Need plans for this weekend? You can get a little taste of the holidays if you’re ready
Strap on your skates
The Oly on Ice seasonal ice rink opens Friday, Nov. 18 and runs through Jan. 16, at the Isthmus Park in downtown Olympia. The setup is a little different this year: Tickets may be reserved online in advance on a first come/first served basis so you can skate at your preferred time. Tickets also may be purchased at the ice rink, but quantities may be limited, or you may have to wait a bit to skate until the next available time. Tickets purchased on site may be done via QR Code or at the cashier with credit card or cash. Tickets are for 75 minutes of skating time, which begins at the time of check-in. Skaters will not be asked to leave at the end of their 75 minutes unless the rink reaches capacity. General admission for those 4 and older ranges from $9 to $15 depending on the day and date you want to skate; toddlers get in for $5 all the time. Season passes are $99. Hours vary by day, so check before you go at the city of Olympia Parks & Recreation website.
Get an early audience with Santa
For those who just can’t wait for the Christmas holidays (or the parents of them), Olympia’s Capital Mall is hosting Santa’s Pajama Party from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19. Participants will welcome Santa at the Jolly Jamboree that will include story time with Santa, face painting, balloon twisting, and more.
Enjoy jazz for a good cause
The Rotary Clubs of Thurston County are again hosting their Cool Jazz Clean Water concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. The evening program for adults features wine tasting, micro brews and spirits, with professional jazz entertainment on the main stage. Tickets are $50 per person and proceeds support clean drinking water projects around the world. If that’s not enough music for you, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., high school and middle school jazz bands will play on the main stage and receive professional adjudication. No tickets are needed for the day jazz bands, and all are welcome. For more information, go to https://www.cooljazzcleanwater.org/ or get evening tickets at the Washington Center website.
Live from a studio near you
Olympia pianist Scott Cossu and cellist Holly Reeves combine their talents for an evening of live music in Thurston Community Media’s Studio A on Saturday, Nov. 19. Cossu has been performing worldwide since 1980. A composer, recording artist, and radio host, Cossu was one of the first artists to join the Windham Hill Record Label. Reeves is principal cellist with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra. The television studio is transformed into an intimate concert venue for the event, and a pre-concert reception is included in the $58 ticket price. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. at TCMedia, 440 Yauger Way SW, Suite C, Olympia. Tickets can be purchased at tcmedia.org