50 Things to Do in the Vancouver Area This Week: May 25-31, 2026

Memorial Day weekend kicks things off, and then the Raptors open their season. The Vancouver Symphony wraps its year. A heritage railroad in north Clark County rolls through Moulton Falls country. Maryhill Winery opens its terrace. Four Memorial Day ceremonies happen within an hour of Vancouver. And if none of that sounds like your week, there are two Nirvana tribute bands on Friday night at Billy Blues. If you want to make a longer trip of it: Brandi Carlile is playing three consecutive nights at The Gorge in Eastern Washington, Luke Combs is at Lumen Field, and Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma is saying goodbye to a fan-favorite tapir. Southwest Washington and the wider region have options. All 50 are here.

Heading to Portland this week? Check out the companion guide: 100 Things to Do in the Portland Area This Week: May 25-31, 2026. Rose Festival CityFair, Portland Fire WNBA, Hillsboro Hops baseball, and live music across the region.

Quick Jump: Memorial Day | Raptors Baseball | Live Music | Farmers Markets | Arts & Community | Outdoor & Trains | Wine & Beer | Sports & Fitness | Worth the Drive | Open Houses | Full Calendar

Memorial Day Ceremonies & Tributes

Four separate ceremonies in Clark County and Washougal on Monday. None of them cost a thing. Two are formal military observances at the Fort Vancouver Barracks complex. One is a quiet community ceremony at a historic local cemetery. One is a small-town tribute with hot dogs after. Take your pick.

Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Vancouver Barracks

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 | 9:30 AM flag raising, 10:00 AM ceremony
Location: Fort Vancouver Barracks Parade Grounds, 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: cmac11.com

This is the anchor event for Memorial Day in SW Washington. Co-hosted by the Community Military Appreciation Committee, the National Park Service, the City of Vancouver, and The Historic Trust. Flag raising at 9:30 AM, ceremony at 10 AM. Remarks by U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. An F-15 flyover. Artillery and cannon demonstrations. Color Guard presentations. Recognition of Gold Star families. Hot dogs and snacks served after the ceremony. Probably the largest single Memorial Day event in Clark County.

Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery, 1455 E. 4th Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98663
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: nps.gov/fova

A quieter, more contemplative ceremony at one of the oldest military cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest. If the Barracks Parade Grounds is too crowded, this is a few miles away and every bit as meaningful. Both ceremonies run at the same time, so choose one.

Battle Ground Memorial Day Ceremony

Date & Time: Monday, May 25
Location: Battle Ground Veterans Memorial, Kiwanis Park, Battle Ground, WA
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: cityofbattleground.gov

Battle Ground holds its own annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Kiwanis Park, honoring the 31 local fallen service members remembered there. A fitting tribute in the heart of north Clark County if you are closer to Battle Ground than to Vancouver.

Washougal Memorial Day Ceremony

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 | 11:00 AM
Location: Washougal Memorial Cemetery, 3329 Q St., Washougal, WA
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: cityofwashougal.us

The City of Washougal, Cape Horn American Legion Post 122, and the Washougal Parks and Cemetery Board host the annual ceremony at Washougal Memorial Cemetery at 11 AM. Guest speaker, rifle salute, taps, retiring colors. Complimentary refreshments served after the ceremony.

Gorge Gathering: Tin Can Tourists (Memorial Day Weekend)

Date & Time: Memorial Day Weekend through Monday, May 25
Location: Skamania County Fairgrounds, Stevenson, WA | ~50 miles from Vancouver
Cost: Small entry fee
Tickets/Info: skamaniacounty.org

The annual Gorge Gathering wraps up on Memorial Day with a four-day camp-out of vintage trailer enthusiasts from across the Pacific Northwest. Teardrop trailers, restored Airstreams, classic travel rigs, communal meals in the fairground dining hall, bingo, and kids games. Open house hours let visitors walk the grounds and peek inside vintage rigs. Organized by Teardrop Trailers of Oregon and Washington. About 50 miles east of Vancouver along Highway 14 through Camas and past Beacon Rock. Worth the drive if you appreciate the kind of people who maintain 1959 canned-ham trailers with genuine care.

