Welcome to July! Could there be a busier month? Here are more than 30 events  (plus a 4th of July celebration in nearly every community) to keep you active this month.

In the daylight at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - picture it after dark with night creatures!

July 3 – Full-Moon Hike – Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge – Carty Unit -  Trail guides will lead you on an adventure in which owls hooting, coyotes howling, bats flying, and rustling in the brush are all possibilities. 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The hike is free but space is limited. RSVP with Sarah Hill at 360-887-4106 or email Sarah_Hill@fws.gov

July 4 – 4th of July Celebrations – “Staggering” describes the number of 4th of July picnics, concerts, parades, a rodeo or two and fireworks displays happening in Southwest Washington. The largest is no doubt the Independence Day at Fort Vancouver. But every community celebrates in its own, fun way. Please check your local events calendar for your closest celebration and have a fun, safe 4th!

July 4-7 – Vancouver Rodeo – Clark County Saddle Club – This is the 42nd year of the rodeo, which will happen at the Saddle Club. The schedule is here. Admission.

July 4-27 – Concerts on the Columbia – Skamania Lodge – Stevenson – Concerts on the lawn. What a setting! The series starts with Patrick Lamb. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Admission.

July 4 – Patrick Lamb

July 27 – Michael Allen Harrison and Julianne Johnson

July 5-August 9 – Riverview Six to Sunset Concerts – Esther Short Park – Vancouver – Set up your lawn chair in the park and enjoy a great series of evening concerts. Purchase dinner from the food vendors or take a picnic. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free.

   July 5 – Abbey Road Live (Beatles Tribute)

   July 12 – Hit Machine

   July 19 – Patrick Lamb

   July 26 – Stone in Love

July 6 – Art Walks and Special First Friday Events – Vancouver, Camas and Ridgefield continue their monthly First Friday events. Camas First Friday will present the “Camas Car Show and Rock and Roll Night.” Ridgefield’s event will be in Davis Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

July 7 – LaCamas Lake Loop Bike Ride – This 32-mile bike ride starts at Clark College and travels east through Vancouver out to LaCamas Lake and back. Bakery stop included! Sponsored by Portland Wheelmen and Vancouver Bike Club but open to non-members. For more information, call the ride leader listed here.

July 8 – Music in the Vines with Cloverdayle – Bethany Vineyards – The beautiful grounds of Bethany Vineyards make a great venue for summer concerts. Bring your own seating. No outside beverages. Check out concert details and restrictions here. Admission.

July 11-August 15  – Terry Lee Noon Concerts -  Esther Short Park – Vancouver – Noontime concerts draw large crowds. Don’t forget your lawn chair. Take your lunch or support the food vendors. Noon to 1 p.m. Free.

   July 11 – The Shwing Daddies

   July 18 – Justin Klump

   July 25 – Key of Dreams

July 12 - August 23 – Concerts at the Lake - Longview – Enjoy this Thursday night summer concert series in Lake Sacajawea Park. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free.

   July 12 – British Export (Beatles Tribute)

   July 19 – Monroe Crossing

   July 26 – Gimme Some Lovin’

July 14 – Tastes &Tunes – Gardner Center in Battle Ground. Live music, food, beer and wine tasting. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Battle Ground. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission.

July 14 – 4th Plain International Festival – 4th Plain and Norris Road in Vancouver – Celebrate the diversity of the 4th Plain area. International food vendors. Entertainment. Check the Web site for details. Includes the first ever Vancouver International Dodgeball Tournament! Register your team here!

July 14-15 – Trout Lake Festival of the Arts - Trout Lake – Enjoy music, arts and food at The Farm, 22 miles north of the Hood River Bridge. Schedule and location here. Check out the live music listings. Free.

July 14-15 – Art and Wine Fair - English Estate Winery – 17806 SE 1st Street, Vancouver. Enjoy the 109-year-old estate, live music and dozens of artists not to mention English Estate’s wines, which will be available for tasting.

July 14-15 – Clamshell Railroad Days – Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco – Celebrate trains with lectures, bus tours of the old rail lines, an expanded Lego Train and The Kids Craft Caboose, and model trains. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission. Kids free.

July 21 – Cruisin the Gut - Vancouver – This car event just keeps getting larger and larger! Lovers of vintage autos line Main Street with lawn chairs to watch collectible cars from the past cruise Main Street from Dairy Queen down to lower downtown Vancouver and back.  The route is here. Evening event but get there early! Free.

July 20-21 – NW Outrigger Races – Stevenson – Watch these mighty paddlers as they compete on the Columbia surrounded by the gorgeous Gorge and Bridge of the Gods as a backdrop. Stevenson will have lots of food and drink to offer, too, in the charming downtown area.

July 22 – Summer Concert Series – Three Brothers Vineyards and Winery – The music continues in Clark County’s wine country with award-winning blues and R&B artist Lloyd Jones. Don’t forget your own lawn chairs or blankets. Take your own food (but NO liquids or beverages) or purchase catered food.  Wine, sodas and water available for purchase. Admission. 

July 25-20 – Sandsations and City Sandsations – Long Beach – On Wednesday, July 25, four master artists will start building in downtown Long Beach, culminating on Friday with a rodeo-themed sculpture. Construction for the sandcastle competition on the beach starts on Saturday at 10 a.m. There will also be a Sand Flea Pet Parade. Check the Sandsations Web site for details.

