📰 What's Making News

Coffee, Candles, Bath Salts: Downtown Vancouver Cafe Blends Craft With Caffeine

A new downtown Vancouver cafe is flipping the script on what a coffee shop can be. Instead of just grabbing a latte and scrolling your phone, this spot invites you to sip your drink while painting a rock, making a candle, or mixing your own bath salts. It's part cafe, part hands-on creative studio — and it's the kind of quirky, only-in-Vancouver concept that makes our downtown feel distinct. If you've been looking for a reason to wander Main Street with a friend, this might be it. Full story from The Columbian.

La Center's Nate Rembisz Plays Four Positions — and Makes Every One Count

Most high school football players lock into one role and call it a day. La Center senior Nate Rembisz plays kicker, quarterback, receiver, and defensive back for the Wildcats — whatever the team needs on any given Friday night. He's stepped away from positions he once considered "his" to fill gaps that give La Center its best shot at winning. That kind of selflessness is rare at any level, and it's fueling a Wildcats squad that keeps finding ways to compete. Read his full profile here.

Clark Neighborhoods Food Project Grew From 370 Pounds to a Countywide Movement

Back in 2017, a handful of neighbors in the Truman neighborhood organized a food drive that collected about 370 pounds of donations for a local pantry and nearby school. Nine years later, the Clark Neighborhoods Food Project has grown into a countywide effort bringing communities together to stock shelves year-round. As organizers put it, "hunger is not seasonal" — and the project's model of neighbor-helping-neighbor has become a quiet point of pride across Clark County. Learn how to get involved here.

Week 7 Prep Football Preview: Predictions, Capsules, Livestream Links

Friday night lights are almost here again, and The Columbian has your full Week 7 preview with matchup capsules, predictions, and livestream links for every local game. The paper's picks have been rolling — back-to-back 12-2 weeks have bumped the overall season record steadily upward. Whether you're tracking your kid's team or just love a good rivalry, this is your one-stop game-day prep. See all the Week 7 picks.

The Columbian Wants to Hear From Clark County Job Seekers

If you've been searching for work in Clark County without much luck, Columbian business reporter Sarah Wolf wants to talk to you. She's working on a story about the local job-hunt experience and is looking for real voices to share what the process has been like on the ground. It's a chance to shape the narrative around what Clark County workers are actually going through. Reach her at [email protected] or read the full call for sources here.

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⚡ Quick Bites

Luminarias Día de Muertos Takes Over Esther Short Park Saturday

This Saturday from 2–8 PM, Esther Short Park hosts Luminarias Día de Muertos — a free celebration featuring live music, performances, community altars, and vendors. It's one of several mostly free events packed into the weekend, including a spooky clay workshop at Kilnfolk ($55) and live music at 14 Acres Winery in Ridgefield. See the full weekend lineup here.

Home-Based Nail Artist Anna Nails Earns Rave Reviews

A Vancouver local is singing the praises of Anna Nails, a home-based nail art studio run by a veteran nail technician who previously operated a traditional salon. The recommendation — complete with photos of intricate nail art — is making the rounds on local forums. Check out the work and details here.

Two Washington Haunted Houses Ranked Among Nation's Scariest

Two Washington state haunted attractions just landed on a national best-of list for the 2026 spooky season. If your local Halloween plans need an upgrade beyond candy bowls and movie marathons, these could be worth the drive. The Columbian has the full rundown.

Foraged Foods Go Mainstream in the Pacific Northwest

Demand for forest-sourced foods — think wild mushrooms, fiddleheads, and foraged greens — is climbing as more consumers and chefs look beyond conventional produce. Living in the PNW puts us right in the sweet spot for this growing trend. Read more from The Columbian.

