Make merry this weekend at the Thurston County Fair, Olympia Pub Crawl or klezmer fest
It’s fair time
From carnival rides to a cupcake contest, and from chainsaw carving demonstrations to cats and dogs in costume, the Thurston County Fair always offers a wide array of activities. Entertainment options range from music to magic. And then there’s the fair food, whether you prefer sweet, deep-fried or both. (Anyone for an elephant ear?) The old-fashioned fair is happening through Sunday, Aug. 4, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey. Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children ages 6 to 14, and free for children 5 and younger; parking is $7 at the fairground, but there are free shuttles from Woodland Elementary School and the North Thurston Public Schools Bus Barn. The fair is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Hit the pubs
The Olympia Pub Crawl, happening Saturday, Aug. 3, lets you tour downtown pubs, bars and restaurants sampling their wares while helping to fight childhood cancer. The 16th crawl kicks off at Nicole’s Bar, 109 Legion Way SW, Olympia, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and includes a dozen locations. Tickets are $25 in advance (available through Aug. 2) and $30 at Nicole’s on Aug. 3. The event, happening until 8 p.m., aims to raise $10,000 for the Seattle Children’s Hospital’s childhood cancer research and family-support programs through the Olympia Cares Guild.
Temple celebrates klezmer tunes
Temple Beth Hatfiloh’s courtyard will be filled with joyful noise on Sunday, Aug. 4, when the temple hosts the first OlyKlezFest. “We are looking at new and fun things to do in our courtyard,” said Seth Goldstein, the temple’s rabbi. “This seemed like a great use of our new space.” The afternoon of klezmer music, the traditional instrumental folk music of Ashkenazi Jews, kicks off with a Yiddish dance lesson and continues with performances by Tzepl (featuring Olympia’s Mae Kessler, a member of the temple) and the Seattle-based bands Brivele and Shpilkis. It’s all happening from 3 to 6 p.m. at the temple, 201 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $25-$36, with children under 13 admitted free.
Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks with DJ Kevin the Brit about what’s happening around town on KGY-FM’s “Oly in a Can,” airing at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fridays.
