Out and About: Welcome winter, warm up with ‘Tea’ or hear Advent music

Molly Gilmore
·2 min read

LoveOly Winter Fest

The Olympia Downtown Alliance is kicking off the winter holiday season with a chilly-weather version of its popular LoveOly Summer Fest. The holiday-style street party, from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28 at Fifth and Washington in Olympia, will offer activities for children, storytelling, performances by local choirs, swing dancing to live music by Vendredi’s Bag and an outdoor marketplace selling handmade gifts. Setting the scene will be decorated shop windows, more than a mile of garland and an art installation by Dave Sederberg, whose “Glowhenge” illuminated Olympia in the summer. Winter Fest kicks off the alliance’s traditional Downtown for the Holidays festivities, including Nutcracker selfie scenes, snow outside The Washington Center for the Performing Arts and the return of LoveOly Shop and Dine, which rewards those who spend money downtown with stamps that can be exchanged for swag. Find out more at https://downtownolympia.org/Events/Downtown-for-the-Holidays.

‘O Christmas Tea’

Odd couple James (Aaron Malkin) and Jamesy (Alastair Knowles) get up to all sorts of mischief in the oh-so-British — yet over-the-top — “O Christmas Tea.” The British Columbia-based comedians, who also served “Tea” in Olympia in 2019, will bring the silliness and snow back to town on Friday, Nov. 26. Their show starts at 7:30 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. Tickets are $29-$44. “There are definitely going to be some surprises for our regular audiences,” Knowles, described as “the eccentric half of the award-winning duo,” said in a press release. Also coming up at the center: a Winter Solstice concert by Windham Hill artists Barbara Higbie, Todd Boston and Mia Pixley. It’s at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, and tickets are $25-$59. The center requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for those 12 and older to enter the venue.

Choro Tomorrow will kick off Fridays at the First, the Advent concert series hosted by First Christian Church in downtown Olympia.
Choro Tomorrow will kick off Fridays at the First, the Advent concert series hosted by First Christian Church in downtown Olympia.

Fridays at the First

Olympia’s First Christian Church is resuming its tradition of free community Advent concerts, though this time around, no refreshments will be served. The series, held from noon to 1 p.m. Fridays, launches Nov. 26, with Choro Tomorrow, an Olympia ensemble playing Brazilian music of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Also playing this season at the church at 701 Franklin St. SE: The Chuck Stentz Saxophone Quartet on Dec. 3, David Deacon-Joyner with Clipper Anderson on Dec. 10 and The Ben Martin Quartet on Dec. 17. Donations for the musicians are appreciated. Masks are required.

Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.