Ridgefield Raptors Baseball: Opening Week

The Ridgefield Raptors open their 2026 West Coast League season this week with four home games at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex. The WCL is wood-bat collegiate summer baseball, which means you are watching legit prospects playing for the love of it before any professional contracts arrive. The RORC is a proper ballpark. Good sight lines, clean concessions, real grass. Tickets start around $16. It is the best value in live professional-caliber sports anywhere in Clark County.

Ridgefield Raptors vs. NW Star Nighthawks

Date & Time: Thursday, May 28 | 6:35 PM
Location: Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, 1500 SW Ridgefield Blvd., Ridgefield, WA
Cost: Free grass berm tickets available while supplies last
Tickets/Info: ridgefieldraptor.com

The Raptors open their home schedule on Thursday against the NW Star Nighthawks. Free grass berm tickets are available while supplies last for this first home game of the season. If you want the full ballpark experience, reserved seating starts at $16. About 20 miles north of Vancouver on I-5.

Ridgefield Raptors Opening Night: vs. Nanaimo NightOwls (Magnet Schedule Giveaway)

Date & Time: Friday, May 29 | 6:35 PM
Location: Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, 1500 SW Ridgefield Blvd., Ridgefield, WA
Cost: Tickets from $16 | Presented by Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Tickets/Info: ridgefieldraptor.com

The official Opening Night of the 2026 season, presented by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. First 500 fans through the gate get a magnet schedule. The Raptors take on the Nanaimo NightOwls from British Columbia for the first of three games in a Memorial Day weekend series. Good crowd energy for an opener. Arrive early.

Ridgefield Raptors vs. Nanaimo NightOwls (Rally Towel Giveaway)

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 6:35 PM
Location: Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, 1500 SW Ridgefield Blvd., Ridgefield, WA
Cost: Tickets from $16
Tickets/Info: ridgefieldraptor.com

Game two of the opening series. First 500 fans get a Rally Towel giveaway. A Saturday night game with a post-game fireworks show makes this the best attendance night of the opening weekend. The RORC does fireworks well.

Ridgefield Raptors vs. Nanaimo NightOwls (Kids 12 & Under FREE)

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 1:05 PM
Location: Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, 1500 SW Ridgefield Blvd., Ridgefield, WA
Cost: Kids 12 & Under FREE
Tickets/Info: ridgefieldraptor.com

The Sunday series finale is the family game. Kids 12 and under get in free. A 1:05 first pitch means you can be home for dinner. If you have not been to a Raptors game before, Sunday afternoon is the ideal low-pressure introduction.

Live Music

Memorial Day weekend brings out the full live music calendar. Billy Blues has two strong bookings. Maryhill Winery opens its famous outdoor terrace for the season. The Vancouver Symphony closes out its year at Skyview Concert Hall. Between Friday night and Sunday afternoon, you can catch everything from Nirvana tributes to Dvořák.

Nevermind (Nirvana Tribute) + Infatuation Junkie (Alanis Morissette Tribute)

Date & Time: Friday, May 29 | 9:00 PM
Location: Billy Blues Bar & Grill, 708 W 6th St., Vancouver
Cost: Cover charge varies
Tickets/Info: billyblues.com

Two tribute acts sharing a bill on Friday night. Nevermind is one of the better-regarded Nirvana tributes in the Pacific Northwest, and Infatuation Junkie tackles Alanis Morissette. The combination is genuinely odd and probably a lot of fun. Billy Blues is a reliable local venue with a crowd that actually watches the band. Late start, so plan accordingly.

Sacred Heart + Midlife Crisis

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 8:00 PM
Location: Billy Blues Bar & Grill, Vancouver
Cost: Cover charge varies
Tickets/Info: billyblues.com

Back-to-back local acts on Saturday night at Billy Blues. Doors at 8 PM. Good energy for a holiday weekend crowd.

Passion Cats

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 8:00 PM
Location: Cascade Bar & Grill, Vancouver
Cost: Cover charge varies
Tickets/Info: cascadebarandgrillvancouver.com

Cascade Bar & Grill on the east side of Vancouver is a comfortable spot with a loyal crowd. Passion Cats plays Saturday night. Check their social media for specific cover charge.