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Friday, October 16

• Bi-Zi Farms Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze — 10:00 AM at Bi-Zi Farms, Vancouver. Wagon rides, a free pumpkin (any size you can carry!), corn maze, and same-day admission to the nighttime maze. $14–$16. More info
• The Portland MAiZE & Pumpkin Patch — 10:00 AM on Sauvie Island, Portland. Almost two miles of corn maze pathways plus the pumpkin patch — allow about an hour to solve the maze. More info
• Playgroup at Firstenburg Community Center — 10:00 AM. Ages 9 months–6 years. A safe indoor space for little ones to run, climb, and explore while parents socialize. $7–$9. More info
• Vancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip — 10:00 AM at Vancouver Lake. Free family-friendly canoe paddle in 29-foot Big Canoes with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. Spot shore birds, look for signs of beaver activity, and learn about the Columbia River ecosystem. More info
• Vancouver Pumpkin Patch — 11:00 AM–6:00 PM at Velvet Acres Gardens, Orchards. Pick-your-own pumpkins, corn maze, hay bale pyramid, hayrides, apple cannon, farm animals, vendors, and food carts. $10. More info
• 60+ Senior Community Meal Program — 12:00 PM at Calvary Chapel Vancouver. Free lunch for seniors age 60+ served noon–1:00 PM, sponsored by the 5&2 Food Pantry. More info
• The Patch at Whalen Oaks Farm — 12:00 PM in Woodland. 40+ acres, 60+ pumpkin varieties, free parking, no admission fee. U-pick fields and a wide variety of activities. More info
• Book Swap at Terrain Coffee Project — 12:00–4:00 PM at 212 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. Bring books you've finished and leave with new-to-you reads. Grab a specialty coffee while you browse. Free. More info
• Clark College Native Plant Center Fall Sale — 12:00 PM at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. Stock up on native plants — remember, fall is the best time to plant outdoors! More info
• NAMI Art Group — 1:00–3:00 PM at NAMI Southwest Washington, 4201 N.E. 66th Ave., Suite 105, Vancouver. A weekly creative session hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Free. More info
• Walton Farms Pumpkin Patch — 3:00–5:00 PM at Walton Farms, Camas. Admission includes corn maze, train ride, and one pumpkin any size. Dogs welcome on leash. $13 ($11 seniors 55+). More info
• Vancouver Station Night Market — 4:00–10:00 PM at 1817 S.E. 164th Ave., Vancouver. Food carts, local artisan pop-up shops, music by DJ Molino and DJ Og Too, drinks, and culture. Free. More info
• Family Bingo Night: Boo Bingo Edition — 5:00–6:00 PM at Camas Public Library. Halloween-themed bingo — come in costume and celebrate the season. All ages, no registration required. Free. More info
• Family and Friends Friday Climb — 5:00 PM. Ages 4+. An hour and 45 minutes of unlimited climbing with multiple difficulty levels — no experience necessary. All equipment provided. $33–$41. More info
• Stenciled Front Door Wreath Card Class — 5:00 PM at Craft Warehouse, Vancouver. Create two Christmas cards with layered front door stencils, dimensional wreaths, and holiday embellishments. $25. More info
