What’s happening this week in Thurston County
Sunday, Sept. 1
Olympia Harbor Days: This free 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. The festival 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 starting at noon Sunday. 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.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Animal Fire Theatre presents “Uncle Vanya”: Animal Fire invites theatergoers to enter the world of the Anton Chekhov classic about an elderly professor who returns with his wife to the country estate he’d left long before. The 1923 Lord Mansion in Olympia’s South Capitol neighborhood will be the setting for the immersive production of the play, opening Tuesday, Sept. 3, and continuing Sept. 4-5 and 10-13. (Yes, weeknight theater is unusual, but since the mansion is a popular wedding venue, those were the nights available.) Actors and audience will move in and around the mansion as the action progresses. Performances begin at 6:30 p.m. at the mansion at 211 21st Ave. SW, Olympia. Tickets are $30, except for the Sept. 10 show, which offers pay-what-you-choose pricing. Each performance can accommodate just 30 people, so buy tickets in advance.
Grand opening of Tumwater’s Visitors Center: The Tumwater School District Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department is hosting the grand opening of the Retail and Tourism Visitors Center from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the new center at 5304 Littlerock Road SW. This venture is in partnership with the Tumwater Area Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Tumwater to revitalize the Tumwater Visitors Center. The Visitors Center will house the new Retail and Tourism program where students will gain hands-on experience in customer service, sales/marketing, communication, product development, community outreach, destination knowledge, networking and entrepreneurship. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan will attend.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 11 a.m. 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.
Thursday, Sept. 5
10 Ways to Age in Place workshop: Most people plan on staying in their homes as they age. Find out what you need to know about home safety, community resources, social service programs, and long-term care financial planning to improve your ability to age in place. The Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging, which provides services and information on community resources for older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers, will lead this event that runs from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Thursday at the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Automotive Basics Workshop: The Olympia Timberland Library is host this free workshop from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Come learn the basics of vehicle maintenance from the expert mechanic team at Busy Bee Automotive. They will demonstrate how to replace wiper blades, identify fluids and emergency lights, tire exchange, check tire pressure, and review oil change intervals. A vehicle will be available for hands-on demonstration. Open to folks of all experience levels. However, registration is required and the workshop is for adults and teens age 16 and older accompanied by adult. The library is at 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia.
Movies at the Marina: Head to Swantown Marina for a free outdoor screening of “The Goonies” at dusk Saturday. The 1985 comedy adventure was shot in Astoria, Oregon, and features a group of young misfits who discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure. 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.
Easton Corbin concert at Lucky Eagle: Known for hit tunes like “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It,” longtime fan favorite Easton Corbin will take the stage at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. The country artist recently dropped his album Let’s Do Country Right featuring Corbin’s traditional country sound with steel guitar and down home lyrics. From the album came streaming hit “Marry That Girl” which, to date, has received over 60 million collective streams; Corbin also performed the tune on the reboot of FOX show Joe Millionaire: For Richer Or Poorer. Doors open at 7 p.m.; tickets are $30 to $50. The Lucky Eagle Casino Event Center is at 12888 188th Ave SW, Rochester, in south Thurston County.
Sunday, Sept. 8
Mapathé Diop workshop on traditional drumming of Senegal: Join guest artist Mapathé Diop for a free workshop to learn about and enjoy traditional drumming of Senegal at Tolmie State Park. The workshop will run from 10 to 11:30 am Sunday, Sept. 8, in the Lower Kitchen Shelter of the state park at 7730 61st Ave NE, on the water in northeast Thurston County. It is open to all ages. No registration is required; seating is available for up to 45 people. Those who have their own drum to bring along are welcome to do so. An annual or one-day Discover Pass is required for vehicle access. Discover Passes are available online and at the park entrance. The program is presented by Washington State Parks Folk & Traditional Arts Program and Arbutus Folk School.
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.
