What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, Dec. 1

LoveOly Downtown for the Holidays/Winterfest: The kickoff for LoveOly Downtown for the Holidays is LoveOly WinterFest scheduled to take place from noon to 6 p.m. the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Dec. 1. Join the festivities at the intersection of Fifth and Washington to enjoy live music from local high schools, crafts and activities for kids and families, a festive Olympia-style “tree” lighting and more free fun. Among the other features: Visit with Santa at the 222 Market; horse-drawn carriage rides; storytelling; hot chocolate station powered by Sofie’s Scoops and Dancing Goats; and a Holiday Makers Market selling handcrafted holiday gifts.

Monday, Dec. 2

Lacey Holiday Lighting of the Park: The city of Lacey is hosting a celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, as it turns on the holiday lights at Huntamer Park on Woodland Square Loop Southeast. A ceremony is planned for 6 p.m. In the past the city has organized a parade of lighted vehicles for the event, but this year lighted vehicles will be parked and on display around the park, allowing visitors to see the magic up close. Businesses, clubs, and individuals have been invited to deck out their vehicles in lights and compete for titles like “Most Cheer”. Santa will be there, there will be food vendors and family activities, and look for signs in the park with instructions to see an interactive light display set to holiday music you can tune into on your radio.

New exhibition at Childhood’s End Gallery: “Paper Trails” celebrates paper as a material through a multitude of artistic applications. The exhibition features sculptural paper forms by Helga Winter, paper-cuts by Nikki McClure from her recent publication “Something About the Sky,” a brand new block print series by Mimi Williams “My Life in Trees,” new Intaglio prints by Lisa Sweet, and Sumi paintings by Sun Watkins. The exhibition will run through Jan. 5. Childhood’s End Gallery is at 222 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia. Admission is free.

Wednesday, Dec. 4

Olympia Holiday Light Parades: The Olympia Police Department (OPD) will partner with Public Works, Community Planning & Development and other city departments to brighten Olympia’s December nights during a series of parades featuring city vehicles and holiday lights. The city started the parades in 2020 to help Olympia enjoy the holidays in a COVID-19-safe way, and is excited to bring back the popular events for a fifth year. Three parade routes — west Olympia on Dec. 4, southeast Olympia on Dec. 10, and the northeastern section and South Capitol Neighborhood on Dec. 19 — will bring light to the darker winter season. Each parade will begin at 6 p.m. and last 90 minutes to two hours. Visit the City’s Holiday Parades webpage for details, links to route maps and a live parade tracking map.

Washington State Veterans Affairs to host annual Commanders Call town hall: The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) invite all veterans and leaders and advocates from veteran service organizations (VSOs) to attend the annual Commanders Call from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Thurston County Readiness Center, 8303 Kimmie St. SW. This year’s Commanders Call will focus on three critical priority areas, with an emphasis on supporting rural Veterans and their families. The meeting will include interactive breakout group discussions, allowing attendees to explore these issues in depth. The priority areas are: suicide prevention, unhoused veterans and connecting veterans and families to earned benefits. To ensure a productive discussion, attendees are asked to RSVP, where they will be prompted to indicate which priority area they are most interested in. This will help gauge interest and facilitate more focused conversations. Participants also are encouraged to review the WDVA’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which outlines the department’s priorities and vision for Veteran services.

Virtual open house for Martin Way Crosswalks Project: The public is invited to attend a virtual open house to learn more about a project to add more crosswalks along Martin Way. The event will be held via Zoom on from 5:30–7 pm Wednesday, Dec. 4. Those interested in attending must register in advance. Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is partnering with the cities of Lacey and Olympia, Thurston County, and Intercity Transit on this project. The event will feature a presentation with engagement activities throughout, including a drawing activity in which participants will be able to mark a map with locations where they would like to see more crosswalks. For those unable to attend, the virtual open house will be recorded and posted to the project website. TRPC is launching an online survey to gather feedback from all users of Martin Way. The survey will be available on the project website from Dec. 4 to Jan. 3. Martin Way is a 7-mile corridor that connects the communities of Lacey, Olympia, and Thurston County. A former state highway, it remains a major thoroughfare in the Thurston region. Traveling along Martin Way without a vehicle can be dangerous. From 2019–23, more than a third of all fatal or serious collisions on Martin Way involved a pedestrian or bicyclist, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The Martin Way Crossing Strategy builds on a previous study that affirmed a shared vision for Martin Way as a more pedestrian-friendly corridor that supports transportation options like the bus, as well as high-density urban growth that includes access to affordable housing. The Martin Way Crossing Strategy will: identify appropriate locations for mid-block crossings; scope additional improvements needed to support pedestrian safety and mobility; and develop preliminary designs for up to 10 crossings along Martin Way. The project is scheduled to conclude in June 2025. The Martin Way Crossing Strategy is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.

