What’s happening around Thurston County this week

The Olympian staff
·6 min read

Sunday, Sept. 25

Sundays in the Park: Love Local Lacey presents Sundays in the Park at the Lacey Food Truck Depot at Train Depot Park, 5790 Lacey Blvd. SE, starting at noon. The event offers live entertainment, food and local artisan vendors.

Bazaar of Lights: Olympia Lamplighters plans to hold an art market with a queer theme from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 behind Harlequin Productions’ State Theater. The Pierce County AIDS Foundation will provide health education as well.

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Evening meeting of the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners: In an effort to promote citizen engagement in local government, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners is conducting one regular board meeting per month at 6 p.m. This month’s meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 27 in Room 280 of the County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia. Find board agendas on the board’s weekly meetings and work sessions agendas webpage. To view of the board’s calendar, visit the board’s master schedule, public hearings, and special meetings webpage.

Wednesday, Sept. 28

History Talks on artist Edward Lange: See how art and history meet in the story of Edward Lange, who was born in Germany in 1846 and moved to Olympia in 1889. For the next 23 years, he created detailed drawings of farms, businesses and communities in Thurston County (and elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest). Drew Crooks will talk about Lange, and include recently discovered images, at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Lacey Museum hosts this free, online-only event, but registration is required.

Red Cross blood drive: The American Red Cross is launching a fall blood drive that includes a pop-up donation center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Tumwater Fire Department Headquarters, 311 Israel Road SW. Book a time to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, the Red Cross is offering donors the chance to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience; donors also receive a coupon for a free haircut and gift cards. Additional blood donation opportunities will occur from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1602 Ruddell Road SE, Lacey, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at Mountain View Church, 940 Israel Road SW, Tumwater.

Thursday, Sept. 29

Meet Martin Way/Pacific Avenue Art Crossing Artists: Meet Jennifer Corio and Dave Frei, who have been selected as project artists for the third Olympia Art Crossing, at the intersection of Martin Way and Pacific Avenue. This meeting is an opportunity to provide neighborhood context as the project artists develop their concept for the artwork. The meeting is all, but particularly for residents in neighborhoods close to the site. The project is part of a plan to place public art in Olympia’s neighborhoods. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Olympia Armory, 515 Eastside St. SE.

Saturday, Oct. 1

Tumwater Falls Fest: The Olympia Tumwater Foundation and city of Tumwater are hosting this first festival of its kind celebrating Tumwater Falls as a sacred and historically significant place. The event will feature salmon education, stone carving demonstrations, local artists, makers, food vendors, and a Stream Team scavenger hunt. Admission is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 15-acre Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, 110 Deschutes Way SW.

Pumpkin Fest at Lattin’s Country Cider Mill & Farm: The monthlong event kicks off this weekend at the farm, 9402 Rich Road SE. Come out to this family-run farm’s pumpkin patch and enjoy games, wagon rides, farm animals, award-winning cider and can’t-miss apple fritters. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Outer Space Adventure: Put on your space suit and get ready to become a space explorer. Discover mysteries beyond the earth with cosmic crafts of constellations, planets, and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia.

Tiny Tides Storytime: Puget Sound Estuarium team members will read an estuary-themed picture book to children at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. For $15, an adult and child can take part in the book readings as well as explore exhibits and feed a fish. Additional children can participate for $3 each. Participants must register online due to limited space.

School of Wizardry Express: Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum launches a stationary version of Harry Potter’s School of Wizardry Express Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2 in its 1920s coach cars at the depot, 1101 SW Sylvenus, Chehalis. Magician Jeff Evans will be the train’s headmaster, teaching “mystic arts” while aspiring wizards prove their prowess at trivia and adventure games. The program will run for six 90-minute performances each day, with shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The show is recommended for those 8 and older; children ages 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees are encouraged to dress in wizarding attire. Tickets are $30 per person, with proceeds supporting repairs of flood damage to the railroad’s tracks. Tickets are available at SteamTrainRide.com and are limited to 100 seats per show.

“Drifting For Autism” charity car show: On Saturday, Oct. 1, check out some cool cars with your friends and family. What’s better is the $15 cash-only admission goes toward Secret Santa shopping for kids with autism and families in need. The show starts at noon at 3521 Old Steamboat Island Road NW. The show starts at noon; awards will be presented at 3 p.m. There will also be vendors, food, face painting and more.

Volunteer Work Party: Join city of Olympia staff at the Yashiro Japanese Garden from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, to give the park some TLC. All ages are welcome to help pull weeds from under vegetation and the gravel pathway, but kids under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Kids under 18 without an adult present must have an online waiver signed electronically by a parent or guardian. Volunteers should arrive 5-10 minutes early to park and sign in. Parking is at the Lee Creighton Justice Center, 900 Plum St. NE. Meet at the side entrance to the park. Be sure to dress for the weather, with sturdy shoes or boots, and bring a water bottle.

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