Weekend Planner: Your guide to fun in the South Sound

Beating the Heat

The Movies at the Mansion series kicks off this week with the showing of “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. In its eighth year, the classic film series is held at 8:45 p.m. Fridays on the lawn of the Lord Mansion, home of the State Capital Museum, and will continue through Aug. 28. Bring your chairs and blankets, soda, candy and popcorn will be available for purchase. Suggested donation is $2. For a complete list of movies, go to washingtonhistory.org/visit/scm/eventsprograms.

Family fun at Port Plaza

It’s going to be another night of music, dancing and family fun at this week’s installment of the Music in the Park concert series. This week Wally and the Beavs will be playing oldies and the golden age of rock and roll at The Port Plaza, 915 Washington St. NE, Olympia. The free concert begin at 7 p.m. Friday (Aug. 7). Gather up your lawn chair, blanket and picnic and join the fun. For more information, go to downtownolympia.com/events.

Back to back ‘Back to Future’

If you can’t make it to see Wally and the Beavs Friday night, then make plans to come out to the Lacey In Tune Concert series Saturday at 7 p.m. Pack up your picnic, chairs and blankets and head out to Huntamer Park, Seventh Avenue Southeast and Woodland Square Loop, to enjoy the music and stick around for the screening of all three “Back to the Future” movies. It’s sure to be a great family night. For more information, go to ci.lacey.wa.us/living-in-lacey/the-community/arts-and-events/summer_concerts_in_the_park.

Outdoor movies are free

August is here and so is the Tumwater Parks and Recreation Screen on the Green outdoor movie series. It’s held at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course, 4611 Tumwater Valley Drive SE, with seating starting at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 28. Bring your own picnic. Low back chairs are allowed; grills, umbrellas and pets are not. The free event is great for families as most movies are PG or PG-13. This week’s selection is “The Lego Movie.” To see the schedule, go to ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation/classes-programs-sports/special-events/screen-on-the-green.

Null Set still alive and kicking

With 50 years under its belt, Null Set was the first “coffee house” on the West Coast north of California. It was known for its beatniks, hippies, chessboard tables, incense and music. Recognizing the cultural impact of the local hot spot, a CD release party and celebration will be taking place Sunday at the Olympia Farmers Market. It will be complete with performances from musicians including Mike Dumovich, John Browne, Davey Coffin and Paul Basett of the original P.H. Phactor, Dan McKinstry and Dusty Rhodes. The festivities are 11 a.m.-2 p.m., come on down and celebrate with other lovers of Null Set.

Film series is the thing

The Olympia Film Society is bringing back Fright Club, a special film series. This week’s selection is “The Thing,” John Carpenter’s excursion terror classic set on Antarctica. It is playing at 9 p.m. Friday (Aug. 7) with additional screenings Aug. 21 and Sept. 4 at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $8, $5 for society members. Go to olympiafilmsociety.org for a complete list of movies.

Japanese traditions

Explore traditional Japanese folk dancing and drumming at the annual Olympia Bon Odori festival Saturday. Food and craft booths open at 5 p.m. after greetings from the mayor. Traditional Japanese dances will be led by dancers in summer kimonos. Also performing is the River Ridge High School Taiko, Aikido of Olympia, Okinawa Taiko and karate expert Akiko Yoshi-Johnson. Join in the dancing until 9 p.m., then follow the illuminated lantern procession. It’s being held on Water Street between Fifth and Legion Avenue next to Heritage Park and it’s free to the public.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Weekend Planner: Your guide to fun in the South Sound."