1. It’s taco time
The Vancouver TacoFest is a delicious fundraiser for the Evergreen School District Foundation. It will be in Esther Short Park’s Propstra Square, at Sixth and Columbia streets, from noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 28 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 29. Tickets range from a $15 entry (which includes a drink plus $6 in scrip, which can be used to buy up to two items, depending on choices) up to $130, which will buy the ticket holder a slew of food and drinks plus two days of access to the VIP tent, home to the TacoFest’s tequila selection. Children under 10 get free admission to TacoFest, which includes lots of kid-friendly fun like face painting, snow cones and cotton candy. Tickets are available at the gate or online at evergreenschooldistrictfoundation.org/tacofest.
2. I’ve been workin’ on the railroad
The 46th Great Train Swap Meet will bring hundreds of model railroad enthusiasts to the Battle Ground High School gymnasium, 330 Main St., from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 28. This huge model train swap meet — featuring railroad models and materials in all scales, plus enough railroad memorabilia to fill a boxcar — will also showcase interactive operating layouts where kids can put on the engineer’s cap and try their skill at running trains. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and children under 6 are free with a paid adult. For more information, contact Larry Sprenkel at 360-619-8899 or larry.sprenkel@gmail.com.
3. Good aaaarrrrrrrrrr-xercise
In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, the Vancouver USA Walking Club is taking the adage — “If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk” — a step further with Walk Like a Pirate Day, featuring two group walks along the Salmon Creek Trail beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 28. One route covers 3.1 miles, and another covers 6.2 miles (a 5K and a 10K). Pirates in wheelchairs and wee pirates in strollers are welcome, too. Arrive early at 800 N.E. 117th St., Vancouver, to register, use the restroom, and load up on water. Pets are permitted, so bring your parrots and bilge rats; owners are responsible to obey leash laws and, ahem, swab the deck when necessary. The cost is $2 to $3 for walking club members, and donations from guests are appreciated. www.vancouverusavolkssporters.org
4. Danke schoen and dachshunds
Enjoy a family-friendly Oktoberfest in a setting reminiscent of a lush Bavarian forest: Alderbrook Park, 24414 N.W. Westerholm Road in Brush Prairie. From 11 a.m. to midnight Sept. 28, guests can celebrate this beloved German holiday with a beer garden, food trucks, artisan vendors, live music from the Smilin’ Scandinavians, Shades of Huey and Flexor T, games with prizes and — best of all — wiener dog races. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for kids ages 4 to 13, and free for kids age 3 and under. Guests who bring a speedy dachshund to race get two free entries to the event. alderbrookparkevents.com/oktoberfest
