What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, April 23

Olympia Symphony Orchestra presents “Olympians & Titans”: Music Director Alexandra Arrieche concludes her first season with this finale at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. The music, chosen with the theme “Beyond Dreams,” will include the “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” Cello Concerto performed by Nathan Chan, and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major “Titan.” Tickets are $65 to $15, with a $4 service fee.

Downtown birding tour: The Puget Sound Estuarium will lead a Bird Walk starting at 9 a.m. at the estuarium, 309 State Ave. NE, Olympia. No birding experience required. The walk will be two hours and cover approximately two miles. Please bring binoculars. The Bird Walk also includes a tour of our Estuarium facility. Admission is $15 for adults but those 12 and younger can attend for free. Register on the estuarium website.

“Reconnecting with our sacred Earth”: Interfaith Works, Green Faith Alliance of Olympia and Restoring Earth Connection are welcoming all to celebrate their connection with the sacred Earth at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Decatur Woods Park, 1015 Decatur St. SW, Olympia. Participants will gather, sing, and engage in interactive opportunities for reflection. The free gathering is family-friendly.

Monday, April 24

An Evening of Brazilian Music: New Traditions Cafe will present an evening of Brazilian music with Jovino Santos Neto on piano, Adriana Giordano on vocals, Jeff Busch on drums plus a surprise guest. This combo will bring a repertoire that includes original music, samba, choro, gafieira, bossa nova, bião and jazz. The music begins at 7 p.m. at New Traditions, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. Tickets are $30, or $20 for those with low income.

Wednesday, April 26

Coffee with the Editor: Join The Olympian’s Executive Editor Dusti Demarest at the Harbor House at Percival Landing from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, to talk about local story ideas and journalism. Coffee will be provided. The Harbor House is at 217 Thurston Ave. NW.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Racial Justice & Belonging -- A Community Conversation with Local Leaders: The League of Women Voters of Thurston County and Asian Pacific Islander Coalition South Puget Sound are hosting this free public event to discuss what local jurisdictions are doing to create a more equitable Thurston County. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at The Olympia Center, Rooms 101 and 102, 222 Columbia St. NW, and can be watched on Zoom. The panel conversation will include Lacey assistant city manager Shannon Kelley-Fong; Cliff Brown and Thelma Jackson from the Commission on Equity; Olympia’s DEI coordinator Keli Drake and DEI programs manager Tobi Hill-Meyer; Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan, a District 6 representative to the Association of Washington Cities Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Cabinet; Thurston County manager Ramiro Chavez; and Patrick O’Connor, director of the county’s Office of Public Defense. The League asks that attendees register on their homepage. Email event@lwvthurston.org with any questions.

NAMI Friends & Family Seminar: Do you care about or need help understanding a loved one or friend with a mental health condition? Find information and support at a seminar led by local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) leaders at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Tumwater Boys & Girls Club, 700 Israel Road SW (located next to Tumwater High School Stadium). Participants learn about diagnoses, treatment, recovery, communication strategies, crisis preparation, and NAMI resources. The event is sponsored by a collective of South Sounds ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal churches.

Thursday, April 27

Invasive Snail and Slug Virtual Workshop: The Washington Invasive Species Council has opened registration for the 2023 Invasive Snail and Slug Virtual Workshop, which will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27. The workshop is hosted by the council and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine. Washington State University is providing technical and logistical support. Participants will leave the workshop with a thorough understanding of invasive mollusks that are already in the Pacific Northwest as well as those that are on the horizon. View the agenda and register now.

Community Homebuyer Class: Join Olympia Federal Savings loan officer Mandee Taylor and Christina Daniels of Bay Equity Home Loans for a Community Homebuyer Class at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Thurston County Realtors Association, 510 Franz Anderson Road SE, Olympia. The class will cover the benefits and responsibilities associated with homeownership, as well as budgeting and saving, the importance of credit, loan options, general timelines and processes. Refreshments will be provided.

SPSCC Hosts 2023 All-Washington Academic Team Ceremony: South Puget Sound Community College invites the entire state of Washington to celebrate the 27th annual All-Washington (All-WA) Academic Team Ceremony honoring 75 students from the state’s 34 community and technical colleges. It will be held at noon Thursday, April 27, in Building 27 at SPSCC’s Olympia Campus and live-streamed on the SPSCC YouTube channel. Those recognized have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live; they receive a KeyBank scholarship and All-WA recognition.

