Clark County has an amazing summer and people here take it seriously. Once the weather turns, the city fills up with outdoor concerts, night markets, and outdoor festivals that make you glad you live here. If you’ve been sticking to the same spots and calling it a night early, there’s a lot you’re missing.

This guide covers the events and spots worth getting out for this season.

Clark County Fair

August 6-17, 2026

The Clark County Fair is a 10-day run of classic fair everything — rides, livestock shows, concerts, food stands, and exhibits. It’s not free (admission is $8 per person plus $6 parking), but for what you get over nearly two weeks it’s worth planning around. You can go back multiple nights if you want to catch different shows or just let the kids ride everything twice. Monster trucks and firework shows are big draws, and the amphitheater books live music throughout the run.

It’s the full county fair setup. Families with kids dominate, but honestly anyone who grew up going to fairs will find something. If you’re into livestock or 4-H exhibits, those are there all ten days. The carnival wristbands are cheaper if you buy them ahead online or at Wilco stores before August 6, so don’t wait until you’re walking in. Corn dogs and fair food are everywhere, and the evening concerts and fireworks make it easy to turn a quick visit into a full night.

Free Friday Night Movies

Fridays, August 7-28, 2026, movies start at dusk

Free Friday Night Movies is exactly what it sounds like — free outdoor movies every Friday in August. It’s a recurring thing, so you can go once or make it a weekly habit through the end of summer. Movies start at dusk, which means you can bring a blanket or chairs and settle in as it gets dark. It’s one of those easy summer evenings where you don’t have to plan much or spend anything.

It’s laid-back and family-friendly. Bring your own snacks or grab something nearby before it starts. The crowd is a mix of parents with kids, couples, and friend groups who just want to be outside. Since it’s every Friday, you can try it one week and come back the next if it works for you. Show up a little early if you want a good spot.

Scooped Ice Cream Festival

July 18-19, 2026, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Scooped Ice Cream Festival is a two-day ice cream festival at Esther Short Park with unlimited ice cream samples, live music, local vendors, and competitions like the Milkshake Throwdown and Sundae Showdown. It’s a one-time weekend in mid-July, so you plan around it rather than drop in whenever. Tickets are required, but once you’re in you can sample as much ice cream as you want from participating vendors. DJs and live entertainment run both days, and there are games and food trucks if you need something that isn’t frozen.

It’s crowded and high-energy. Families with kids are everywhere, but plenty of adults show up without them just to eat ice cream and hang out. The Milkshake Throwdown is messy and fun to watch even if you’re not competing. If you’re going for the unlimited samples, pace yourself or you’ll regret it by hour two. The whole thing runs until 9 p.m. both days, so you can make an evening of it.

4 Days of Aloha

July 23-26, 2026

4 Days of Aloha is a four-day Hawaiian arts and culture festival at Esther Short Park — music, hula, hands-on workshops, food, and local vendors. It’s a one-time weekend (Wednesday through Saturday) in late July, so it’s something you block out if you’re going. The festival has been running for 24 years and it’s grown into one of the biggest Hawaiian culture celebrations in the Pacific Northwest. Workshops let you make your own Hawaiian crafts to take home, and the music and hula performances run throughout all four days.

It’s a mix of families, couples, and people genuinely into Hawaiian culture. The workshops fill up, so if you want to make something register ahead on their site. The music and hula stages run all day, so you can drop in for an hour or stay the whole evening. Hawaiian food vendors are set up throughout the park. It’s community-focused and welcoming, not a party scene.

Vancouver Arts and Music Festival

August 7-9, 2026

Vancouver Arts and Music Festival is a free three-day festival at Esther Short Park with three outdoor stages and over 50 local artists and performers. It runs Friday through Sunday in early August, so it’s a specific weekend you plan around. The lineup includes everything from Mongolian throat singing to Tahitian dance, plus live music and visual arts. It’s presented by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the whole thing is free to attend.

It’s a laid-back arts festival that pulls in all kinds of people. Families, couples, solo music fans — everyone shows up for different performers and ends up staying longer than planned. The three stages mean there’s always something happening, so you can bounce between acts or camp out at one. It’s free, so there’s no pressure to see everything or justify the cost. Check the full lineup ahead of time so you don’t miss whoever you actually want to catch.

Go Find Your Spot

Clark County has a lot going on this summer and most of it is either free or close to it. As a real estate agent in Clark County, I stay plugged into what’s happening across neighborhoods because it matters when you’re helping someone figure out where to put down roots. Summer nightlife is one of the best ways to understand what a neighborhood actually feels like.

Pick one spot from this list and get out there this week.

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