What’s Happening for Dec. 30

Saturday

WET New Year’s fun: The WET Science Center at 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia, has crafts, face painting, hats, noisemakers and a silly photo booth from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with New Year’s Eve celebrated at noon. Admission is free. Information: 360-664-2333, wetsciencecenter.org.

Sunday

Noon Year's Eve Party for kids: The Hands On Children’s Museum is making its annual early New Year’s celebration “Aussie Style” this year. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be ball drops and a dance party every hour, as well as opportunities to meet a live kangaroo and mother and baby wallaby, watch science experiments, run an Outback obstacle course, “swim” with the sharks, toss snowballs, make puppets, and more. Free with museum admission, which is $12.95 for those ages 2-64; $10.95 for seniors, military, first responders and fosters; free for children younger than 2. Information: www.hocm.org

Learn to change your ways: Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Center, 211 Legion Way SW, Olympia, will present a class titled “Letting Go of Bad Habits: Essential Buddhist Wisdom for Daily Life” from 7-9 p.m. It’s an alcohol-free alternative to celebrating the start of the new year. Light snacks provided. For information or to register, call 360-754-7787 or go to visit www.MeditateInOlympia.org.

Monday

Salish Sea Plunge: Kick off the New Year by joining others in the 10th Annual Squaxin Community Salish Sea Plunge. It will begin at 11 a.m. at Arcadia Boat Ramp, Southeast Lynch Road, Shelton. Costumes are strongly encouraged, and donations will be collected for the food bank.

Polar Bear Plunge: Join fellow enthusiasts for a chilling New Year’s ritual plunge into Long Lake. Enjoy music starting at noon at Long Lake Park, 2790 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, then take the plunge at 1 p.m. — or stay warm and dry on shore and cheer on the swimmers. Free. All ages welcome. Information: 360-491-0857.

First Day Hike on First State Parks Free Day of 2018: Washington State Parks invites the public to start the new year off with a First Day Hike at more than three dozen parks across Washington. South Sound parks participating are Millersylvania in Thurston County, starting at 9 a.m. at Kitchen Shelter #1; Lake Sylvia in Grays Harbor County, starting at 1 p.m. at the kitchen shelter day use area; Westport Light in Grays Harbor County, starting at 10 a.m.; Lewis and Clark in Lewis County, starting at 10 a.m. at the main entrance gate. Park visitors will not need to display the Discover Pass on vehicles to access parks. Most participating parks will offer refreshments. Information about the First Day Hikes initiative: www.naspd.org/initiatives-special-programs/first-day-hikes/ and http://adventureawaits.com/253/2018-First-Day-Hikes-12-14-17

Tuesday, Jan. 2

Stammtisch Olympia: A group of German-speaking seniors meets at 5 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month. Location varies. For details, call Gunther Hoffmann at 360-915-9079.

Wednesday, Jan. 3

Bicycling through Korea: Maxine Dunkelman and Ray Philen will share a presentation on Bicycling through Korea at 7 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 3201 Boston Harbor Rd. NE. 98506. This is part of the Olympia Mountaineers Speaker Series. Free and open to the public. Door opens at 5:30 pm, with a potluck dinner beginning at 6 p.m.

Newcomers luncheon: The Capital City Newcomers general meeting and luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Pellegrino’s Event Center, 5757 Little Rock Road Tumwater. This month’s program will feature presentations on the art of storytelling, as well as linoleum block prints. Luncheon is $17, and reservations are required. For more information, call Anita Rose at 360-709-0707.

Identity theft: Learn how to protect your personal information during an identity theft workshop at 10:15 a.m. at the Olympia Senior Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, 98501. For more information, call 360-586-6181 or go to www.SouthSoundSeniors.org.

Thursday, Jan. 4

Road usage tax: Mariya Frost, from Washington Policy Center, will be guest speaker at the Panorama Republicans Meeting, 2 p.m., in the Lacey retirement center’s Quinault Auditorium. The topic is the Washington State proposed Road Usage Tax.

History talk: Local historian Jennifer Crooks will talk about World War I and its impact on Thurston County from noon to 1 p.m. as part of the Schmidt House History Talk, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater. Free. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. For more information, go to www.olytumfoundation.org, or contact Don Trosper, Public History Manager at history@olytumfoundation.org or 360-786-8117.

Olympia Mountaineers: Learn about the Olympia Mountaineers’ courses and activities during an information session from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Martin University’s Worthington Center. 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey. Free and open to the public.

Memory Café: People dealing with memory challenges and their loved ones/caregivers can socialize and find support during this event, which begins at 2:30 p.m., at Rivers Edge Restaurant, 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr SE, Olympia). For more information, call 360-407-3967 or go to www.SouthSoundSeniors.org.

Friday, Jan. 5

Town Hall: Hear a presentation on Missing Middle Housing at 10 a.m. at the Olympia Senior Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia. Olympia city officials are soliciting public opinion about the gap between apartments and single family housing. For more information, call 360-586-6181 or go to www.SouthSoundSeniors.org.

This story was originally published December 30, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What’s Happening for Dec. 30."