July 26-29 – Three Days of Aloha – Day one of this festival starts in Portland with a two-day Hula and Craft Workshop. Esther Short Park in Vancouver will be the site on Friday night for the Hapa Haole Hula Competition. The always popular Ho’ike and Hawaiian Festival will be held on Saturday at the park. Lots of food, music, dance, crafts! Check the festival Web site for details. Benefit for Ke Kukui Foundation.

July 26-29 -  Finnish-American Folk Festival  - Naselle High School on SR4. This festival is packed with authentic food and entertainment. The celebration of all things Finnish kicks off on July 26 with a golf tournament. Check out the event-packed schedule here.

July 27-28 – Camas Days - Downtown Camas – “Three Ring Circus” is the theme of this year’s Camas Days. Two parades, bathtub races, wine and microbrew street each evening, plus arts and crafts vendors. Lots of details here.

July 28 - Sip and Stroll – This benefit for the Hough Foundation is a great way to sample dozens of wines and beers while strolling through Uptown Village and downtown Vancouver. Check out wineries and microbreweries in downtown Vancouver and experience local shops where many of the tastings will be held. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  21 and up. Admission.

July 28-29 – Bridge of the Gods Kite Fest – Stevenson – Celebrate wind and water! Kiteboarders and watchers won’t want to miss this event on the Columbia. The schedule is here.

July  29 – Music in the Vines with Patrick Lamb - Bethany Vineyards – The beautiful grounds of Bethany Vineyards make a great venue for summer concerts. Bring your own seating. No outside beverages. Check out concert details and restrictions here. Admission.

Whew! What a month! And this is only a smattering of available events. See you out there.

August 5 - Jake the Alligator Man’s 4th Annual 75th Birthday Party – Long Beach. Who knew he was that old? Check the Web site for details about this celebration which will be held at, of course, Marsh’s Free Museum in downtown Long Beach.

August 5-6 – Art in the Heart/First Friday Musicians and artists take over central downtown Vancouver during the annual Art in the Heart celebration which kicks off on Friday night with the monthly artwalk. Don’t miss the authors’ tent in front of Angst Gallery and Niche Wine Bar. Stop by and say “hello” to master mystery writer, Carolyn Rose!

Aug 5 – 14 – Clark County Fair – 143 years! Clark County’s biggest summer party starts on August 5. This is one great county fair. So much to see including dock dogs, an Amazing Scone Baking Race, concerts, 4H exhibits, cowgirl tricks (Dale Evans and Annie Oakley live on!), amusement rides and, the best reason of all, the Clark County Dairy Women’s super fresh and tasty milkshakes. See you there!

August 7 – Columbia River Concours d’Elegance – Hundreds of classic cars restored to showroom polish will be on display at Officers Row in Vancouver.

August 7 – Jane Weber Evergreen Arboretum and Botanical Garden Open House – 9215 SE Old Evergreen Highway, Vancouver. Noon-6 p.m. includes lemonade and cookies on the lawn. A wonderful opportunity to tour the arboretum. The property includes the John Stanger house.

August 10 – National S’Mores Day – Get your Hershey bars out and start your campfire (in a safe location, if legal, please!) OR make them in your microwave, though it’s not quite the same. See August 30 for a related holiday.

August 10-14 – Columbia Gorge International Film Festival - This film lover is REALLY looking forward to the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, which will include the fabulous new Kiggins Theatre as one of the venues. Check out this ZEST interview with the festival’s founder, Breven Warren.

August 10-14 – Skamania County Fair & Timber Carnival – Another great fair and it’s free! Head out to Stevenson for a LOT of activities with all the usual fun livestock competitions, exhibits, music and carnival rides. Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue will be appearing.

August 12-13 – Blues and Seafood at the Port of Ilwaco. Port of Ilwaco. There will be LOTS of music at this festival starting with an all-star jam on Friday night. Norman Sylvester performs on Saturday. Willapa Bay oysters, microbrews and regional wines and will be featured. Save some barbequed oysters for me, please.

August 15 - The Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF) is a week-long kite celebration and competition held annually during the third full week of August in Long Beach with professional and amateur kite flyers. Voted ‘Best Kite Festival in the World’ by Kite Trade Association International.

August 16-21 – Southwest Washington Fair – Chehalis – Fun music with Creedence Clearwater Revisited and Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone, among other groups and activities at this Chehalis-based fair.

August 18-20 – Wahkiakum County Fair and Farmers Market – Rides and games, food and vendors in Skamokawa.

August 19-21 – Bridge of the Gods Kiteboarding Festival – For a totally different kind of kite, kiteboarders from across the nation will compete in the nation’s longest running amateur kiteboarding contest. Held at the Port of Skamania’s East Point Kite Beach.

August 24-28 - Pacific County Fair – August is truly the month of county fairs. The Pacific County Fair in Menlo will include all the fun activities plus Stormy the Clown, Professor Bamboozle and an Elvis Tribute.

August 26-28 – Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival – Vancouver’s premier music festival graces Esther Short Park again. Great wines, beautiful art and fantastic music. Take your lawn chairs. This year’s line up includes Diane Schuur, Spyro Gyra, Arturo Sandoval and Al Jarreau among many others. Check out this ZEST post for opening night from last year’s festival.

Mavis Staples headlined the 2010 Festival

August 27 – Bigfoot Bash and Bounty – Home Valley Park in Skamania County. The day starts with pancakes, continues with Bigfoot authors and spotters and ends with a Bigfoot movie. What more could you want? (If you go, check out the camping at Timberlake Campground.) Take your camera and watch out for Bigfoot!

August 30 – National Marshmallow Toasting Day – You know what that means. If not, refer back to August 10…