Maryhill Winery Terrace Live Music: Opening Weekend, Saturday

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30
Location: Maryhill Winery, 9774 WA-14, Goldendale, WA | ~75 miles from Vancouver
Cost: Free with visit
Tickets/Info: maryhillwinery.com

Maryhill Winery opens its vine-covered outdoor terrace for live music every Memorial Day weekend, kicking off a season that runs through September. The setting is exceptional: a 4,000-acre estate overlooking the Columbia River Gorge with the Cascades behind it. Pack a picnic. Grab a tasting flight. Settle in for the afternoon. This is a proper day trip, not a quick errand. Check maryhillwinery.com for the Saturday performer.

Maryhill Winery Terrace Live Music: Opening Weekend, Sunday

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31
Location: Maryhill Winery, 9774 WA-14, Goldendale, WA | ~75 miles from Vancouver
Cost: Free with visit
Tickets/Info: maryhillwinery.com

Sunday at Maryhill is typically slightly more relaxed than Saturday, which is actually fine. Different performer, same setting. If you could not make it Saturday, Sunday delivers the same experience. Check maryhillwinery.com for the Sunday performer.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Season Finale: Saturday Night

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 6:00 PM pre-concert talk | 7:00 PM concert
Location: Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver, WA 98685
Cost: Tickets required
Tickets/Info: vancouversymphony.org

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra closes its 2025-2026 season with a strong program at Skyview Concert Hall. Acclaimed violinist Inés Issel Burzyńska performs Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2. The program also includes John Adams' "The Chairman Dances" and Dvořák's New World Symphony. Pre-concert talk with VSO Music Director Salvador Brotons at 6 PM. Concert at 7 PM. This is a proper send-off for the season and a chance to hear a first-rate live orchestra in Vancouver without driving to Portland.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Season Finale: Sunday Matinee

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 2:00 PM pre-concert talk | 3:00 PM concert
Location: Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver
Cost: Tickets required
Tickets/Info: vancouversymphony.org

Same program as Saturday night (Prokofiev, Adams, Dvořák) at a 3 PM Sunday matinee. Pre-concert talk at 2 PM. If Saturday evening does not work, Sunday afternoon is the better family option. Skyview Concert Hall is a real venue with good acoustics.

Farmers Markets

Vancouver Farmers Market: Saturday

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Esther Short Park, 8th & Esther St., Downtown Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: vancouverfarmersmarket.org

Southwest Washington's most-visited farmers market runs Saturdays and Sundays April through October at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. More than 100 vendors: fresh produce, local flowers, baked goods, prepared food, artisan goods, and live music in the park. Saturday has the biggest vendor turnout. Free parking on weekends with a dedicated market lot, donations accepted. Worth pairing with the AANHPI celebration at Vancouver Mall, which opens just after the market does.

Vancouver Farmers Market: Sunday

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Esther Short Park, Downtown Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: vancouverfarmersmarket.org

Sunday runs an hour later and at a more relaxed pace, which makes it better for lingering over a coffee and a pastry. Same vendors, shorter lines. Pair it with a walk along the Vancouver Waterfront, which is a short walk from the park.

Battle Ground Farmers Market

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Battle Ground Village, Battle Ground, WA
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: battlegroundfarmersmarket.org

Battle Ground's indoor-to-outdoor farmers market runs every Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM through October. Local produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors in the heart of Battle Ground's downtown village area. A solid option if you are already in north Clark County for the Raptors game later that evening. The Saturday Bingo Fundraiser at Battle Ground Farmers Market (see item 30) adds an evening event to the same location.

Cowlitz Community Farmers Market, Longview

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Cowlitz County Fairgrounds parking lot, 1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA | ~40 miles from Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: cowlitzfarmersmarket.com

If you are heading toward the Cowlitz County area, the Longview farmers market runs every Saturday through October. A well-established market with local produce, specialty foods, and crafts. About 40 miles north of Vancouver on I-5, not far off the highway.