• Live Music: Gina de Noble at 14 Acres Vineyard & Winery — 5:30–7:30 PM in Ridgefield. All ages welcome, no cover, no reservation needed. Wine by the glass and bottle for the grown-ups, vineyard views for everyone. Free. More info
• Bi-Zi Farm Nighttime Corn Maze — 6:00–10:00 PM at Bi-Zi Farms, Vancouver. Navigate the corn maze after dark — tickets sold in 60-minute time slots. $9.50 ($7.50 for 62+ and military). More info
• Spooktacular Friday Fun Night at Kids Club — 6:30 PM drop-off at Kids Club Fun & Fitness, Vancouver. Drop-off event for kids 4–11 with zombie knockdown, candy corn obstacle course, glow-in-the-dark dance party, pizza, and more. Wear your costume! $39.99. More info
• American Legion Post 168 Amboy Bingo Night — 6:30–8:30 PM at 21400 N.E. 399th St., Amboy. Bingo on the third Friday of every month — all are welcome. Proceeds benefit veterans' assistance in North Clark County. More info
• Spooky Ghosts Hand Building Workshop — 6:30–8:00 PM at Kilnfolk Clay Studio, 108 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. Craft your own ceramic ghosts — no experience needed, best for ages 8+ (with parental help). $55. More info
• Haunted Theme Park at Oaks Park — 7:00 PM at Oaks Park, Portland. Two immersive haunted houses, a Halloween theme park, food, drinks, and oddities vendors. $25–$33. More info
• Disney On Ice Presents: Jump In — 7:00 PM at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland. Dazzling skating, mesmerizing projections, and all the Disney magic live on ice. Tickets from $37.30. More info
• Haunted History Walking Tour — 7:00 PM at Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver. Guides lead walking tours along Main Street and beyond to uncover Vancouver's haunted past. $20. More info
• Spirit Tales of the Vancouver Barracks — 7:00 PM, meet at the Grant House parking lot, Vancouver. Historian Jeff Davis leads a 1.5–2 hour tour covering barracks history and ghostly tales from 1849 to 2011. $17–$22. More info
• Guys and Dolls — 7:30 PM at Winningstad Theatre, Portland. The beloved musical comedy set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City — gamblers, romance, and show-stopping numbers. $48.25. More info
• Swan Lake — 7:30 PM at Keller Auditorium, Portland. Oregon Ballet Theatre performs the tragic love story set to Tchaikovsky's iconic score, featuring the OBT Orchestra live. From $75. More info
• Starbird Theatre Company presents "Leaving Iowa" — 7:30 PM at the Sherman Auditorium at Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver. A heartfelt comedy about a father-and-son road trip that shifts between past and present. $23–$25. More info
• "Friday Frolic" Scottish Dance Class — 7:30–9:00 PM at Columbia Dance Center, 1700 Broadway, Vancouver. No partner or special clothing needed — first class is free, $8 after. More info
• Cinema of Horrors Drive-In Movies — 7:30 PM at Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, Ridgefield. Hollywood-quality horror on the big screen with in-car audio and live monsters. Tickets from $78.22. More info
• Friday Live Music at Pour Choices Pub — 7:30 PM at 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Tino takes the stage — come for great music, cold drinks, and good vibes. More info

