What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Aug. 25
Rose Photography Workshop: Head to the Schmidt House in Tumwater from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, to learn how to take calendar-worthy photos of roses with Rich Baer of the Portland, Oregon, Rose Society, a nationally recognized, award-winning expert in photographing these iconic flowers. Baer will discuss lighting, backlighting, focusing, background manipulation, and more. The workshop will consist of a beginning lecture and PowerPoint program. Attendees will then visit the rose garden, where they can practice their new skills with one-on-one tips from Baer. Following the garden session, the group will reconvene inside for a critique of attendees’ photos. Tickets are $25 each, and cover the costs of the event. Any proceeds go toward maintaining the Schmidt House’s Centennial Rose Garden. The Schmidt House is at 330 Schmidt Place SW, just north of Custer Way, in Tumwater.
Ballet Northwest’s 13th Young Choreographers Showcase: This performance includes 20 dances in styles ranging from ballet to hip-hop. “As our dancers became more and more comfortable with different dance styles, they started to show an interest in choreography,” Ballet Northwest’s co-artistic director Ken Johnson said in a press release. “We created the showcase to give these dancers the opportunity to stage their creativity.” The showcase is at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center, 2707 Conger Ave. NW, Olympia. Tickets are $20.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It will cover Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements, and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. To get a link to register, 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.
Meeting about 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan revision process: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will host a virtual public meeting on Zoom on Aug. 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the update to the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). This public meeting is part of the process of revising and updating Washington’s SWAP every 10 years and will introduce the timeline for the 2025 SWAP revision to the public and opportunities for public participation during the year-long process. This meeting is one of three public meetings that will be offered over the next year for revision participation. A survey will be available online following the meeting, open until Sept. 30. Washington’s SWAP is a comprehensive plan for conserving the state’s fish and wildlife and the natural habitats on which they depend and to support state actions that broadly benefit wildlife and habitats, but particularly “Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)“ as identified by each state. The 2025 SWAP revision will include changes to the Species of Greatest Conservation Need list, important habitats and landscapes, and new and emerging threats and conservation actions.
Thursday, Aug. 29
Animal Encounters at Hands On Children’s Museum: Get up close to local farm animals from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Hands On Children’s Museum, 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia. Meet and greet farm animals up close and learn neat facts about them. Each of the animals lives in a loving, lifetime home, ensuring they are happy, healthy, gentle, and ready to meet kids and their companions. It’s part of the museum’s Summer Splash of special events. Get timed tickets on the HOCM website; general admission is $17.95 per person, but a number of discounts are offered.
Friday, Aug. 30
Olympia Harbor Days: This free, three-day annual festival has been happening on Labor Day Weekend since 1974. It showcases vintage tugboats, tall ships, steamships, and other historic vessels of 20th-century commerce on the Puget Sound. This year, it also will feature a Maritime-Themed Drone Light Show and night market on Friday night. The festival launches at 5 p.m. Friday and runs through 6 p.m. Sunday. On land, festival attendees enjoy food vendors, live music, artisan merchants, plus nautical and marine-themed attractions and hands-on activities. On the water, maritime fans enjoy tours of historic tugboats and vessels, cruises on Budd Bay, and vintage tugboat races on Sunday afternoon. The festival also includes locally hand-built small watercraft, tribal cultural sharings, sand carving, a LEGO Harbor Build, and dancing pirates. The center of activities is Percival Landing in downtown Olympia.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Movies at the Marina: Head to Swantown Marina for a free outdoor screening of “Hook” at dusk Saturday. The 1991 family film is a take on “Peter Pan” starring Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams and Julia Roberts. The marina is at 1022 Marine Drive NE, Olympia, on Budd Inlet’s East Bay. The screening will start at 8 p.m. Bring your own blankets and chairs.
Sacred Saturdays with a Therapist: Come join an empowering journey of mental wellness These workshops are free to attend, with a suggested donation of $15-$20 to support the ASHHO Cultural Community Center in covering the expenses of food and staff. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Led by award-winning speaker and therapist Dr. Bre Haizlip, this series of workshops are loving, inspirational, and life-changing. Please register so organizers can plan for seating and food. The workshop will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at the ASHHO Cultural Community Center, 5757 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, across from the Tumwater Costco.
Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.
