Events for this week: Novel-writing workshop and musical ‘Once’

South African guitarist Derek Gripper is considered the first guitarist to successfully translate the music of the 21-string West African kora for solo guitar. He will perform at 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 28) at Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. Tickets are $15, $10 for students and low-income. For information, contact 360-705-2819 or traditionsfairtrade.com.

The national Broadway tour of the Tony Award-winning musical “Once” is coming to The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $55-$95 for adults; $50-$86 for students, seniors and military; and $28-$48 for youths. Get tickets at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.org.

The Dia de los Muertos Cultural Celebration and fundraiser Saturday at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, will have family activities from noon-5 p.m., including viewing student art and honoring loved ones. Admission is by donation. Las Estrellas de Onalaska Mexican Folkloric Dancers will perform at 4 p.m. The fundraiser, for adults, starts at 7 p.m. There will be performances, food and drink for purchase and dancing to a DJ. Admission is $25, $15 with student ID. For details, go to bit.ly/2eWC4cI.

The Evergreen State College will hold its 35th annual Harvest Festival, a chance to celebrate community and the fall bounty. The event includes workshops, live music, food vendors, free pumpkin carving and cider pressing and a tour of community gardens. The free festival is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Organic Farm at Evergreen, 2712 Lewis Road NW, Olympia. For information, go to bit.ly/2eWyUWy.

Olympia Timberland Regional Library presents “The Magic Lantern: A Major Form of Entertainment during the Victorian Era” on Thursday. John Potter, who has been collecting old slides and negatives for about 30 years, will give an introduction to the lantern and will show a variety of historic slides, most of which are from the Pacific Northwest. The program for adults will be from 7:30-8:45 p.m. at the library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia. For information, call 360-352-0595.

The YWCA of Olympia is holding its 2016 Women and Business of Achievement celebration at 7 p.m. Friday (Oct. 28). Being honored at the 23rd annual event will be Prairie Rose Hyde, Meg Martin, Penelope Partridge, Sandi Roberts, LaTasha Wortham and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity. The guest speaker will be former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders. The event will take place at The Washington Center Main Stage, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $32 adults; $22 seniors (65 and older) and students; $7 children 14 and younger, and $92 for the event and reception. Get tickets at washingtoncenter.org.

Hummingbird Studio, the community art space run by Kokua, will hold an open house and fundraiser to celebrate its first anniversary of operation. The organization provides support to people with disabilities so they can lead full lives. The event will be from 4-6 p.m. at Arbutus Folk School, 610 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia (entrance is in the alley). For information, send an email to randi@kokiaservices.com.

To kick off National Novel Writing Month, the Lacey Timberland Regional Library on Tuesday will hold a workshop at which writers Grace Campbell and Meagan Macvie will share writing tips, tricks and prompts to spark creative minds. The free workshop will be from 6-9 p.m. at the library, 500 College St. SE, Lacey. Learn more about the workshop at trl.org and National Novel Writing Month at nanowrimo.org.

This story was originally published October 28, 2016 at 8:11 AM with the headline "Events for this week: Novel-writing workshop and musical ‘Once’."