What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Saturday, Dec. 2
SPSCC American Portrait concert: On Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., the SPSCC Symphony Orchestra presents this concert featuring American music from a variety of viewpoints, including works by Louis Gottschalk, Richard Meyer, Austin Schlichting, and William Grant Still. The orchestra will share the stage with the North Thurston High School Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Rebecca Gage. Admission is a suggested $15 donation at the door. Entrance is free to SPSCC students, staff, and faculty. More information is available on the college’s Arts & Entertainment webpage.
Olympia Yacht Club Parade of Lighted Ships: The Olympia Yacht Club (OYC) is pleased to announce the Parade of Lighted Ships will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. OYC boats decorated for the holidays will travel from the club up through Budd Inlet to Boston Harbor Marina and back. The public is invited to watch the parade from Port Plaza, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be handing out candy canes, coffee and hot cocoa starting at 5:30 p.m. (while supplies last). This traditional event is free. Parade begins from OYC at Percival Landing and heads north past Port Plaza, 701 Columbia St NW, Olympia, along the east side of Budd Inlet to Boston Harbor. Boats return to Olympia by 8 p.m. along the west side of Budd Inlet. Since many of the boats are decorated only on their starboard/right-hand side, the best viewing as they sail north is from the port area, the tip of the Port Peninsula by Anthony’s Hearthfire restaurant and KGY Radio, as well as anywhere along East Bay Drive north of Swantown Marina. On the return trip from Boston Harbor, good vantage points include West Bay Drive, West Bay Marina and Tugboat Annie’s.
Tumwater’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival: Looking for free holiday fun for the whole family and a chance to see Santa without that harrowing drive to the North Pole? Join Tumwater Parks & Recreation for the 20th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Tumwater City Hall and Tumwater Headquarters Fire Station on Israel Road. Enjoy school choir performances, create a wooden ornament for your holiday tree, sip on hot cocoa, enjoy yummy biscuits, take pictures with Santa, and watch the ceremonial tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Santa Claus will be in the City Hall Council Chambers to take pictures and share some holiday cheer. Bring donations of non-perishable food or cash donations for the Thurston County Food Bank.
Monday, Dec. 4
Lacey Parade of Lights and Christmas Tree Lighting: The Lacey Lighted Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday and will follow a route beginning on Sleater Kinney Road, traveling down Seventh Avenue, and ending at Huntamer Park for the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. A map of the parade route can be found on the Lacey Lighted Parade website. Local students will perform holiday music, and Santa will read a story you can listen to on your phone.
Tuesday, Dec. 5
The Olympia Woodworkers Guild: This group will meet Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Jefferson Middle School, 2200 Conger Ave., Olympia. Social time will begin 6 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. Enter through door 22 in the back of the school. Please bring a food donation for Jefferson students and also a woodworking item or project you would like to share in our “Show and Tell.” At approximately 7:15 p.m. the in-person presentation by Guild Member Cody Hanson on “Exploring Wood Finishes” will begin, with Q&A encouraged throughout. Learn more about the Guild on its website.
Wednesday, Dec. 6
Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This online presentation at 11 a.m. Wedneday offers 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. 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, Dec. 7
Olympia World Affairs Council Trivia Night: This event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Heritage Distillery, 4200 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater. It will help raise funds for local study abroad students from South Puget Sound Community College, The Evergreen State College, and Saint Martin’s University.
State Capitol Committee considers Newhouse Building name: The State Capitol Committee will discuss a proposal to retain the Newhouse Building name at its meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. Information on the proposals is found in the SCC meeting packet. Public comments can be sent to SCC-CCDACPublicComments@des.wa.gov for consideration by 4 p.m. Dec. 5. People can also sign up to comment during the meeting. While the Legislature has ultimate naming authority, state law calls for recommendations that come from the State Capitol Committee. Buildings on the Capitol Campus are eligible for naming or renaming when constructed, after significant renovation, or when there is a change in the main tenant agency headquartered there.
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.
Friday, Dec. 8
City of Olympia’s Ceramics Open House and Holiday Sale: This holiday event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW.
Olympia Peace Choir: The choir will perform its annual solstice concert, “A Winter’s Night,” to celebrate the returning light of the winter solstice. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey. Admission is free but donations are gratefully appreciated. Dress for the weather because this is an outdoor event.
Olympia Family Theater presents “The Velveteen Rabbit”: Olympia Family Theater opens its production of Margery Williams classic children’s story. It will run until Dec. 31 at the theater, 612 Fourth Ave. E. Tickets, available on a sliding scale starting at $5, are available now at www.Olyft.org. The play is approximately 55 minutes and presented without intermission; it’s recommended for ages 5 and older.
Fridays at the First: Olympia First Christian Church at Seventh Avenue and Franklin Street is hosting a series of holiday concerts. The first, at noon Friday, is the Timberline Chamber Choir. Admission is free. Gather for hospitality in the church library at 11:30 a.m. Concerts begin at noon and last about an hour. Contributions for the musicians are encouraged and gratefully accepted. Have questions? Email: cconcerts4fcc@gmail.com
Saturday, Dec. 9
“Blacks in Thurston County” discussion with Dr. Thelma Jackson: The League of Women Voters of Thurston County is partnering with The United Churches of Olympia to host “Blacks in Thurston County, Washington 1950-1975: A Community Album,” a free public book event from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, at United Churches of Olympia, 110 Eleventh Ave SE. Jackson will lead a discussion about her book. She is a long-time resident of Thurston County who is currently serves on the City of Lacey Commission on Equity. “Blacks in Thurston County” is a collection of 55 short biographies about Black people who came to Thurston County between 1950 and 1975. The book is published by the Northwest Institute for Leadership and Change.
Turn of the Tides: The Puget Sound Estuarium will host a seasonal celebration, Turn of the Tides, at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. This family-friendly free event will feature arts and crafts activities, the Estuarium touch tank station, warm drinks, information tables by environmental and community organizations, as well as eco-inspired artist vendors.
Native Plant Tea Party: The public is invited to this tea party where you’ll sip, savor, and celebrate the wonders of native plants. Taste teas brewed with native plants and make stylish crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.
The Olympia Record Show: This event will be at the Elks Lodge #186, 1818 Fourth Ave. E., presented by Rainy Day Records. It’s a “vinyl lover’s holiday shopping dream,” with 40 tables of records on offer by the sellers from all over the Pacific Northwest. Admission is $2 from 2 to 7 p.m., with a $10 early admission at 1 p.m. Vendor spots are sold out. Call 360-357-4755 for more information.
Local author event with Mary Gentry: Browsers Bookshop will host local writer Mary Gentry at 2 p.m. Saturday, where she will discuss her third volume of personal essays, “The Best is Yet to Be.” The event will be held in-person and upstairs at the bookshop, 107 Capitol Way N, Olympia. Gentry’s collection is part memoir, part commentary on daily life; she carries readers with her through the various joys, struggles, sorrows, surprises, and ambitions of her eighth decade.
Sunday, Dec. 10
The Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum Holiday Open House: This event will be at the Bigelow House Museum at 918 Glass Ave. NE in Olympia from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is by a $5 suggested donation. Visitors will enjoy holiday decor, learn about this Olympia home as well as savor a holiday treat. One of Olympia’s oldest residences, the house was built by 1860 and features authentic period decor and furnishings which tell the story of the long residence of the Bigelow Family in Olympia. More information is at olympiahistory.org or email olyhistory@gmail.com.
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. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.