Arts, Film & Community

2026 Understory NW Film Fest at Kiggins Theatre

Date & Time: Thursday, May 28 | 6:30 PM
Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver
Cost: $30 day-of tickets
Tickets/Info: cascadeforest.org

The annual Understory NW Film Fest is hosted by Cascade Forest Conservancy, a Vancouver-based environmental nonprofit, and screens conservation films from regional and national filmmakers. This year's program includes "The Grand Salmon," "Speaking Eep!," "The Lost Fish," and "Living Legacies." Roughly two hours total. Proceeds support ecosystem restoration work throughout the southern Washington Cascades. Tickets are $30 at the door, $25 if purchased before May 27.

Men in Black: Kiggins 90th Birthday 90s Film Series

Date & Time: Opens Friday, May 29 | Multiple showtimes through the week
Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver
Cost: $10 advance / $12 day-of
Tickets/Info: kigginstheatre.com

The Kiggins Theatre is celebrating its 90th birthday this spring with a series of the best films of the 1990s. Men in Black, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, opens the latest installment on May 29. Advance tickets are $10, day-of is $12, and Tuesday bargain shows are $6. If you have not been to the Kiggins, it is the best independent movie theater in Clark County, a beautifully restored 1936 venue in downtown Vancouver that does things right.

Forces of Nature at Joyce Garver Theater, Camas (1:00 PM Showing)

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 1:00 PM
Location: Joyce Garver Theater, Camas School District, 1500 NE Garfield St., Camas, WA
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: camassd.org

Forces of Nature, a nature documentary, screens at the Joyce Garver Theater in Camas on Saturday afternoon. The Garver Theater is Camas School District's performing arts center, named after long-time board member Joyce Garver. Check the Camas School District website or box office for tickets and exact pricing.

Forces of Nature at Joyce Garver Theater, Camas (5:30 PM Showing)

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 5:30 PM
Location: Joyce Garver Theater, 1500 NE Garfield St., Camas, WA
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: camassd.org

A second showing of Forces of Nature in the early evening at Garver. If the afternoon showing is sold out or the timing does not work, the 5:30 showing gives you more of Saturday morning for the farmers market and Rose Show before heading to Camas.

2nd Annual AANHPI Heritage Celebration

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Location: Vancouver Mall, Vancouver, WA
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: visitvancouverusa.com

The second annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration returns to Vancouver Mall on Saturday with community performances, cultural showcases, and local vendors from 10 AM to 7 PM. Free admission and open to all ages. The Vancouver Mall location makes it easy to combine with the morning farmers market a mile away downtown.

Fort Vancouver Rose Society 71st Annual Rose Show: "A Rosy Affair"

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Clark County Event Center Exhibition Hall, 17402 NE Delfel Rd., Ridgefield, WA
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: fortvancouverhorticulture.org

The Fort Vancouver Rose Society holds its 71st annual rose show on Saturday afternoon at the Clark County Event Center. Titled "A Rosy Affair," the show features judged rose entries, floral arrangements, educational displays, and vendors. Free admission. If you grow roses, this is the place to benchmark them. If you do not, it is still a visually impressive afternoon. About 20 miles north of Vancouver near Ridgefield.

CASS First Annual Fundraiser

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: CASS Studio, Vancouver
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: cassarts.org

CASS holds its inaugural annual fundraiser on Saturday evening: appetizers, drinks, and a silent auction at the studio. A small, low-key event supporting local arts in Vancouver. Check CASS's website or social media for ticket details and the studio address.

Hockinson Fun Days: Bingo Night

Date & Time: Friday, May 29 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Hockinson High School, Brush Prairie, WA
Cost: FREE (prizes awarded)
Tickets/Info: hockinsonschools.com

Hockinson Fun Days is a community event in the Brush Prairie area of north Clark County. Friday kicks off with bingo for prizes at Hockinson High School from 6 to 8:30 PM. A genuine small-town community event. Free to attend.

Hockinson Fun Days: Pancake Breakfast

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 7:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Fire District 3, Brush Prairie, WA
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: hockinsonschools.com

Day two of Hockinson Fun Days opens with a pancake breakfast at Fire District 3. If you are up early and in north Clark County, this is the local community event before the farmers markets open. A proper fire station breakfast put on by people who actually live there.

