What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Aug. 4
Screening and discussion of “Disturbing the Peace”: The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation is sponsoring local screenings of this documentary at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 7, at New Traditions Fair Trade, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. The film is about people born into conflict, sworn to be enemies, who challenged their fate to stand for a free and secure world. The film follows everyday people who took extraordinary actions.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Watch a masterclass with Olympia Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director: The symphony is offering its Young Artist Participants, all gifted violinists, a special masterclass led by Music Director Alexandra Arrieche and renowned pianist and composer Michael Sheppard. This event is an opportunity to witness the development of the Young Artist Participants. The class will run from 4:30-7 p.m. at The Evergreen State College’s Communication Building, Room 110, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia. Parking is available in the C-Lot for $6 per vehicle per day (payment via credit card at the kiosk). Feel free to bring your family, friends, and fellow music enthusiasts; admission is by a pay-what-you-choose donation to support future masterclasses.
National Night Out Ice Cream Social: Join a free Neighborhood Ice Cream Social at 6 p.m. Tuesday at evergreenDIRECT Credit Union’s Tumwater location in support of National Night Out. This family-friendly event will have free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, yard games for adults and kids, prizes and giveaways, and visits by Tumwater first responders! National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes first responder-community partnerships and camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and more caring. The eDCU Tumwater Branch is at 6001 Capitol Blvd. SW, Tumwater.
Lacey in Tune with magician Jeff Evans: The Lacey in Tune Children’s Entertainment series will feature Evans performing his blend of interactive magic and clean comedy. The free show starts at 6:30 p.m. at Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey. Vendors on site will be Sunshine Scoop Ice Cream and River Ridge High School Band Boosters selling kettle corn.
Wednesday, Aug. 7
Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 11 a.m. Wednesday is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. 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 to register, email ThurstonMasonShiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. A registration link will be sent to you.
Lacey in Tune outdoor noontime concert with BackLash Band: BackLash is a 5-piece classic rock, country and blues band based out of Lacey/Olympia. The free concert starts at noon Wednesday at Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey. Vendors on site include Sunshine Scoop Ice Cream and the River Ridge High School Band Boosters selling kettle corn.
Thursday, Aug. 8
Benefit for the Procession of the Species: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Faire from 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Schmidt Mansion is put on by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation as a fundraiser for the Procession of the Species. Headlining the event will be Pearl Django, which plays Django Reinhardt-style “hot jazz.” Some of the Procession’s animal floats will be at the mansion, along with Carol Riley’s Samba OlyWa costume displays. Tickets are just $25 and includes a light snack and a drink. Belly dancers, fire dancing, croquet, etc., will be spread across the grounds of the mansion, including the rose garden. The Schmidt House is located at 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater.
Zoom presentation on Medicare-Related Cost Savings Programs: This 1 p.m. virtual presentation will cover Medicare Basics, the Medicare Savings Program, the Extra Help Program and Wellness and Preventative benefits available through Medicare coverage. To get a link to register, email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134. A registration link will be sent to you.
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting: The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a hybrid meeting in Olympia Aug. 8-10 to consider land transactions in Yakima and Skamania counties, decide on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) budget requests, and receive updates on state fish and wildlife management. The meeting will be held at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia and will also be live-streamed, with webinar access available on the Commission webpage. Those interested in providing verbal public comment during the meeting, either in-person in Olympia or remotely via webinar or phone, must register in advance. The full meeting agenda, including information about submitting public comment and accessing the hybrid meeting online or by phone, is available on the WDFW website. The meeting will be recorded and published on the Commission webpage so the public can watch afterward at their convenience.
Friday, Aug. 9
KXXO collecting school supplies: To help local children return to school with the supplies they need, KXXO Mixx 96.1 is holding a School Supplies and Cash Drive Friday, Aug. 9, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in partnership with the Little Red Schoolhouse Project. Either make a monetary donation online anytime at www.KXXO.com or, the day of Aug. 9, drop off school supplies such as calculators, smaller backpacks, or cash to buy school supplies in bulk to KXXO’s broadcast studios at the corner of State and Washington in downtown Olympia. Volunteers will be on-hand to take your donations. All of what is received in donations will go to the Little Red Schoolhouse Project (minus any transaction fees for online donations).
Plaza Pop-Up Bubble Festival: The WET Science Center educators will host some free fun from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at the East Bay Public Plaza, just east of the center at 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Blow bubbles like you’ve never seen them -- huge bubbles, bubbles you can hold, square bubbles! Pop on by and find out!
Lacey in Tune’s music and a movie: This Friday night join the free fun starting at 7 p.m. at Lacey’s Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, when the city will host a Beatles tribute band followed by a screening of “Barbie.” First, Paperback Writer — The Beatles Experience, which has taken their show to 33 countries and over 29 states, will bring the audience “the most precise experience of The Beatles as humanly possible.” Then at dusk, catch the PG-13 movie where Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in Barbie Land when they get a chance to go to the real world. Bring your own low-back chairs or blankets. Food vendors will be on site.
See “Barbie” at Screen on the Green: Tumwater wraps up its free outdoor movie series this week with “Barbie,” screening at dusk Friday at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course, 4611 Tumwater Valley Drive SE. Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and join fellow park-goers for this PG-13 musical comedy under the stars. Kona Ice will be on site selling shaved ice. River’s Edge Restaurant will also be open for dinner. Enjoy movie trivia, and more. Bring chairs and blankets, but please leave grills, umbrellas, and pets at home. Seating begins at 7:30 p.m. and movie will begin at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 10
Stories in the Park, Stories in the Dark: This event put on by the South Sound Story Guild runs from 7-9 p.m. in Squaxin Park in Olympia. It features live storytelling, folktales, humorous stories, and spooky stories told in the second hour. Stories told in the ancient tradition from the creative minds of the storytellers of the guild, a non-profit community organization preserving the art of the spoken story. Follow the hot pink signs in the park. Bring lawn chairs to sit back and listen. Flashlights are helpful as it is dark by the end. Free, donations gladly accepted. Music and sing-alongs begin at 6:45 p.m. Get more information at southsoundstory.org.
Free tenor/baritone choral workshop: The Olympia Peace Choir is hosting this workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. It is open to those who sing or who who would like to learn to sing who sing in Tenor-Baritone range. Register at contact@theolympiapeacechoir.org.
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.
