Downtown Camas Prepares for ‘Spring Into History’ First Friday Events

Camas, WA —  Camas history will be celebrated while ushering in the spring season during the Camas First Friday “Spring into History” event on April 7. This event will run from 5-8 pm and will feature a historic talk and walking tour, a colorful ribbon cutting, art shows, Camas history games, after hours shopping and dining, arts and crafts and more. 

Please note that the event start location will be different this month. Please pick up your passport inside the Fuel Medical building, 314 NE Birch (the building behind Journey where you usually start).

New this Year! Everyone is invited to make some history of their own with the first annual “Capture Camas History” black & white photography contest. Submit your favorite black & white images of Downtown Camas to [email protected] by Friday March 31^st. 

Three winners from each age group (12 and under, 13-18, 18+) will be displayed at First Friday, and attendees will vote for People’s choice. The winner will receive a Camas prize basket. Images will be collected over the years and printed in a “Capture Camas History” album, planned for 2033. For full details about the contest, go to downtowncamas.com/event/april-first-friday-spring-history.

History buffs can learn more about the complex and interesting past of Downtown Camas by attending “Tea with Virginia”  with 98-year-old life-long Camas resident Virginia Warren at Caffe Piccolo (400 NE 4^th) from 4pm-5pm. Virginia has established herself as an invaluable keeper of Camas history and enjoys passing her knowledge to younger generations. Tea will be served compliments of the DCA. The educational fun can continue with a historical walking tour led by Brad Richardson, Executive Director of the Clark County Historical Museum. Meet inside Fuel Medical (314 NE Birch) at 6pm to take part in the walking tour.

Camas present and future will be celebrated with the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Celebration at The Pink Room, (223 NE 6^th), a new women’s clothing and accessory boutique. Owner Madora Doremus is a Camas High School Graduate and former Camas DECA member and has already shown a flair for combining marketing savvy with local support by enlisting current Camas DECA members as her brand ambassadors. Come see the paper fashion displays and photo ops they will have at the shop that evening.

Other First Friday Activities include:

• Play the “Guess About Camas” history passport game in participating businesses and be entered to win Camas themed prizes. This year’s questions are all about the Camas Public Library, which is celebrating its centennial this year.
• Make paper in the GP Mill Interpretive Lobby, 401 NE Adams, and learn about mill history including the pictorial mill timeline.
• Celebrate Spring with Golden Egg Hunt Activities for kids at participating downtown merchants. Eggs will have prizes and tickets to win a spring themed prize basket.
• Peruse the Camas history displays in the Fuel Lobby and learn why Camas is such an exceptional town.
• Play the “Historic Camas” games with the DCA in the beautiful Fuel Medical Lobby, 314 NE Birch, and earn tickets to win: GP Toilet Paper Toss, Camas Cornhole, Camas History Plinko and the Camas Prune Drop. Play the “course” and be entered to win a GP paper prize package.
• As an additional nod to our paper history, local artists will be creating Paper Dresses & Accessories that will be modeled throughout Downtown.
• Art Shows & Receptions at the 411 Art Collective inside the Lara Blair Art/Photography Studio, 411 NE Dallas St,  Attic Gallery, 421 NE Cedar,  Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4^th , Pike Art Gallery, 302 NE 6^th and the Second Story Gallery inside the Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4^th.
• Juxtaposition, 425 NE 4^th, will be hosting the Easter Bunny and treats from 4-7pm and local author Ernie Geigenmiller, owner of Lacamas Magazine, speaking to the recent history of Camas during the pandemic from 5-8pm.
• Paper Straw Rockets at Fuel Medical, 314 NE Birch, with Kathy Marty of Camp Windy Hill and talking about Michael Barratt, an astronaut from Camas.
• Kids Crafts and Toilet Paper Pong at LiveWell Camas, 417 NE Birch, with the Girl Scouts
• After-hours shopping and dining with so many new offerings for Spring.
  

“I’m a nearly lifelong Camas resident, and I’m shocked about how little I knew about my hometown!” says Leah Nichelson, staff member at the Downtown Camas Association (DCA). “This event combines historical facts with fun history themed games, hands on activities, awesome after-hours shopping, and awe inspiring art shows. We’re excited to see the submissions for the ‘Capture Camas History’ photography contest, and we’re so thrilled to welcome Madora and The Pink Room to the fabulous selection of Downtown Camas clothing stores. History is made every day, and we hope you’ll make some history and some memories at the “Spring into History” First Friday on April 7^th.”

First Fridays are free Art, Activities, Dining, and After Hours Shopping themed family friendly events coordinated by the DCA each month of the year to support downtown and develop community. For more information, visit https://downtowncamas.com/event/april-first-friday-spring-history or the Downtown Camas First Friday Facebook page.