What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, June 11
Oly Town USL Men’s Soccer: The men’s team will face off against Lane United from Eugene, Ore., at 7 p.m. at South Sound Stadium, 4201 Sixth Ave NE, Lacey. Tickets, which are $12, are available at www.olytownfc.com. Kids 12 and younger get in free.
Monday, June 12
Online presentation on city’s Olympia Strong roadmap for economic opportunity: Over the past 10 months, residents and organizations have participated in digital questionnaires, focus groups and person-on-the street interviews to share the actions that could help build a stronger, more inclusive economy in Olympia. Now, community members have two ways to hear what the City has learned: from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, June 12 on Zoom, or from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 at City Council Chambers, 601 Fourth Ave. E. Each open house will share the same presentation previewing an Olympia Strong roadmap that showcases initiatives in four focus areas: Education and Workforce Pathways; Housing and a Sense of Security; Business Enterprise Resources and Support; and Community Pride, Lovability and Resilience. This work will inform Olympia’s Economic Development workplans and an update to the Economy and Housing chapters of the City of Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan, Olympia 2045. Visit engageolympia.com/olympia-strong for more information.
Tuesday, June 13
Public Hearing on Clements Open Space Tax Program Application: The Thurston Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, to accept public comment on the Clements Open Space Tax Program application. The hearing will be in Room 110 of the Thurston County Atrium, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia or online. The applicants at 1421 Maple Valley Road SW, Olympia, have submitted an Open Space Tax Program application for enrollment under the Farm and Agricultural Conservation Land category. The property is west of Delphi Road and north of Cedar Flats Road. View detailed information about the proposal, how to comment, and the full text of the staff report on the Open Space Tax Program webpage. If you are unable to attend, you can submit written comments to Marisa Whisman, Associate Planner, at marisa.whisman@co.thurston.wa.us no later than noon June 13. You can also mail comments to: Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development, Attention: Marisa Whisman, Associate Planner, Thurston County Atrium, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501.
Christian Women’s Connection “Graduations and Vacations” luncheon: This event is at noon Tuesday, June 13 in The Gallery at Panorama, beside Seventeen51 Restaurant and Bistro, at 1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey. Enjoy a cobb salad lunch, followed by a talk on “Life Sign — Warning Bumpy Road Ahead,” as well as an Ikebana flower arrangement demonstration, and violin music. Cost is $20, and reservations are required by calling Sylvia at 360-791-4698 or 360-943-0627.
Friday, June 16
Oly Soccer Foundation Fundraiser Dinner: Tickets area available for the second annual Oly Soccer Dinner Fundraiser at the Olympia Ballroom, 116 Legion Way SE, Olympia. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner is at 7 p.m., followed by an auction at 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided by Well 80 Brewhouse and Casa Mia Italian Restaurant. Tickets are $40. Proceeds go to Oly Town soccer programming for youth camps, USL soccer and Arena soccer!
Saturday, June 17
42nd annual Juneteenth Celebration: From 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, you can enjoy a free BBQ lunch, games, entertainment and time to connect with community in celebration of Juneteenth. The event is put on by the Fred U. Harris Masonic Lodge with the cities of Lacey and Tumwater at the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC), 8345 Steilacoom Road SE, Lacey. Live music will be performed by Andy Stokes, billed as the Northwest King of Soul Music, and the Olympia Barber School will provide free haircuts. The Thurston County Food Bank will be accepting non-perishable items, but donations are not required for admission, which is free.
23rd Annual Olympic Air Show: Kick off Father’s Day weekend with this celebrated air show featuring aircraft and displays from World War II. The event will feature a WWII encampment with military vehicles and uniformed personnel, a beer garden, food and merchandise vendors, and a variety of fun activities for the kids. Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, at the Olympic Flight Museum at the Olympia Regional Airport, 7637 Old Highway 99 SE, Tumwater. Shows start at noon. Admission is $20 per day, or $35 for both days; children 6 and younger get in free.
Strawberry Festival at the South Bay Grange: Celebrate the 87th annual event featuring Spooner Berry Farms strawberries, live music, local vendors and family friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the grange, 3918 Sleater Kinney Road NE. Admission is free (though donations welcome) and parking is free. This event benefits the South Bay Grange renovation fund.
