Portland Vancouver Events March 6-8: Spring Adventures & Cultural Celebrations

Stomp, chomp and ROAR your way through Downtown Camas during this BIG & BOLD interactive, informative and most of all FUN First Friday! The beloved monthly celebration transforms the charming downtown into a prehistoric playground with dinosaur-themed activities, crafts, games, and prizes throughout participating businesses. This family-friendly event brings the community together for an evening of creativity, shopping, dining, and entertainment with a Jurassic twist that kids and dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages will love.

Downtown Camas comes alive with special activities including the "Jurassic Camas Quest" scavenger hunt through local businesses, the Great Dino Egg Hunt Adventure with hidden eggs filled with treasures, art gallery receptions with refreshments, after-hours shopping and dining specials, and plenty of photo opportunities with dinosaur decorations. Participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite dinosaur, shark, or prehistoric creature for a chance to win special prizes. This monthly tradition showcases Camas's vibrant small-town charm and welcoming community spirit.

Welcome spring by inviting one of nature's most efficient pollinators into your backyard! Mason bees are gentle, low-maintenance super-pollinators that can significantly boost your garden's blooms and fruit production. Join WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener Anne Bulger for this free educational workshop and learn how to create a welcoming habitat for these remarkable native bees. Mason bees are solitary, non-aggressive pollinators that are perfect for home gardens—they don't sting unless severely threatened and are incredibly effective at pollinating fruit trees, berries, and vegetables.

This hands-on workshop covers everything you need to know about supporting mason bee populations, from choosing the right nesting materials and tube systems to providing essential food sources throughout their lifecycle. You'll discover best practices for caring for your mason bees, protecting them from common pests and parasites, and ensuring their survival year after year. With a little preparation and the right knowledge, you can enjoy a thriving, productive garden while supporting these vital native pollinators that are essential to our local ecosystem and food security.

Join resident blacksmith Steve Burpee in the historic blacksmith shop at Pomeroy Living History Farm and discover the ancient art of forging! This hands-on workshop provides a unique opportunity to learn the basics of blacksmithing, essential techniques, and gain practical experience in this time-honored craft that has shaped human civilization for millennia. Located on a beautifully preserved historic farm in the foothills near Yacolt, this immersive experience transports you back in time while teaching skills that are still valuable today.

Participants will work with real blacksmithing tools and equipment in an authentic 19th-century setting, learning fundamental techniques including heating, hammering, shaping, and finishing metal. Under Steve Burpee's expert guidance, you'll create your own hand-forged piece to take home as a lasting memento of this unforgettable experience. This workshop is perfect for anyone interested in traditional crafts, historical trades, or hands-on skill-building. Students as young as 13 are welcome when attending with an adult, making this an excellent multi-generational bonding experience.

SheBrew is a remarkable event that focuses on women in the craft beer and cider world, kicking off Women's History Month in March with a nationwide homebrewers competition and a festival in Portland. This celebration honors female brewers and cider makers—both amateur and professional—while creating an inclusive event for all genders and ages that champions equality in the brewing industry. SheBrew supports all women and the LGBTQ+ community, with proceeds benefiting the Human Rights Campaign and the Oregon Brew Crew.

The festival showcases exceptional beers and ciders created by women brewers from across the country, offering attendees the opportunity to sample innovative and delicious beverages while learning about the talented women behind them. Beyond the tastings, SheBrew features educational sessions, networking opportunities, live entertainment, and activities that celebrate women's contributions to craft brewing. This is more than just a beer festival—it's a movement to recognize and amplify women's voices in an industry that has historically been male-dominated, and a celebration of progress toward equality in craft beverage culture.

Join the Portland Chinatown Museum for the Annual Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration! This spectacular free event brings the community together to honor the Lunar New Year with traditional performances, cultural displays, and one of Portland's most magnificent parades. The festivities include energetic lion dancers, thundering drummers, and a breathtaking 150-foot dragon that leads the parade through Portland's historic Chinatown and downtown streets in a joyous celebration of Asian culture and heritage.

Organized in collaboration with the Oregon Historical Society and numerous community partners, the parade begins at the Portland Chinatown Museum (127 NW 3rd Avenue) and winds through the iconic China Gate and downtown Portland on SW Third Avenue before concluding with a celebration at the Oregon Historical Society. This beloved annual tradition showcases the vibrant cultural traditions of Portland's Asian American community and welcomes everyone to participate in the festivities, learn about Lunar New Year customs, and experience the energy and excitement of this important cultural celebration.