Bingo Fundraiser: Clark County Swine Barn Youth

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 5:00 PM
Location: Battle Ground Farmers Market, Battle Ground, WA
Cost: Tickets at door
Tickets/Info: clarkcountywa.gov

The Clark County Swine Barn Youth group holds a bingo fundraiser at the Battle Ground Farmers Market on Saturday evening starting at 5 PM. A community event supporting youth agriculture programs in Clark County. Good way to round out a Saturday in Battle Ground before or instead of heading to the Raptors game.

Outdoor Events & Trains

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: Friends Annual Meeting + Community Nature Center

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 1:00 PM
Location: Community Nature Center, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: friendsofridgefieldnwr.org

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge opened its brand-new Community Nature Center earlier this spring, and this Saturday the Friends of the Refuge hold their annual meeting inside it. Free to attend. Expect a tour of the new building, the 2026 Spirit of the Wild Award presentation, and the Friends Annual Report. If you have not been out to Ridgefield recently, the new nature center is worth the visit on its own. About 20 miles north of Vancouver.

Chelatchie Prairie Railroad: "Here Comes Summer Weekend" Train, Saturday

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | Departures throughout the day
Location: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, Cedar Creek Rd., Yacolt, WA
Cost: Tickets required
Tickets/Info: tickets.bycx.org

The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad runs diesel excursion trains from the town of Yacolt in north Clark County through logging country to the Lucia Falls area, passing through a tunnel and across the East Fork of the Lewis River. The Memorial Day weekend excursion is called "Here Comes Summer Weekend." Round trip through wooded terrain, with a 30-minute stop near Moulton Falls Regional Park. The railroad is volunteer-run and operates only about a dozen weekends per year. Tickets sell out so purchase in advance. About 30 miles from Vancouver.

Chelatchie Prairie Railroad: "Here Comes Summer Weekend" Train, Sunday

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | Departures throughout the day
Location: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, Cedar Creek Rd., Yacolt, WA
Cost: Tickets required
Tickets/Info: tickets.bycx.org

Same route and experience on Sunday. If Saturday sells out, book Sunday while you still can. The Sunday excursion tends to have slightly smaller crowds than Saturday. A genuinely different Clark County experience that most locals have never tried.

Food, Wine & Craft Beer

Zinc House Winery & Brewery: Saturday Memorial Day Weekend

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Zinc House Winery & Brewery, Vancouver
Cost: Menu pricing
Tickets/Info: zinchousewinery.com

Zinc House is one of the more interesting concepts in SW Washington, pairing a winery and a craft brewery under one roof. Extended Memorial Day weekend hours on Saturday evening. A natural stopping point before or after the live music shows. Check zinchousewinery.com for current menu and hours.

Zinc House Winery & Brewery: Sunday Wine Tasting

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | Open 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Wine Tasting: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Zinc House Winery & Brewery, Vancouver
Cost: Menu pricing
Tickets/Info: zinchousewinery.com

Sunday at Zinc House includes a structured wine tasting flight in the afternoon. Doors open at noon. If you want to start with lunch before the 2 PM tasting session, plan to arrive around 12:30. A low-key way to spend a Sunday afternoon if you are not making the drive to Maryhill or Chelatchie.

Sports & Fitness

Run the Couve Series

Date & Time: Thursday, May 28
Location: Vancouver
Cost: Registration required
Tickets/Info: runthecouve.com

The Run the Couve Series brings runners together Thursday evenings in Vancouver. "The Couve" is the local shorthand for Vancouver, which you either already knew or now know. Check the event organizer's site for this week's route, distance, and registration. A community running event drawing a mix of serious runners and first-timers.

Healthy Kids Running Series

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31
Location: Vancouver
Cost: Free or low cost
Tickets/Info: hkrs.org

The Healthy Kids Running Series is a national program with a strong Vancouver chapter. Age-appropriate distances for toddlers through fifth graders. Kids earn ribbons, build confidence, and enjoy themselves. A solid Sunday morning option for families with younger kids before the farmers market opens.

Worth the Drive: Seattle, Olympia & Beyond

These events require real travel time. Seattle is about 2.5 hours. Olympia is about 90 minutes. They are listed here because the events are large enough to justify the trip, not just because the destinations are nice.