Saturday, October 17

• Clark County Parks & Nature Fee-Free Day: National "Take a Hike" Day — 7:00 AM. Free access to Clark County regional parks all day. Find a trail near you and enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of hiking right in your neighborhood. More info
• IABCA Dog Show — 8:30 AM–5:30 PM at Clark County Event Center, Ridgefield. The Evergreen Autumn Sieger showcases top-quality dogs in international-style competition. More info
• Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market — 9:00 AM–3:00 PM next to Esther Short Park. The flagship market has been running since 1990 — shop local produce, artisan goods, and more in the heart of downtown. More info
• Curiosity Kids: Design and Discover — 9:00 AM at OMSI, Portland. Ages 3+ with families. Build, test, design, and improve through playful hands-on engineering challenges. More info
• Free Community Play Day at Columbia Play Project Children's Museum — 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at The Arts Centered, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Free indoor play for the whole family with hands-on, exploratory activities. More info
• Secret Spaces Tour: Post Hospital — 9:00 AM at the Historic Red Cross Building, Vancouver. Explore one of Vancouver's most talked-about landmarks, built in 1903–1904. Original features include tin ceilings, x-ray rooms, and more. Ages 12+. $35. More info
• Salmon Creek Trail Park Run — 9:00 AM at Klineline Pond and Salmon Creek Regional Park. Free weekly 5K — walk, jog, or run. All ages, abilities, and dogs welcome. First-timer orientation at 8:50 AM. More info
• Ivy Pull Volunteer Event — 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at Abrams Park, Ridgefield. Help protect native plants and wildlife habitat by removing invasive English ivy. All ages welcome (13 and under with an adult). More info
• Ivy Removal at Behrens Woods — 9:00 AM, Vancouver. Join the City of Vancouver's Naturespaces volunteers for a morning of removing invasive plants. Family-friendly, great for teens. Gloves, tools, water, and snacks provided. More info
• Adaptive Silver Falls State Park Hike — 9:00 AM. Adventures Without Limits leads an inclusive, accessible stroll through scenic Silver Falls State Park with stunning waterfall views. Open to all abilities. More info
• Assisted Bridge: Lesson and Play — 9:15–10:30 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Free bridge lesson followed by play with assistance available. More info
• TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition — 9:30 AM at OMSI, Portland. Step back to April 1912 and explore more than 100 authentic artifacts recovered from the wreck site. More info
• Howloween at the Zoo — 9:30 AM at the Oregon Zoo, Portland. Costumed kids, keeper chats, live entertainment, and the annual Squishing of the Squash at 1:00 PM — watch elephants demolish giant pumpkins. More info
• Open Saturday at Pearson Field Education Center — 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, Vancouver. Free STEAM education through aviation — flight simulators, a vertical wind table, and historic airplanes on display. All ages. More info
• Zombie Dash Fun Run — 10:00 AM at Pittock House, Camas. Free all-ages 1.25-mile fun run — dodge zombies, complete obstacles, and try to keep your flags. Presented by Camas Parks and Recreation. More info
• The Halloween Ball with Northwest Children's Theater — 10:00 AM (also 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM) at The Judy, Portland. Costume parade, interactive live storytime, dance party, and sing-along. Best for ages 4+. $16. More info
• Pumpkin Lane at Pomeroy Farm — 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (last admission 4:00 PM) in Yacolt. Tractor-pulled hayrides past dozens of pumpkin-people scenes, photo ops, kids activities, farm animals, and food vendors. $6–$8. More info
• (Not So) Scary Nature Day at Columbia Springs — 10:00 AM–1:00 PM, Vancouver. Hands-on science exploring creepy, crawly critters — all ages and backgrounds welcome. Free. More info
• Trail Trackers Nature Hike — 10:00 AM at the Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver. Beginner-friendly class on reading animal tracks, scat, and feeding marks in the landscape. Free. More info
• Washington State Toy Show — 10:00 AM at Clark County Event Center, Ridgefield. Vintage and modern toys, comics, action figures, LEGO, video games, and collectibles from local vendors. $5–$10. More info
• Learning to Prune Deciduous & Evergreen Shrubs — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM at CASEE, Brush Prairie. Professional gardener Christofer Robison teaches pruning methods for beautiful, healthy plants — classroom plus hands-on. $15. More info
