Taste and toast
Guests can sip and sample their way through the Wine and Food Fest this weekend at ilani , 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield. Events include the Celebrity Chef Dine-Around at 7 p.m. Friday, the Grand Tasting at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, the Vintage Elite Cru from 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday on liani’s rooftop, a Bloody Mary and Bubbles Brunch at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sunday and a Bourbon and Cigar Experience at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $49 to $88, on sale through Ticketmaster.com and ilaniresort.com.
Minifigs and fiesta
Columbia Play Project will host the Bricktastic! Competition and Showcase from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Clark College STEM Building, 1950 Fort Vancouver Way, featuring wild and whimsical Lego creations in several categories. Entrance is free and guests can vote for their favorites. While on campus, check out the Multicultural Resource Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Enjoy music, dancing, food, raffles and a children’s zone with face painting, a balloon artist and games. For details, call 360-562-0237 or visit latinocommunityresourcegroup.org.
Farm frolic
Tour local farms during the free Harvest Celebration Farm Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. This is a free, self-guided tour and no registration is required. Eight farms will be open to the public for tours, photo ops with animals, a catered lunch from Gather and Feast Farm, U-pick vegetables and flowers, crafts and salsa tasting. Participants can meet local farmers; purchase fresh produce and farm products; see alpacas, chickens and Scottish Highland cows; and tour vegetable fields and flower gardens. Find a map and details at go.wsu.edu/smallacreage.
Make it pop
Vancouver Mall, 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Vancouver, will host CouveCon from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 17, celebrating pop culture icons of every genre with costume and gaming competitions, artwork and memorabilia. Admission is free but panels and meet-and-greets are $10; autograph prices vary. Cosplay contests are $10 to enter and the Cosplay Central showcase is $25. Artist Alley features artwork, sculptures, jewelry, pins and buttons and Vendor Village sells toys, collectibles, games, DVDs, books, apparel and cosplay items. Compete for prizes in gaming tournaments in the Games Galaxy. Purchase tickets at CouveCon.com.
