Community Activities - December 2018

The holidays bring extra special fun to our community and we don't want you to miss out so we're sharing with you all the fun events happening in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR events this holiday.Let's start with the Christmas Ships Parade! Not every city can have such an event. Here's how you can enjoy it:At 7:00PM (dates below), the Columbia Fleet assembles in front of the James M. Gleason Boat Ramp at 43rd/NE Marine Drive. They will turn at the east end of the parking lot to head downriver to the I-5 Bridge area, including Grandma's Cove. They arrive at Beaches at approximately 7:30 PM, and Hayden Bay at approximately 8:45 PM.The fleet begins on the Washington side, and can be seen from both sides of the river. The parade will finish, going into Hayden Bay after leaving the restaurant area on the Oregon side.Route Dates for the I-5 Bridge/Hayden Bay area:* Wednesday, December 05, 2018 07:00 PM* Wednesday, December 12, 2018 07:00 PM* Tuesday, December 18, 2018 07:00 PM* Thursday, December 20, 2018 07:00 PMLights & Leashes Dog Walk Night at Winter WonderlandDecember 4th at 5:30-9:30 - Enjoy a casual festive walk, with or without a dog, at PIR’s Winter Wonderland. The cost is $6 per person; children 12 and under are free (dogs enter free, too). The last ticket sale of the night is at 8:45pm, the night the event. Enjoy the lights as you stroll around the track and meet the K-9’s from the Portland Police Bureau! No cars or motorized vehicles of any kind, roller blades, bikes, or scooters are allowed on the track. Free parking is available in the parking lot. Dogs must be on a leash.Night of Holiday Misfits at Winter WonderlandDecember 6th from 5:30-9:30pm - Enjoy a casual walk in your most festive holiday costume a t PIR’s Winter Wonderland. Cost is $6 per person, children 12 and under are free. The last ticket sale of the night is at 8:45pm, the night the event. Enjoy the lights as you stroll around the track. No cars or motorized vehicles of any kind, roller blades, bikes, or scooters are allowed on the track. Free parking is available in the parking lot.Christmas at The ParkDecember 7th from 6-8pm - Gather at Esther Short Park where a Christmas Village wonderland is created with several characters amidst the park. Everything is free: Christmas trees, ornament making, cookie making, hot chocolate, and pictures with Santa!Christmas at the Fort

December 8, 2018 at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site from 10:00am to 3:00pm, 1001 E 5th St, Vancouver, WA 98661. Admission is $7 ages 16 years and older, Free for ages 15 years and under. Experience the sights and sounds of the 1840s holiday season at Fort Vancouver. Visitors will be able to view and participate in activities undertaken by residents at the fort during the holiday season.Enjoy wreath making, holiday beverages, caroling, and more! (Photo by Steve Young)

Reindeer Block PartySunday, December 2nd from 1-4pm - Join the fun at the family-friendly Uptown Village Reindeer Block Party that takes place on Main Street between West 23rd and 24th streets. Enjoy free crafts, a free photo op with Santa, live music and meeting 2 famous reindeer – Cornet and Vixen!Ongoing opportunities hold extra fun during the holidays too: The Pearson Field is open Saturdays - December 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, from 10am-5pm as an ideal location for young people of all ages to experience STEM education through aviation. The Pearson Field Education Center features a flight simulator, vertical wind table, glider building, tinker-maker space, historic airplanes and collections on display, and various educational programs. 201A East Reserve Street, Vancouver, WA 98661.First Sundays at OMSI On December 2nd you can attend the science museum at a special rate of $2. This rate isavailable in the first Sunday of every month.Portland Art MuseumDecember 6th from 5-8pm - The museum offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month from 5-8pm.December 1st & 2nd, 10am-5pm - The museum offers free admission the first full weekend of every month when you show them your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit/debit card.Portland Children’s MuseumDecember 7th from 4-8pm - The museum offers free admission on the first Friday of every month from 4-8pm.First Friday in Downtown VancouverDecember 7th from 5-8pm - Every first Friday of the month, participating art galleries, merchants and restaurants in downtown Vancouver open their doors to celebrate First Friday! For more information go to: http://vdausa.orgFirst Friday in Downtown CamasDecember 7th from 5-9pm - Hometown Holidays includes the downtown tree lighting, photos with Santa, crafts, hay rides, Camas Schools entertainment, hot cocoa, art shows and more! Tree lighting is at 6:30 and there will be snow and fireworks!Night Market: Vancouver Holiday MarketDecember 7th at 5pm - Join us at Night Market Vancouver First Friday Holiday Market! The Market will be at Union Chapel / Tandem Hall on Friday, December 7th from 5 - 9 p.m.Second Saturday at the Water Resources Education Center:Out of The Darkness & Into The Light – A Celebration of SolsticeDecember 8th from 1-3pm - Join us for a festive Second Saturday celebrating winter darkness and the return of light. We’ll dive into explorations of light, shadows and darkness with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Located on SE Columbia Way.Clark County Food Bank VolunteeringDecember 11th from 5:30-7:30pm - Volunteers can help sort and repackage food at our repack events. No prior scheduling is required to volunteer and wear closed-toed shoes as well as comfortable clothing. Volunteers must fill out a volunteer registration found at: www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/volunteer and bring it to any regularly scheduled evening repack.Here are links to find even more activities:The Vancouver Family Magazine website has a detailed calendar of family and kid friendly events taking place in our community. https://vancouverfamilymagazine.comYou can also find fun activity ideas in the Portland area at: http://www.pdxparent.com and http://redtri.com/portland-kidsYou will find arts and crafts, book discussion groups and much more at our local libraries. Look on the calendar of events at the library nearest you. Vancouver - http://www.fvrl.org Portland - https://multcolib.org/events

Happiest holidays to all of you from Great Life Mentoring!