What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Oct. 20
Fall Plant Sale: Roosevelt Elementary School PTA is hosting its popular 2024 Fall Plant Sale offering a wide selection of edible and perennial plants, flowers, shrubs, herbs, small trees and veggie starts. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school, 1417 San Francisco Ave. NE, Olympia. All proceeds benefit the Roosevelt Elementary PTA. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.
Puget Sound Book Artists 13th Annual Members’ Exhibition: The Puget Sound Book Artists Exhibition on the theme of Time Travel is underway until Dec. 13 at the Daniel J. Evans Library at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. There will be an open case event from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. The display will be a total of 55 artists’ books from 42 different artists representing all parts of the Puget Sound and the western United States.
TCMedia open house: Are you an online media creator, filmmaker, or podcaster? Or want to be? Then, you should come to the Thurston Community Media (TCMedia) Open House from 2 to 5 pm Sunday. TCMedia provides Thurston and beyond with access to equipment, facilities and the tools to learn and create media like a professional. Get hands-on demonstrations of the TV studios, equipment, and new podcast suite! There will be door prizes every hour, including TCMedia memberships, class vouchers, and goodies from local businesses. Free entry for all. For more info about TCMedia, visit tcmedia.org or call 360-956-3100.
Celebrate democracy at Saint Martin’s: Progressives and any other “Joyful Warriors” who want to join them will have a little bit of fun before the election by “celebrating democracy” from 4-7 p.m. at Saint Martin’s University Marcus Pavilion, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey. There will be voter registration, live music, art, aerialists, jugglers, “political soap boxing” and “social justice educational games” — plus “the triumphant return of the legendary ‘Unfair’ and the Trickledown Merry-go-round.” Admission is free or by donation.
Monday, Oct. 21
Tumwater Community Center Design Project Open House: Tumwater Parks & Recreation is inviting the public to attend an open house from 5-7 p.m. Monday to kick off the community center design project. Attendees will learn about the community’s demographics, watch a slide presentation about recreation centers across the U.S., learn about national trends in recreation center design, and play a card game to help choose potential features and amenities in the future community center. The event will be at the Tumwater Middle School Cafeteria, 6335 Littlerock Road SW. Funded by the Tumwater Metropolitan Park District, the city of Tumwater has contracted with Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture to design the community center. Light refreshments will be provided for attendees.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Medicare Open Enrollment Period information session: The open enrollment period from Oct. 15 until Dec. 7 gives Medicare beneficiaries an opportunity to reevaluate their coverage. There will be an in-person presentation at the Yelm Timberland Library, 210 Prairie Park NE. Learn how you can join, switch or drop your Medicare Part D, your Medicare Advantage (Part C) or switch back to original Medicare. Learn how you may not be able to enroll in a Medigap plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1. No registration is required. Email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org with questions or to set up an individual appointment, or leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134. Senior Services for South Sound are the local Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, sponsored by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
Ballot Party at the library: Head to the Olympia Timberland Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to fill out your ballot. The library will provide food and drinks, information, swag, and computer/printing access. This is a nonpartisan event perfect for first-time voters, individuals with elections questions, and other civic minded community members. Bring a friend on the fence about voting, and help make voting fun. After attendees have filled out their ballots, the group will walk, ride and roll to Olympia City Hall to turn in the ballots. Attendees should be 18 years old by Election Day (Nov. 5) and should already be registered to vote. The library is at 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period information session: Open enrollment, which runs until Dec. 7, offers Medicare beneficiaries an opportunity to reevaluate their coverage. This in-person presentation from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tumwater Timberland Library, 7023 New Market St., will help participants learn how to join, switch or drop Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage (Part C), or switch back to original Medicare. Learn how you may not be able to enroll in a Medigap plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1. No registration required. For more information or to set up an individual appointment, email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134.
Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare supplements and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. To get a link, email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message with your phone number and email address at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. A registration link will be sent to you.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Thurston League of Women Voters Welcome Night: Join local LWV members for dinner and discussion from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Pizzeria La Gitana, 518 Capitol Way, Olympia. Find out what the League is doing. Register in advance on the League’s website.
Free screening of “Labor Wars of the Northwest”: The Thurston–Lewis–Mason Central Labor Council is collaborating with the Olympia Film Society to present a free screening of “Labor Wars Of The Northwest” on Oct. 24 at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. The doors will open at 6 pm, and the screening will start at 7 p.m. There will be a panel discussion on the South Sound’s labor history after the film. Labor Wars Of The Northwest chronicles the cauldron of discontent, radicalism and violence that permeated the Pacific Northwest in the early decades of the 20th century. Following the arrival of the railroads in the 1880s, tens of thousands of workers migrated to the Northwest for jobs in logging, mining and fishing. The film shines light on tragedies like the Everett Massacre (1916), the Seattle General Strike (1919) and the Centralia Massacre (1919).
Friday, Oct. 25
Fever’s Candlelight concert series at Hillside Farms: The series is set to light up the Hillside Farms in Olympia to host special Halloween-themed shows. The special haunted evenings feature favorite movie soundtracks and is suitable for those 8 years old and older. The show begins at 7 p.m. Friday and costs $28. Tickets can be purchased at: https://feverup.com/m/194209
Saturday, Oct. 26
Bugs Aren’t Scary! Insects and spiders are used in spooky Halloween decorations, but that doesn’t mean they are scary! Join the WET Science Center to help get past fears and learn more about these extraordinary creatures through activities and crafts. All ages are welcome to participate between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Haki Farmers Collective Night Market: Close out the summer season and welcome autumn by supporting BIPOC farmers in the region. This night market features produce grown by the collective farmers. Haki means Justice in Swahili. The Haki Farmers collective seeks to bolster and reincorporate traditional and sustainable farming knowledge present in our migrant and indigenous communities. The market will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at New Traditions at Fifth and Water Street in downtown Olympia.
Spooky concert by Olympia Chamber Orchestra: The orchestra hosts its first concert of the season, “Faust & Fate,” at 2:30 pm Sunday at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center, 2707 Conger Ave. NW, Olympia. Experience the shadowy ambience of the Faust legend through two distinct lenses: Emilie Mayer’s dramatic Faust Overture and Charles Gounod’s enchanting Ballet Music from his opera, Faust. The program features other spooky music, including from Peter Josef von Lindpaintner’s Overture to Der Vampyr (The Vampire) to the powerful and immediately recognizable sound of fate in the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Be sure to wear your Halloween costume! Secure your tickets, which are $25 with discounts for seniors, students, military and children, at OlympiaChamberOrchestra.org.
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