• AAUW Women-Owned Small Business Panel — 10:00–11:30 AM at Salmon Creek United Methodist Church, Vancouver. Hear from the owners of Eryngium Papeterie, Melba's Vegan Bakery, and HiThere Juice Co. Open to the public. Free. More info
• Mini-Basket Weaving Class — 10:00 AM. Learn locally harvested fiber basketry techniques including willow, cattail, and iris with Erin of Frog & Twig. More info
• Bear Creek Riparian Restoration Work Party — 10:00 AM on the North Fork Toutle River. Volunteer with Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group to plant native vegetation and build beaver dam structures. More info
• Mushroom Foraging with Mt. St. Helens Institute — 10:00 AM at Pine Creek. Learn to identify wild edible and inedible mushrooms, then harvest and cook them into delicious dishes. More info
• Autumn Stitching on the Farm — 10:00 AM at Plas Newydd Farm. Spend the day stitching an 8"x8" autumn landscape with fiber artist Nicki Eybel — think sky, river, and land in fall colors. More info
• Intro to 3D Design — 10:30 AM–12:00 PM at Battle Ground Community Library. Learn the basics of free Tinkercad software and start creating objects for 3D printing. Free. More info
• Play Bridge (0–150 points) — 11:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club. $10. More info
• Birds of a Feather Art Show — 11:00 AM at Ridgefield Art Gallery, 104 N. Main Ave. Nature photography by Chris Bidleman plus work by 12 gallery members and guest artist Jamie Regina. Free. More info
• The La Center Historical Museum — 12:00–4:00 PM at La Center Historical Museum. Free admission — explore local history, artifacts, and displays. More info
• Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Fall Leaves Special — 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM departures from Yacolt. Steam train through a 330-foot rock tunnel to Heisson with a stop at Yacolt Falls. $16–$22. More info
• Anime Wonder Tradeshow — 12:00–6:00 PM at Clark County Event Center, Ridgefield. Exhibitors, artist vendors, voice actors, cosplay competitions, and main stage entertainment. More info
• River Superstars: Salmon and Lamprey — 1:00–2:00 PM at the Water Resources Education Center, Vancouver. Drop-in program for ages 5–12 exploring the life cycles of salmon and lamprey. Free. More info
• Artists Talk: Open Studios Tour Preview — 1:00–2:00 PM at Art at the Cave, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver. Meet artists featured in the upcoming Clark County Open Studios Tour. Free. More info
• Mermaid Experience at Kids Club — 1:30 PM at Kids Club Fun & Fitness, Vancouver. Ages 6–12 enjoy supervised pool time with mermaid-style swimming, dolphin kicks, and underwater challenges guided by a Mermaid Instructor. More info
• Artist Talk with Candace Pratt at William Scofield Gallery — 1:30–5:00 PM at 1059 Officers Row, Vancouver. Candace Pratt discusses her work in the current exhibit, Accumulation. Free. More info
• Silver Buckle Youth Equestrian Center Halloween Carnival — 2:00–4:00 PM at 11611 N.E. 152nd Ave., Brush Prairie. Carnival games, sack races, cookie decorating, costume contests (for humans and horses!), and prizes. Come in costume. $10. More info
• Stranger Sounds: Spooky Concert — 2:00–4:00 PM at Skyview High School Concert Hall, Vancouver. The Vancouver Community Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra, and Symphonic Band play music from Beetlejuice, IT, Stranger Things, and more. Costumes encouraged. Free. More info
• Moroccan Cuisine Cooking Class — 5:30–7:30 PM at Class Cooking, 110 E. 15th St., Vancouver. Chef Fabiola Donnelly teaches braised saffron chicken, Moroccan salad, and spiced rice. $100 includes everything. More info
• Aslin at 14 Acres Vineyard and Winery — 5:30–7:30 PM in Ridgefield. Live music with wine by the glass and bottle. Free. More info
• Jesus and Friends: An Evening of Acoustic Christian Music — 6:30–8:00 PM at Gathering Church, 2500 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver. Modern Christian music on acoustic instruments. Free (donations encouraged). More info
• VanCity's Saturday Social Dance and Beginners Lesson — 7:00 PM at VanCity Ballroom, Hazel Dell. A 45-minute lesson at 7 PM followed by social dancing until 10 PM — ballroom, Latin, swing, and country. No partner needed. $10. More info
• Saturday Karaoke Night at Pour Choices Pub — 8:30 PM at 1919 Main Street, Vancouver. Let your inner entertainer shine — come solo or bring friends. More info

Sunday, October 18

• Photography Hike: Autumn — 10:00 AM at Hummocks Trail #229, Mt. St. Helens. Join professional photographer Patrick Aalto and Mt. St. Helens Institute guides for a photography hike among the massive hummocks with views of the volcanic crater. More info
• Mushroom Hunting for Beginners — 10:00 AM. Fort Vancouver Regional Library hosts this beginner-friendly class on mushroom identification skills and tools. Free. More info

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