Save the date: Mark your calendar for Clark County holiday events

Join the Rotary Club of Vancouver for the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. Enjoy entertainment, live music, carriage rides and holiday treats. Santa and the elves will help everyone make merry as thousands of twinkling lights come alive at 6 p.m. Learn more at rotarytreelighting.org.

The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad will offer Christmas Special Train Rides every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 18. Trains depart at 9:30 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. from the station at 207 Railroad Ave., Yacolt. Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for military or seniors age 60 and older and $12 for children age 3 to 12. Buy tickets at bycx.org. The rides will not offer trees for sale, but will include ugly sweater contests.

Love Street Playhouse presents “A Nice Family Gathering” at 125 Loves Ave., Woodland. The comedy follows the first Thanksgiving at the Lundeen house since Dad died. Dad returns as a ghost to tell his wife that he loved her, but she can’t hear or see him. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as Dec. 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10. Matinee shows are 2 p.m. Sunday as well as Dec. 4 and 11. Tickets are $22 at www.lovestreetplayhouse.com or call 800-966-8865.

The Vancouver Farmers Market will offer a Fall Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 17 at its regular location at Eighth and Esther streets in downtown Vancouver. Purchase in-season produce and find one-of-a-kind gifts from local artisans. Get details at vancouverfarmersmarket.com.

Camas Parks and Recreation will host Camas Hometown Holidays 5-8 p.m. Dec. 2 in downtown Camas along Northeast Fourth Avenue. The evening includes photos with Santa, crafts, hayrides, entertainment, free hot cocoa, after-hours shopping and art shows. The tree will be lit and “snow” will fall. Friendly elves will hand out treats to children. Get details at cityofcamas.us or call 360-834-5307.

Battle Ground will host its Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St. Enjoy music and caroling with the Battle Ground High School Choir. Santa Claus will arrive on a Fire District 3 engine. After the tree is lit, Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children inside with free cookies and hot cocoa. For details, call 360-342-5380.

Vancouver School of Arts and Academics presents “Shine Bright: A Holiday Happening” featuring orchestra, band, dance and vocal performances along with desserts and beverages from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at First United Methodist Church, 401 E. 33rd St., Vancouver. Table seating is $30 per person and floor seating is $15. VIP seats are $50. A table for seven is $200. Proceeds benefit the school’s booster club.

Metropolitan Performing Arts presents “Holiday Out” at 6403 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17, with discounted tickets for a matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 4. Dec. 10 is Pride Night. The final performance on Dec. 17 includes a visit from Dapper Santa. Tickets purchased at metropolitanperformingarts.org are $20 for adults or $16 for students, seniors and military. Tickets at the door are $5 more.

The women’s barbershop group Columbia River Chorus celebrates its 60th anniversary with a Christmas show 2-4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Vancouver United Church of Christ, 1220 N.E. 68th Way, Vancouver. Songs include a holiday medley, “Mary, Mary,” “Christmas Is…,” “Huron Carol,” “Silent Night,” “The Most Fattening Time of the Year,” “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Believe” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and admission is free. Learn more at columbiariverchorus.org or call 971-998-7528.

The Port of Camas-Washougal will host viewing for the Christmas Ships Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 in the park above Parker’s Landing Marina. There is no indoor seating this year but Activate Church will be outside with free hot cocoa, cookies, live music and Santa. To see the entire Christmas Ships schedule, visit christmasships.org.

Start the holidays at Ridgefield’s Hometown Celebration from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in downtown Ridgefield and Overlook Park, 113-131 S. Main Ave. Shop at the Holiday Marketplace from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Old Liberty Theater, 115 N. Main Ave. Hear school bands and choirs at Overlook Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 4:30 p.m. Find more holiday events at Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center, 510 Pioneer St. See holiday lights 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Candy Cane Lane, North 34th Court.

Friends of Danceworks presents “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 at Fort Vancouver High School auditorium, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver. The production features 75 dancers and special effects. Tickets ($25) are available at danceworksperformingarts.com.

