5 Things to Do in Vancouver WA This Weekend - ZZ Top, Fair Finale, Freeform Arts, Sunflowers & Stuff the Bus (August 14–16, 2026)

That little ol' band from Texas has been at it for well over half a century, and on Friday August 14 they bring their unmistakable sound to the Cowlitz Ballroom at ilani in Ridgefield - one of the premier live music venues in the Pacific Northwest and less than 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. ZZ Top is one of those bands that needs no warm-up: from the opening note of the show, the combination of Billy Gibbons' guitar tone, the signature beards-and-sunglasses iconography, and a catalog of songs that have embedded themselves permanently into American rock culture produces the kind of concert atmosphere that only bands with 50-plus years of touring can generate.

Their iconography is as distinctive as their sound - spinning guitars, hotrod cars, that magic keychain, and music that transcends geography and language. Rock, blues, and boogie delivered by one of the longest-running lineups in rock history. If you've never seen ZZ Top live and the opportunity is 20 minutes away, this is not the weekend to let it pass.

Presented by Artstra's Creative Relief program and theARTScentered, FREEFORM is exactly what it sounds like: a free, drop-in community arts experience where the Vancouver Arts Hub becomes an open creative studio for anyone who walks through the door. No experience required. No commitment to stay a certain amount of time. No single art form to commit to. Just eight concurrent creative stations led by local teaching artists, each one offering a different way to make something with your hands, your body, or your mind - and the freedom to try one or all of them at your own pace.

The Saturday August 15 lineup includes neurographic drawing with Nicole B. Schmidt (10 AM–noon), air dry clay with Mike McKinney (10 AM–1 PM), flamenco dance with Aliesha La Paloma (10 AM–noon), eco art pigments and painting with Hill Kent (noon–2 PM), collage creation with Alyssa Nicholas (11 AM–2 PM), sewing and creative tote bags with Bee Olson (noon–2 PM), poetry and creative writing with Elmo Shade (10 AM–noon), and music experience with Jake at UpBeat Music (noon–2 PM). Eight disciplines. Four hours. One 12,000-square-foot creative space. Come for 20 minutes or stay for the full session - both are equally welcome.

As the summer winds down and Clark County families turn their attention to back-to-school preparations, Vancouver Mall and the Evergreen School District Foundation are hosting Stuff the Bus - a community supply drive that gives everyone a simple, direct way to make sure local students start the school year with the supplies they need. Every item donated stays local, going directly to students throughout the Evergreen School District. It's two hours of giving back, and the event is designed to be a good Saturday afternoon for families at the same time.

Beyond the supply drive itself, Stuff the Bus includes free kids' crafts at Center Court - DIY keychains and bookmarks - plus a Back-to-School Shopping Spree Raffle with your donation and a Prize Wheel with a chance to win instant prizes. You can also Sponsor a Student or Sponsor a Classroom, giving your support a specific and direct connection to the community it serves. The most needed supplies this year: backpacks, notebooks and paper, binders and folders, over-the-ear headphones, pencils and erasers, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors, and Clorox wipes. If you need to shop first, Vancouver Mall has everything you need - grab supplies from any of the retailers in the mall, then walk to Center Court and donate.

The Clark County Flea Market returns to Manor Grange in Battle Ground for its August edition - and if you missed the June run, this is your next opportunity. More than 50 vendor spaces fill the indoor and outdoor areas of the historic Manor Grange with vintage goods, antiques, collectibles, toys, jewelry, clothing, art, books, home decor, and handmade items. A coffee cart and food vendors make it an easy half-day outing whether you're hunting for something specific or just want to see what turns up.

The market has been building a genuine monthly following since it launched, and the mix of vendors shifts from month to month - which means even regular attendees find things they haven't seen before. The August edition tends to draw strong attendance as summer winds down and people are thinking about fall, which means more interesting finds and more energy on the floor. This is a late summer morning in Clark County done well.

This is your last chance. The 158th Clark County Fair - the largest annual event in the Portland metropolitan area, with 270,000+ visitors over 10 days - closes its gates on Sunday, August 16, and the final weekend is historically one of the most energetic runs of the entire fair. Everything that has been building all week reaches its peak: the carnival midway is well-worn and full of experienced riders, the food vendors are in their stride, the livestock and agricultural exhibits are fully set up and worth a final walk-through, and the atmosphere of a tradition wrapping up for another year brings a particular kind of engaged, appreciative energy to the fairgrounds.

The 2026 theme is "Blast Off to Fun!" - and this year's fair has delivered on it. The Mars Encounters featured exhibit gives families a hands-on space exploration experience including a look at Destiny the Mars Rover. Monster Trucks, Side-by-Side racing, and Tuff Trucks have been running all week in the motorsports arena. The PRCA Rodeo brings bull riding, barrel racing, and grand entry traditions. The carnival midway has dozens of rides, and the fair food lineup - funnel cakes, elephant ears, Clark County Dairy Women's milkshakes, and local favorites - is at its most reliable in these closing days when vendors have their rhythm fully dialed in.