You'll love this eclectic festival

Love Our Local Fest is a celebration of what Olympia has to offer: music, food, flowers and produce, handmade goods, gardens, organizations working for community betterment and – in true Olympia style – all things quirky and do-it-yourself.

A few examples: piglets to touch and hold, demonstrations of how to make kombucha or to darn socks, an opportunity to get your own “undriver’s license,” an open-mic area and a look at a solar power project that just happens to be at the corner of Bethel and San Francisco, the festival’s epicenter.

The festival, sponsored by Sustainable South Sound, could be described as a block party gone wild in the fertile soil of Northeast Olympia.

The street will be closed and painted with a trillium representing the festival’s aim, “cultivating community, dwelling in possibility and celebrating our gifts,” said organizer Marie Poland, who heads up Sustainable South Sound’s Buy

Local program.

The music, with performances by such Olympia favorites as Erev Rav and Brown Edition, is sure to be a big draw.

But even there, there’s a twist. Between bands, there’ll be speakers including a poet, an author, a yoga teacher and representatives from Enterprise for Equity and other local nonprofits.

Children’s activities will include lawn bowling, lawn chess, bubble blowing and bike decorating.

And then there’s the “undriver’s license,” which isn’t just for kids but seems likely to be a hit with them. That’s a project of Intercity Transit.

“They take your picture, and you’re able to get a little license card that says that you walk and take the bus and ride your bike instead of driving,” Poland said. “It’s a fun opportunity to designate that you take alternative transport.”

The skill demonstrations – which also include rug weaving, sauerkraut making and composting – are being organized by Transition Olympia. The event also will have information on solar energy, a seed-exchange booth and a tour of the Wendell Berry Community Garden.

Among the food items for sale will be fresh produce, tamales by Cielo Project and Shelton’s own Olympic Mountain ice cream. And because loving local includes buying local, Poland pointed out that both San Francisco Street Bakery and Don’s EZ Mart will be open with additional food and beverage options.

The fest’s artisan market will offer such locally made goods as wooden toys, pottery, handmade clothing and accessories, and herbal body-care products, said Shari Trnka, a clothing maker and organizer of the market.

“We have an eclectic mix,” Trnka said.

The festival is ultimately a celebration of what local people are already making, doing and sharing, she said.

And the name – oft-shortened to LOL Fest – is a good reminder of the fun. Poland said the familiar abbreviation was a happy accident.

“I liked the fact that it was LOL,” she said. “I’ve been using live out loud, laugh out loud, love out loud. I like all the LOLs being involved with Love Our Local.”