Thursday, Dec. 5

Monthly History Talks at the Schmidt House: Head to Tumwater at noon on the first Thursday of each month for an hour-long history talk. The Schmidt House is at 330 Schmidt Place SW. This even will feature historian and author Dave Nicandri speaking about “The Evolution of the Northwest Passage as a Cartographic Image: 1753-1853.” He will discuss the many explorers who sought a sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. His research is presented in his latest book, “Discovering Nothing: In Pursuit of an Elusive Northwest Passage,” which will be available for purchase after the talk. Admission is free. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. First come, first seated until room capacity is reached.

Unlocking the Future — Regional Economic Forecast & Innovation Expo 2024: Mark your calendar for Dec. 5, when industry leaders, economic experts, and community representatives from across Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, and Pacific counties converge at the Regional Economic Forecast & Innovation Expo at Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound. This full-day event will address the current economic landscape and inspire innovative strategies to propel regional growth. There will be a Regional College Panel addressing workplace development; a discussion of Tribal Nations’ economic impact; a session on opening up global markets locally; and a discussion of how the creative arts contribute. Registration is now open.

Friday, Dec. 6

God is a Scottish Drag Queen: Back by popular demand, God is a Scottish Drag Queen: A Christmas Special returns to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday. God, dressed in an all-new holiday power suit, returns to set the record straight and expound on everything from the beginnings of Christmas with Yule, Saturnalia and Winter Solstice, to holiday foods, Christmas carols, Star Wars, the true story of the Nativity, and even Tiny Tim. Tickets are $29 to $58.

Saturday, Dec. 7

Olympia Yacht Club Parade of Lighted Ships: This annual parade will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, but festivities will begin at the Port Plaza starting about 5 p.m. with Santa handing out candy canes (while supplies last), Dancing Goats providing coffee and cocoa available, and the Capital High School Choir performing. The decorated boats will start by cruising north from Percival Landing, past Port Plaza Dock and then north along the east side of Budd Inlet to Boston Harbor. They will then return to Olympia along the west side of the inlet. All South Sound boaters are encouraged to participate; this year’s theme is “Baking Spirits Bright” (think gingerbread houses and cookies, gum drops, swirled lollipops, etc.) For information on participating, go to www.theolympiayachtclub.com and look for the Lighted Ships Parade links at the bottom of the home page.

Rachel Corrie Foundation Palestinian Holiday Bazaar: Are you looking for a unique gift that also supports Gaza humanitarian relief and the Rachel Corrie Foundation? Come to Steamboat Island at 6331 Elizan Drive NW, Olympia, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the annual Rachel Corrie Foundation Holiday Bazaar. This is a great chance to buy olive oil from the West Bank, Palestinian spices and crafts, and Middle East clothing and art. For information, contact info@rachelcorriefoundation.org

Science of Snow at the WET Science Center: Get ready to dive deep into the science of snow, a fascinating world that is important for everything from Disney movies to avalanche protection. But be warned: you’ll never look at snow the same way again! There will be a presentation at 11 am but activities are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. All ages are welcome and admission is free.

Furniture Bank open: The nonprofit all-volunteer Thurston County Furniture Bank is open the first and third Saturdays of every month from 9 am to noon at 2121 Log Cabin Road SE, Olympia. The Furniture Bank building is at the back of the parking lot. Donations of gently used furniture are accepted; pick up of donations can be arranged but usually takes 3-4 weeks. Those looking for furniture are welcomed. For more information, go to www.olympiacrc.com/furniturebank

Sunday, Dec. 8

2024 Holiday Tour of Historic Homes: The Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum is sponsoring the 2024 Holiday Tour of Historic Homes on Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 4 pm, featuring six historic properties including the Bigelow House Museum and homes in the South Capitol Neighborhood. Tour tickets are $35 per person and are available to purchase in advance at Drees, 524 Washington St. SE; Childhood’s End Gallery, 222 Fourth Ave. W; and Thompson’s Furniture, 5407 S. Capitol Boulevard, Tumwater. Tickets also will be sold on the day of the tour at the Bigelow House Museum, 918 Glass Ave. SE, and at the Coach House, 211 21st Ave. SW. Net proceeds of the tour benefit the preservation and interpretation of Olympia’s historic Bigelow House and programming throughout the year by the Olympia Historical Society. For more information on tickets and the featured properties, visit www.olympiahistory.org.

Hanukkah Bazaar: Discover quality arts and crafts, and meet the makers at this market at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 Eighth Ave SE, Olympia. The sale will run from 11 am to 4 pm Sunday, Dec. 8, and will feature sculptural jewelry, glass art, fiber arts, calligraphy, wood and metal craft, photography and much more. Baked goods (including for your pets) also will be for sale.

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.