Wild Waves Theme Park: Final Season Opening Weekend

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day) | 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: Wild Waves Theme Park, 36201 Enchanted Pkwy S., Federal Way, WA | ~90 miles from Vancouver
Cost: General admission; Active Duty & Retired Military $29.99 with up to 4 guests
Tickets/Info: wildwaves.com

Wild Waves is in its 50th and final season. The park announced it will close permanently after 2026, citing rising operating costs and losses since COVID. Memorial Day weekend is the opening of the 2026 season, and this is your last chance to ride the rides you grew up with if you grew up in Western Washington. Hours for Memorial Day are 11 AM to 6 PM. Active duty and retired military get in for $29.99 with up to four guests. Worth the drive if this place means something to you or your family. Once it closes, it is gone. About 90 miles from Vancouver on I-5 north.

Northwest Folklife Festival: Final Day

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day)
Location: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle
Cost: FREE (suggested $20 donation)
Tickets/Info: nwfolklife.org

The 55th annual Northwest Folklife Festival wraps up on Memorial Day at Seattle Center. One of the largest folk and world music festivals in North America. More than 250,000 people attend over four days. Dozens of stages, hundreds of performers, international food, dancing, film, and hands-on activities for kids. Monday is the final day, which tends to be emotional and full. No ticket required. Suggested $20 donation. Budget extra time for parking near Seattle Center or ride Link Light Rail from a park-and-ride to the south.

Olympia Memorial Day Ceremony at the Capitol

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Washington State Capitol Rotunda, Legislative Building, Olympia | ~90 miles from Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: leg.wa.gov

The Washington State Capitol Campus hosts a formal Memorial Day ceremony at the Legislative Building rotunda from 10:30 AM to noon. A dignified ceremony in one of the Pacific Northwest's most striking architectural settings. If you plan to do both this and the Thunder Run (see item 41), both happen at the Capitol Campus and are timed to flow together.

Olympia Thunder Run

Date & Time: Monday, May 25 | Sign-up/depart 10:30 AM from Eagle Leather or NW Harley-Davidson | Ride to Capitol at 11:30 AM | Ceremony at 12:20 PM
Location: Vietnam War Memorial, Capitol Campus, Olympia | ~90 miles from Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: olympiathunderrun.org

The Olympia Thunder Run is a Memorial Day motorcycle ride organized by the Vietnam Vets Legacy Vets MC, rolling from Eagle Leather or Northwest Harley-Davidson to the Vietnam War Memorial on the Capitol Campus. The ceremony at 12:20 PM honors veterans and fallen service members. Whether or not you ride, you can attend the ceremony. It follows naturally from the Capitol rotunda ceremony above.

Massive Monkees Day

Date & Time: Memorial Day Weekend
Location: Neptune Theater, 1303 NE 45th St., Seattle
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: neptuneseattle.com

The 27th annual Massive Monkees Day brings some of the world's best breaking and dance talent to the Neptune Theater for an all-day celebration of breaking culture. Competitors and performers from across the country, with international acts in the mix. If you follow breaking or b-boy culture at all, this is one of the Pacific Northwest's premier events in the discipline. Check the Neptune Theater website for the specific date within Memorial Day weekend and for ticket info.

Seattle Mariners vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 1:10 PM
Location: T-Mobile Park, 1250 1st Ave S., Seattle
Cost: From $20
Tickets/Info: mariners.com

The Mariners host the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Park. A 1:10 first pitch means you can leave Vancouver around 10 AM, eat near the stadium, catch a full nine innings, and be home by early evening. T-Mobile Park is one of the more comfortable ballpark experiences in the American League.

Luke Combs: My Kinda Saturday Night Tour

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 | 6:00 PM
Location: Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave S., Seattle | ~2.5 hours from Vancouver
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: livenation.com

Luke Combs plays Lumen Field on Saturday night as part of his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour. An outdoor stadium country concert at one of the biggest venues in the Pacific Northwest. If you are going to make the Seattle trip, this is the anchor event to build the Saturday around. Pair it with the Ballard Locks opening concert in the afternoon (item 45) for a full day.

