A celebration of Camas history, spring and a new malt shop at April First Friday in downtown Camas

April First Friday will be the Grand Opening of Natalia’s Café 1950’s style Malt Shop, a perfect fit with the event’s history theme

A historic walking tour, a huge Grand Opening Celebration, art shows, Camas history activities, s’mores, after-hours shopping, dining, games, prizes, and more will be part of the First Friday in Downtown Camas on April 1, 5-8 p.m. The theme is “Spring into History!” with activities that help you appreciate the compelling Camas and downtown history, the coming of Spring and new offerings in Downtown Camas.

April First Friday will be the Grand Opening of Natalia’s Café 1950’s style Malt Shop, a perfect fit with the event’s history theme. The Ribbon Cutting will be at 5 p.m. with 1950’s inspired activities all evening. Activities will include a free small ice cream with a topping token for kids, classic cars, music, hula hoop contest (6 p.m.), pie eating contest (6:30 p.m.), fashion show (7 p.m.), balloon art, photo ops, art demos and special burger or hot dog dinner and shake pricing. Natalia’s expanded space has been decorated with a soda fountain bar, classic cars, 1950’s themed seating and decor. Natalia’s Malt Shop will be open for dinner with burgers, hot dogs, shakes, ice cream sundaes and many other 50’s inspired dining offerings. The block of 4^th from Cedar to Dallas will be closed for the event. Natalia’s Cafe is located at 437 NE 4^th.

Other First Friday Activities include:

• Play the “Guess About Camas” history passport game in participating businesses and be entered to win Camas themed prizes.
• Make s’mores with iQ Credit Union (weather permitting :)) at 4^th & Birch
• Take a Historic Walking Tour of downtown at 6pm with the Clark County Historical Museum Director, Brad Richardson. Meet in Journey lobby, 304 NE 4^th.
• The GP Mill Interpretive Lobby, 401 NE Adams, will be open to the public to learn about mill history including the pictorial mill timeline, video with local historian Virginia Warren and many mill artifacts spanning the decades.
• Do the History “Course” with the DCA at Journey and earn tickets to win: GP Toilet Paper Toss, Camas Cornhole, Camas History Plinko and the Camas Prune Drop. Play the “course” and be entered to win a GP paper prize package.
• As an additional nod to our paper history, local artists will be creating Paper Dresses & Outfits that will be modeled as part of the fashion show. Vintage Hats will also be featured as millinery is a part of downtown Camas history.
• Art Receptions at Attic Gallery, 421 NE Cedar, and Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4^th.
• Kids Crafts at LiveWell Camas, 417 NE Birch, with the Girl Scouts
• After-hours shopping and dining with so many new offerings for Spring.
• You can also learn all about Camas mill town history starting at the Historic Mill Photo Collage at 4th and Adams (across from the mill in the US Bank parking lot). Scan the QR code on the legend and go on a self-guided Historic Walking Tour of downtown. Learn about the notable people, buildings and events that have made Camas what it is today. This can be done at any time.

Pick up the First Friday Passport at the DCA tables at Journey, 304 NE 4th Ave.

“We love sharing our town’s history as it explains why our town has the strength it does today,” says Carrie Schulstad, Executive Director for the Downtown Camas Association (DCA). “You can do the history trivia game and learn a lot and also go on the historic walking tour with Brad who makes history especially interesting and fun! We are thrilled Natalia’s Malt Shop will be officially opening on this day as well — bringing back a 1950’s inspired Malt Shop to Downtown Camas is a perfect fit for the Camas History theme. We are also grateful to have s’mores back sponsored by iQ Credit Union and to have the Mill Interpretive Lobby open again after 2 years! Please join us!”

First Fridays are Art, Activities, Dining, and After Hours Shopping themed family friendly events coordinated by the DCA each month of the year to support downtown and develop the community. For more information, visit https://downtowncamas.com/event/april-first-friday-spring-history or the Downtown Camas First Friday Facebook page.

Information provided by Downtown Camas Association.