Save Fern Gully Forest: This free one-day festival and gala will raise funds for a 2-acre urban forest on the east side of Olympia. It will include games and fun activities for all ages, food at the dinner gala, an auction, raffle prizes, drinks, and outdoor music. The event is being put on by the Community Nature Foundation, a local nonprofit that wants to purchase the forested parcel from a development company that is willing to sell. The foundation recently received a piece of land in the heart of Fern Gully Forest in memory of Vicky D. Friend, and also received a grant from the Community Sustaining Fund to help preserve the forest. On Saturday, there will be free entry to the Fern Gully Forest School mini farm and nature sanctuary, with a petting zoo and fun activities throughout the day. Space is limited, however; RSVP by emailing communitynaturefoundation@gmail.com or get tickets at Ticket Tailor. Donations are tax deductible and accepted during and prior to the festival via cash, checks to the Community Nature Foundation or on PayPal. The forest is at 1443 Brown St SE, Olympia, just west of Boulevard Road and southwest of the Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA).
SPSCC Commencement Ceremony: South Puget Sound Community College will celebrate this year’s 1,229 graduates at the 2023 Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. June 17 at The Evergreen State College’s Red Square. The ceremony also will be live-streamed on SPSCC’s YouTube channel. For its 58th commencement ceremony, the college will award 1,047 associate degrees and 167 certificates to the graduating class. Additionally, the college will award 127 GEDs and 152 high school diplomas. One-fourth of the students are graduating with honors (3.75 GPA and above) and 392 graduates are part of the Running Start program. The student speaker will be Ariyanna Fernandez.
Irish Classic Car Show: The 11th Annual Irish Classic Car Show, hosted by O’Blarney’s Irish Pub, will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at O’Blarney’s, 4411 Martin Way E., Olympia. The event will feature vintage cars at least 25 years old, music, prizes, and fun, including a People’s Choice award, a raffle, and a proper Irish fry-up for breakfast (as early as 7 a.m.). if the weather is bad, the event could be rescheduled.
Browsers Bookshop author talk: Local thriller writer Jessica Payne will be at Browsers at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17 to talk about her third book, “The Good Doctor.” And at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 18, Conner Bouchard-Roberts will read from his book “A Field Companion for Wandering.” The bookshop is at
Masterworks Golden Age of Broadway: Masterworks Choral Ensemble will perform hits from “Oklahoma,” “The King and I,” “My Fair Lady,” “Camelot,” “The Music Man” and more at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Gary Witley, artistic director and conductor, will retire from Masterworks after this concert, and after 42 years as its leader.
Father’s Day Festival: Play games, make award ribbons, and celebrate dad, or a special someone in your life, with a handmade card. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.
Painting in the Park — Mount Rainier: As part of Tumwater’s Art in the Parks Workshop Series, Tara Hodge of The Traveling Artist will lead attendees through the creation of their own painting of Mount Rainier. All supplies are provided, as well as refreshments. The event will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Overlook Point Park, at 1205 Barnes Blvd SW. The event is for those ages 14 and older. The fee is $40. Register in advance.
Sunday, June 18
Celebrate Juneteenth in Olympia: The Women of Color in Leadership Movement, Media Island International and the City of Olympia will host the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration Festival from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, June 18 at Rebecca Howard Park, 911 Adams St. SE, Olympia. Family-friendly festivities will include performances and presentations by Critical Movement and Dance, Reggie Garrett, DJ Lady Hawk, The Buffalo Soldiers, and Shady B. The Marketplace will feature a vendor area with Black owned and operated businesses. Food vendors will include Jerk N Tingz, Nature’s Pace, Shorties Mo Bounce & Ride, and more. For questions about the festival, contact Shawna Hawk at shawna@mediaislandinternational.org
Olympia Chamber Orchestra and Olympia Opera Theatre collaborative concert: The concert takes place at 2:30 p.m. June 18 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North St. SE, Olympia. Singers Hallie Schmidt, Khristy Harvey, and Dawn Padula will sing excerpts from operas by Mozart, Puccini, Saint-Saëns, and Strauss. Trumpeters Keith and Jonathan Holder will play The Hollow Men by Vincent Persichetti, a piece based on the poem by T.S. Eliot. The orchestra will round out the concert with the overture to Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for seniors, military and students, and $5 for children.
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.
