What to do this weekend? Watch a play, see sunflowers or choose from oodles of live music
Real theater about real issues
Harlequin Productions opens “This Flat Earth” this weekend. This play by Lindsey Ferrentino highlights the emotional fallout after a school shooting. The story is told from the perspective of 13-year-old Julie, played by Annabeth Collett and Cosette Yanasak, and her best friend Zander, played by Jones Dillard-Disston; all three actors attend Olympia middle schools. “This Flat Earth” runs Aug. 26 through Sept 17. Reserve tickets through Harlequin’s website.
Dance created right here
Ballet Northwest presents the 11th annual Young Choreographers Showcase, featuring 20 premieres of works in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and more. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Tickets are $18 plus a $4 service fee, and are sold through the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
Flowery festival
Head out to the Rutledge Corn Maze for its 4th annual Sunflower Festival, where you can see 4 acres covered in 46 different varieties of sunflowers — plus take part in fun activities for the whole family. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets, which include a wagon ride to the flowers, are $16 for adults in advance or $25 at the gate; $10 for kids ages 5 to 11 in advance or $15 at the gate; children 4 and younger get in free. The Rutledge farm is at 302 93rd Ave. SE.
Live tunes of all sorts
South Sound has been a Mecca of live outdoor concerts this summer, and this weekend is no different.
South Sound Block Party: This two-day event will feature 15 bands, food trucks, games and a beer garden from 3 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at North Point at the Port of Olympia. Live music begins at 5 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Single-day admission is $35, or $65 for both days; VIP tickets of $115 include close-in parking, a private bar and other amenities. For more information and tickets, visit the website or Facebook page.
Bands at the Barn: Schilter Family Farm will conclude its summer concert series, Bands at the Barn, on Saturday, at 141 Nisqually Cut Off Road, with an outdoor concert by the Olson Bros Band. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the country music band scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Luke and Isaac Olson grew up in Olympia and in 2019, they had opening gigs for Dwight Yoakam, Dylan Scott, Lonestar, and Phil Vassar. Burgers, brats and brews will be sold in the beer barn. Admission of $15 plus a $1.50 processing fee can be purchased in advance at Schilterfamilyfarm.com, or at the gate for $20. Children 2 and younger get in free. The bounce pillow, zip swings, trike track and busy bee playground area will be open. The concert will end with a fireworks display.
Pine Hearts’ Farm Party: Bring your family and friends to the Pine Hearts’ Farm Party for live PNW folk music on Friday and Saturday at Oyster Bay Farm, 4931 Oyster Bay Road NW. But don’t forget your camping gear; camping is included with a $50 ticket to the event that you can buy online. All ages are welcome at the Steamboat Jamboree event, and beverages are BYOB. More information and the lineup of more than a dozen bands can be found online.
Bluegrass Festival: We Love Rainier WA will host the 28th annual Bluegrass Festival Friday through Sunday, Aug. 26-28, at Wilkowski Park in the city of Rainier. Activities will include breakfast from 7-10 a.m. all three mornings, an open mic Pickin & Jamming Party from 3-7 p.m. Friday, bluegrass shows on 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Saturday, and a gospel jam at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. This year’s event will include seven bands: Rusty Hinges, The Cowchips, Tried and Blue, Beyond the Rain, The Dills Family, Band of Friends and Hardshell Harmony. Food vendors will sell burgers, hot dogs and strawberry shortcake. Admission is free.