4. Free wheeling
The Port of Camas-Washougal invites automobile and airplane enthusiasts to Wheels & Wings Community Appreciation Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at Grove Field Airport, 632 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas. Admission is free and visitors can ooh and aah over classic cars, vintage aircraft and antique tractors while munching on free hot dogs, chips and soda and listening to live music by the Fabulous Fairlanes. Vote for your favorites and stay to see the trophies awarded at 1:30 p.m. If you’ve got a vehicle you’d like to enter, it’s $15 in advance or $20 on the day; proceeds benefit the Camas Washougal Aviation Association’s scholarship fund. 360-835-2196 or www.portcw.com
