Save the Date: May arrives with Walk/Run for the Animals, Alpaca Fiber Festival

Through May 12: Lose yourself among fragrant blooms during Lilac Days, the annual monthlong event at Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, 115 S. Pekin Road, Woodland, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For $5, tour Hulda’s Victorian home, browse the gift shop and stroll through the gardens. Children under 12 free. 360-225-8996 or www.lilacgardens.com

Through May 5: The Society of Washington Artists Spring Art Show and Sale — the largest such show in Southwest Washington, with free admission — features 200 pieces of art and a silent auction. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. May 3 and 4, and noon to 3 p.m. May 5 at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver. www.swavancouver.com

May 3-4: Savor gourmet taco creations and craft beer from local chefs and brewers at Tacos & Taps, 4 to 9 p.m. at the Clark County Food Bank, 6502 N.E. 47th Ave., Vancouver — plus live music, raffle prizes, a beer bottle ring toss and photo booth, all for $35 to $45; proceeds benefit the food bank. www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org

May 4: More than 2,000 people and 800 dogs will gather at 7:30 a.m. at Esther Short Park, West Eighth and Columbia Streets, for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s Walk/Run for the Animals. Choose a 3-mile walk along the Columbia River or a 5K timed run through Fort Vancouver, followed by a party with Rojo the Llama, vendors and awards. southwesthumane.org

May 4: Welcome the new season at Ridgefield’s free May Day Spring Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Overlook Park, at the intersection of Pioneer Street and Main Avenue, with a Maypole dance, a farmers market, vendors, outdoor games, scavenger hunt, art, food and wine garden. ridgefieldwa.us

May 4: May the Force be with you at Magenta Theater’s Star Wars Improv Show, 7:30 p.m. May 4 is the unofficial day for Star Wars fans to show their devotion … so be prepared for Star Wars-related games and giggles. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, 1108 Main St., Vancouver. magentatheater.com

May 10-12: Bring your mom to “Call Your Mother,” an evening of cabaret featuring Broadway songs about moms, including selections from “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Gypsy,” “Waitress” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” Shows are 7 p.m. May 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. May 12 at Hampton Inn and Suites, 315 S.E. Olympia Drive, Vancouver. Tickets are $12 at www.pacificstageworks.org.

May 11: Something’s fishy with kids ages 5 to 14 at Columbia Springs’ Kids Fishing Festival, 12208 S.E. Evergreen Highway, Vancouver. For $7 ($10 on the day), kids will be paired with expert fishing mentors from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee includes a BBQ lunch and a fishing pole. www.columbiasprings.org

May 11: Sip regional wine and sample local food while meeting the winemakers and chefs behind it during Savor Southwest Washington Wine, 2 to 6 p.m. at Pearson Airfield Historic Hangar, 1115 E. Fifth St., Vancouver. All-inclusive tickets are $75 in advance or $85 at the door. www.swwawine.com

May 11: During the free Be a Scientist Day at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, Vancouver, kids and their families can explore STEM-related careers in fields such as engineering, wildlife biology and geology from 1 to 3 p.m. 360-487-7111 or www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter

May 11: The Camas Plant and Garden Fair, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will fill Fourth Avenue in downtown Camas with over 100 local nurseries, growers, and garden artists, selling everything from trees, flowers and veggie starts to planters, stone art and outdoor furniture. 360-216-7378 or cwplantfair.org

May 11-12: Get artsy at the Washougal Open Studios Tour, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, featuring 11 stops, 19 local artists and a vast array of creative works with many live demonstrations. The tour route winds along the scenic Washougal River and through the foothills. www.columbiasprings.org

May 11-12: The annual Master Gardener Foundation Mother’s Day Weekend Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 12 at 78th Street Heritage Farm, 1919 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver, offers thousands of plants, groundcover, shrubs, trees, annuals and perennials for sale to support horticulture education and healthy food growing programs. www.mgfcc.com

May 18: The beloved Hazel Dell Parade of Bands — showcasing more than two dozen bands and over a hundred entries with floats, cars, horses and more — will march around Hazel Dell from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., starting at Clark County Fire District 6, 8800 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave. hazeldellparade.com

May 18-19: Dozer Day puts kids in the driver’s seat to operate dump trucks, dozers, excavators at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield — or stay on the ground for pipe and tire crawls, treasure digs and the chance to explore emergency vehicles. For grown-ups, there’s music, food and giveaways. Tickets range from $8 to $13. vancouver.dozerday.org

May 18-19: Visit White Oak Alpacas at 39908 N.E. 12th Ave. in Woodland for the Sheared Delights Alpaca Fiber Festival, featuring fleeces, roving and yarns for sale, plus all kinds of fiber-related demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Most importantly, meet the adorable alpacas who make it all possible. www.whiteoakalpacas.com

May 30: From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., will be turned into Vancouver’s biggest idea generator with VANtalks, a local version of TED Talks, featuring speakers highlighting the best new ideas and innovation in our community. This year’s theme is “Ignite” and tickets are $15. vantalks.org