Get professional photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at Dennis’ 7 Dees Vancouver Garden Center (formerly Shorty’s) at 10006 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. The cost is $15 to $25 for a digital package or digital photos with instant prints. Come back the next day for the Reindeer Magic holiday event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 11. See live reindeer, get more photos with Santa, grab a bite to eat from local vendors and enjoy live music. Shop for holiday decorations and gifts in the garden center shop. Tickets are $9. Learn more at dennis7dees.com or call 360-892-7880.

Get holiday shopping done from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Burton Elementary Holiday Market, 14015 N.E. 28th St., Vancouver. The market features 45 local artisans. Raffle winners will be drawn every hour. Young kids can do free crafts and older kids will have space to sell their own handmade items.

The Vancouver Master Chorale and orchestra with harpsichord will perform highlights from Handel’s “Messiah” during “Christmas Joy” at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver. The concert will also feature Christmas tunes like the Ukrainian “Carol of the Bells,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Breath of Heaven,” carols by John Rutter and “Serenity” by Ola Gjeilo. Tickets are $25 for adults, $5 for students and free for kids 12 and younger. Buy tickets at vancouvermasterchorale.org or at the door.

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents its Holiday Pops concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and 3 p.m. Dec. 11 featuring Hollywood film scores and classic holiday tunes at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 N.E. 139th St., Vancouver. Hear the theme from “Gladiator,” a tribute to Henry Mancini, John Williams’ music from “Star Wars” and songs from Disney’s “Frozen.” Tickets range from $36 to $48 at vancouversymphony.org or 360-735-7278. Students are $10. A livestreamed version is also available.

The Salmon Creek Farmers Market will offer a Holiday Market at Salmon Creek Grange, 1900 N.E. 154th St., Vancouver, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 with local vendors selling seasonal produce, flowers, farm-raised meats, eggs, honey, coffee, tea and artisan crafts. Learn more at www.salmoncreekfarmersmarket.com. [UPDATE: This event has been canceled.]

The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra presents its Holiday Spectacular 7-9 p.m. Dec. 14 at Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Enjoy holiday tunes from bygone eras, including “Winter Wonderland,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “White Christmas,” with the audience encouraged to join the chorus. The orchestra will also perform seldom-heard seasonal tunes like “Tick Tock Town,” “The Santa Claus Express” and “Christmas Night in Harlem.” Tickets are $25 at kigginstheatre.com.

Columbia Dance presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” with twists that incorporate local history like beavers fighting fur trappers, dancing wapato plants and children arriving by covered wagon. See a holiday party at 1840s Fort Vancouver with a fur trapper whose tales inspire dreams about beavers stealing a top hat, a woman conjuring an abalone moon, shipwrecked castaways and salmon fighting the river’s current. Shows are at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 N.W. 139th St., Vancouver, with a sensory-friendly show at 6 p.m. Dec. 16. Buy tickets at columbiadance.org.

Dance Fusion Northwest and Northwest Classical Ballet present “Christmas Stories” at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 and at 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at Ridgefield Performing Arts Center, 2630 S. Hillhurst Road. The show features dancing, acting and singing with “Clara and the Nutcracker in the Land of Snow,” tap dancing reindeer at the North Pole, a reimagining of Scrooge’s tale, a Rockettes-inspired 1950s USO show and “Music Box.” Adults are $18 and students and seniors are $12. Tickets at the door are $2 more. Get details at www.dancefusionnw.com. Some proceeds benefit Share’s shelter for families and single women.

Re-Imagined Radio presents “A Radio Christmas Carol” 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. The live radio play by the Willamette Radio Workshop features voice actors, foley artists and carols with the Holly Jolly Choir. Snacks, beer and wine are available to buy. Tickets are $20 at kigginstheatre.com. Bring donations for the Clark County Food Bank. Doors open at 6 p.m. At 1 p.m. Dec. 19, tune in to KXRY.FM and KXRW.FM for “A Radio Christmas Sampler Vol. II” with Jean Shepherd, Peter Lorre and Jimmy Stewart.