What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Saturday, Oct. 28

Family Cornhole Challenge: The Family Cornhole Challenge is an outdoor cornhole tournament dedicated to raising funds for Family Education & Support Services. It will run from noon to 8 p.m. at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey. In addition to friendly competition for prizes, there will be costume contests, trunk-or-treat, live music, food trucks and a beer garden. Registration to compete is $35 for adults, $65 for a family of four, or $40 for a high school team of two. Admission for those just watching is $10 for adults before 4 p.m. and $20 after, $5 for kids under 12, and $20 for families. Families with young children are encouraged to attend from noon to 2 p.m., before it gets too spooky. A Halloween-themed Drag Show featuring Valerie Veeta is planned for 7-8 p.m. Parking is free all day.

Fire and Ice Charity Basketball Game: Head to the Tumwater High School gymnasium at 4 p.m. Saturday to see police and firefighters from around the region tip off in a heated game to raise money for Shop with a Cop Holiday Youth Programs. Admission is $10 at the door, but those 12 and younger get in free. The high school is at 700 Israel Road SW.

An Evening with Patty Griffin and Hayes Carll: Patty Griffin is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and quintessentially American artist whose wide-ranging canon incisively explores intimate moments and universal emotions. Hayes Carll has spent over 20 years having a conversation about what it is we’re all doing here, making people laugh and cry. Carll replaces Todd Snider on the bill because Snider is undergoing surgery for a medical condition. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $79 to $39.

Sunday, Oct. 29

The Olson Bros Band at Schilter Family Farm: Local favorites The Olson Bros will perform for the farm’s Fall Harvest Festival. Music starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, on the Schilter stage. It’s “Halloweekend” so the band is inviting people to “rock a costume if you want.” The farm is at 141 Nisqually Cut Off Road SE, Olympia. Admission to the farm is $16.

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Drive through Trunk or Treat: Mills & Mills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, will host this bit of Halloween fun from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Wednesday, Nov. 1

Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 11 a.m. Wednesday will be 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. This presentation will also be helpful to current beneficiaries who are evaluating their options for 2024. To get a link to register, email jrich@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, Nov. 2

Senior Medicare Patrol: Preventing fraud and abuse will be introduced in a Zoom presentation at 1 p.m. Thursday. The program will inform consumers about how to prevent, detect and report Medicare fraud. To get a link to register, email jrich@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.

Welcome to Medicare Presentation in Yelm: The Yelm Timberland Regional Library at 210 Prairie Park St. NE will host this presentation at 1 p.m. Thursday. It will be an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries, and it will cover Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and Programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. This event also will be helpful to current Medicare beneficiaries who are evaluating their options for 2024. For more information, email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134.

Friday, Nov. 3

Squaxin Museum Holiday Bazaar: The Squaxin Island Museum Library and Research Center and the Squaxin Elders building off Old Olympic Highway in Kamilche will host this bazaar offering a variety of items for the holidays. The Mud Bay Indian Shaker Church will offer Indian Tacos, and fried bread for sale. There will be a raffle. Please note: Cash may be required by vendors but there is no ATM on the campus. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5.

Saturday, Nov. 4

American Democracy’s Indigenous Roots and Future: Join storyteller Fern Renville as she shares stories both mythic and personal that reframe and highlight the history, present, and future of Indigenous female power and leadership in America. This online presentation sponsored by the Elma and McCleary Timberland Libraries will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. Renville is a Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, Omaha, and Seneca-Cayuga storyteller, theatre director, and playwright, and the great-granddaughter of Melinda Cayuga, a Seneca matriarch. Renville lives in Washougal. Register online to get a link.

YWCA Women of Achievement awards: For the 29th year, YWCA Olympia will honor and celebrate inspiring women during its annual Women of Achievement Gala on Saturday, Nov. 4 at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Awards will honor the accomplishments and contributions of women in their professional work or in service to the community. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Thelma Jackson. Tickets are $75 and include dinner.

Sunday, Nov. 5

Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) launches 24th season: The fall concert starts with the Conservatory Orchestra performing Joyride by Markowski, a new rendition of the popular Ode to Joy, followed by Music for a Midnight Carriage Ride by local composer Austin Schlichting, which has a Halloween theme. The orchestra will wrap up with the ever-popular 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky. The SOGO Brass Choir and Academy and Debut Orchestras also will perform. The concert begins at 4 p.m. at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Admission is $8-23, with a $4 service fee. Children 6 and under get in free.

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