Friday, April 28

Spring Arts Walk: Olympia Arts Walk is a semi-annual community event celebrating the arts. Since 1990, thousands gather in downtown Olympia to take in visual and performing arts. The festival will run Friday and Saturday in downtown. Complete information about events and sights can be found on the City of Olympia’s Arts Walk website.

Mounted shooting competition: The South Sound Mounted Shooters are hosting a mounted shooting competition at the T90 Ranch in Tenino at 4 p.m. Friday, April 28, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 30. Admission is free. Aside from the competition, more than 30 local craft vendors will be on hand as well as food trucks. “Mounted shooting embodies the spirit of the American Old West, where horse and rider ride fast and accurate as they compete in a timed event,” states a South Sound Mounted Shooters news release. Riders will take aim at 10 balloon targets using .45 caliber single-action revolvers with certified black powder blanks. No live ammunition will be used or allowed on the premises at any time. T90 Ranch is located at 16641 Old Highway 99 SE in Tenino. For more information, visit the South Sound Mounted Shooters Facebook page.

Saturday, April 29

Frozen II Sing-Along: Join the Washington Center for the Performing Arts for a “Frozen II” sing-along and costume contest at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Belt out “Into The Unknown” and “Show Yourself” with Elsa. Experience the movie on the big screen. Local host Lauren O’Neill is back to warm up the audience and lead the costume contest. Admission is $10.

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day: Be part of a gathering at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at Marathon Park, 1011 Deschutes Pkwy SW, on the west side of Capitol Lake, as people practice Tai Chi or Qigong with the rest of the world for exactly one hour. Weather permitting, organizers invite you to stay for special demonstrations of alternative forms of Tai Chi, Qigong, knife, sword and fan forms.

Healthy Kids Day: The South Sound YMCA is hosting the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at all three of its branches in Olympia and Shelton. This free annual community-wide event features family-friendly activities, including games at the Briggs Community YMCA and Shelton Family YMCA, and ArtsWalk activities at the Plum Street YMCA. For more information, visit the South Sound YMCA website.

When Plants Attack: Imagine a plant, patiently waiting to snap up any critter that gets too close. Sound like science fiction? Think again! Join the WET Science Center for hands-on activities exploring carnivorous plants. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.

The Mike McQuigg Band at New Traditions: Mike McQuigg is one of the Northwest’s most highly respected guitarists. For over 60 years he has been blending rhythms and melodies of jazz, Latin and pop music. His group is just as distinguished: bass wizard Steve Luceno, percussion master Michael Olson, and Nashville legend saxophonist Jim (Greasy) Pribbenow. They will play at 7 p.m. Saturday April 29 at New Traditions Cafe, 300 Fifth Ave. SW. Admission is $25, or $18 for those with low incomes. See the New Traditions website for more information.

Poetry in the Park: This Art in the Parks Workshop Series event will celebrate National Poetry Month. Attendees will meet up and talk about poetry, what it can do for us, and the many forms it can take. Attendees will set off to take a poetry walk and write a poem. They will then gather back together and those who want to share will have a chance. The event runs from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Tumwater Historical Park, 802 Deschutes Way SW. For ages 14 and older. Fee is $15. Find more event and registration information on the city of Tumwater website. If you have additional questions, call 360-754-4160.

Independent Book Store Day at Browsers: Browsers Bookshop will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day 2023 with author Matt Kracht, who wrote “The Field Guide to Dumb Birds“ and has a new book, “OMFG, Bees!“ He will speak and sign books at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Browsers is at 107 Capitol Way N., Olympia.

Indigo Jazz Band at Medicine Creek Winery: Indigo Jazz, a 15-piece little big band based in Pierce County, performs uptunes and ballads from radio era to thumbdrive. The band celebrates popular hits by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Commitments, and the Blues Brothers, as well as standards by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Henry Mancini. Catch them from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Medicine Creek Winery, 947 Old Pacific Highway SE, in the Nisqually Delta

Sunday, April 30

Silent Movie — Douglas Fairbanks in “Robin Hood:” The first motion picture ever to have a Hollywood premiere, Douglas Fairbanks in “Robin Hood” was one of the most expensive films of the 1920s. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ house organist Dennis James will bring the silent era to life performing on the center’s historic 1924 Andy Crow Wurlitzer Organ. Film fans of all ages are welcome to step back in time to revel in the authentically recreated sounds and nostalgia from times gone by. The movie will screen at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the center, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia.

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.