Ballard Locks Free Summer Concert Series: Opening Night

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30
Location: Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, 3015 NW 54th St., Seattle | ~2.5 hours from Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: seattle.gov/parks

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard open their free summer concert lawn series on May 30 and run through September 7. The opening night of the season is always a good crowd. Outdoor concerts on the grass next to the locks, where you can also watch boats pass through from Puget Sound to Lake Union. A great free afternoon before heading to Luke Combs at Lumen Field in the evening. Check the Seattle Parks and Recreation calendar for the opening night performer.

Orca Fest at KEXP

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: KEXP, 472 1st Ave N., Seattle Center | ~2.5 hours from Vancouver
Cost: FREE
Tickets/Info: kexp.org

Orca Fest is a free outdoor community event at KEXP featuring live music, chalk art, face painting, educational booths about orca conservation, and a volunteer beach clean-up. Held on the Seattle Center campus adjacent to the Space Needle. A good Sunday morning option if you are already in Seattle for the weekend. Admission is free. KEXP is one of the most beloved community radio stations in the Pacific Northwest and this is one of their signature public events.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: Farewell to Ume Weekend

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30 & Sunday, May 31
Location: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N Pearl St., Tacoma | ~80 miles from Vancouver
Cost: General admission
Tickets/Info: pdza.org

Point Defiance Zoo is hosting a special farewell weekend for Ume, their beloved Malayan tapir, who is relocating to another accredited zoo in early June. Ume has been a fan favorite at Point Defiance for years. This is your last chance to see her before she moves on. The zoo is running special programming and viewing opportunities both Saturday and Sunday. Beyond Ume, Point Defiance is one of the best zoos in the Pacific Northwest with a full waterfront campus. About 80 miles north of Vancouver.

Brandi Carlile: Echoes Through the Canyon at The Gorge, Night 1

Date & Time: Friday, May 29
Location: The Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd NW, George, WA | ~3.5 hours from Vancouver
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: ticketmaster.com

Brandi Carlile plays the first of three consecutive nights at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington. The Gorge is the most scenic outdoor concert venue in the world, full stop: a natural amphitheater cut into the Columbia River canyon with sightlines that stretch for miles. Carlile is a Pacific Northwest native and one of the best live performers working today. Three nights here is a pilgrimage event, not just a concert. Camping is available on-site. About 3.5 hours from Vancouver via I-82 east.

Brandi Carlile: Echoes Through the Canyon at The Gorge, Night 2

Date & Time: Saturday, May 30
Location: The Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd NW, George, WA | ~3.5 hours from Vancouver
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: ticketmaster.com

Night two of the Brandi Carlile run at The Gorge. Saturday night at The Gorge is the peak experience: the crowd is fully settled into camp, the sun sets behind the canyon walls during the show, and the energy builds from two nights of momentum. If you can only make one night, Saturday is the one. Campsites fill early so book accommodation in advance.

Brandi Carlile: Echoes Through the Canyon at The Gorge, Night 3

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31
Location: The Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Rd NW, George, WA | ~3.5 hours from Vancouver
Cost: Tickets vary
Tickets/Info: ticketmaster.com

The final night of the three-night Brandi Carlile run. Sunday closings at The Gorge have a particular energy: the weekend wraps, the canyon air cools, and the set tends to be the most emotionally loaded of the three. If you have been camping all weekend, Sunday night is the payoff. If you are doing a day trip from Vancouver, leaving early Sunday morning and returning late gives you a full show with manageable drive time.

Open Houses in Clark, Cowlitz & Skamania Counties This Week

If you are thinking about buying or selling in Southwest Washington, Memorial Day weekend is one of the most active open house weekends of the year. Browse all scheduled open houses in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties right now:

View All Open Houses in Clark, Cowlitz & Skamania Counties

Have questions about what you are seeing out there? Brandon King is a licensed real estate agent in Washington (111384) and Oregon (201231154) who works exclusively in the Portland Metro and SW Washington market. No pressure, no pitch. Just answers. Call or text 971-400-7271 or email BrandonK@kw.com.

Full Calendar: Vancouver Area Events, May 25-31, 2026

Brandon King is a licensed real estate agent in Oregon (201231154) and Washington (111384) with KW Portland Central. He covers the Portland metro and Southwest Washington, including Clark County, Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and the surrounding area. Questions about buying or selling in SW Washington? Call or text 971-400-7271 or email BrandonK@kw.com.