The bee’s knees
Vancouver Elks Club, 11605 S.E. McGillivray Blvd., Vancouver, will host a Roaring Twenties-themed New Year’s Eve Soiree from 6 p.m. Sunday, New Year’s Eve, to 12:30 a.m. Monday. Don flapper dresses, pinstripe suits and fedoras to ring in the New Year. Step through a secret entry to sip on Sazerac cocktails and enjoy an Italian-style dinner with Caesar salad, garlic bread, lasagna and New York cheesecake. The evening features a DJ, dance contest, singing contest and photo booth, plus a Champagne toast. Buy tickets ($35) by Friday at eventbrite.com.
Step into 2024
Battle Ground Lake State Park will offer free volunteer-led interpretive hikes, “Walking in Volcanic Wonderland,” at 10 a.m. and noon on Monday. Admission to Battle Ground Lake is free on New Year’s Day, whether participating in the guided hikes or not. It’s one of 12 fee-free days at all Washington’s state parks, which usually require a Discover Pass or $10 to enter. Register for the Battle Ground hike and find out about other First Day Hikes at parks.wa.gov.
Find your center
First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver, is hosting a New Year’s Day Labyrinth Walk. Arrive any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Jan. 1 to experience an ancient meditative prayer ritual. The temporary canvas labyrinth will be laid out on the floor in Doran Hall. Participants are invited to follow the path to the center of the labyrinth in quiet contemplation. Admission is free. For more information, contact Eunice Schroeder at sacredjourneymin@aol.com.
Happy noon year!
Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver, is hosting a family-friendly Noon Year’s Eve party from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The event features crafts, music and dancing before counting down to noon. Admission is free and all ages are welcome, though the celebration is designed with very young children in mind, allowing them to experience the excitement of New Year’s Eve without missing any sleep. Learn more at fvrl.org or call 360-906-5000.
