Events for the coming week: Old-time music fest, comedy, art show, film and more happenings

With a mission to teach, learn and participate in sharing traditional old-time fiddle music, the Oly Old-Time Festival is four days dedicated to just that. Thursday kicks off with workshops from noon-5 p.m. and honky-tonk dance at 7 p.m. Workshops, dances and performances will continue through Feb. 14. It’s all happening at the Olympia Ballroom, 16 Legion Way SE; First Christian Church, 701 Franklin St. SE; and Arbutus Folk School, 600 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Tickets for the weekend package are $37.22 including service fee. For a complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets, go to olyoldtime.weebly.com.

Set amid intimate cabaret-style seating, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ Black Box Theatre is the place to come for Comedy in the Box on Thursday. The 21-and-over night of laughs features three local and regional comedians. The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the center, 512 Washington St. SE. Tickets are $25-$27, plus a $3 service charge. Go to washingtoncenter.org for more information.

Help make a difference at the annual Love for a Change gala supporting SideWalk, a volunteer program aimed to end homelessness. The evening will feature live music, a family-style dinner and program, and dancing, too. Bring a date and celebrate Valentine’s Day early. It’s from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Tickets are $75 and are available at commitchange.com/wa/olympia/sidewalk/events/love-for-a-change.

It’s your last chance to join in Olympia Film Society’s Fright Club screening of “Night of the Living Dead.” The 1968 classic is the true zombie movie archetype. It will be shown at 9 p.m. Friday (Feb. 5) at Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $9, $6 for Olympia Film Society members. The doors open at 8:30 p.m.

Lovers of classic cinema, mark your calendar for the screening of “Harold and Maude” as part of Olympia Film Society’s Silver Screenings series. The 1971 unconventional love story pairs Harold (Bud Cort) and Maude (Ruth Gordon) in a tale of two social outcasts connecting and teaching each other to live joyfully. It will be shown at 4 p.m. Saturday and Wednesday at Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE. Tickets are $8, $5 for society members. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

A Pacific Northwest staple for more than 30 years, local jazz and blues vocalist Dennis Hastings is releasing his first CD and throwing a celebration Saturday at Art House Designs, 420 Franklin St. SE, Olympia. Hastings has played with such notable talents as Bobby McFerrin, John Lee Hooker and the Marcels. Join him at the 8 p.m. concert. Tickets are $15, $10 students and low-income. For more information, call 360-943-3377 or go to arthousedesigns.com/events.

Celebrating the art of writing letters, Olympia Zine Fest Correspondence Club is hosting a Friendentine’s Edition. Join in the fun of spreading love through correspondence by making friendentines for your family, friends and possibly someone you don’t know yet. Use repurposed stationery, art and craft supplies, and a variety of writing instruments to send your notes of love and friendship. It is 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Obsidian, 414 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Questions? Send an email to olympiazinefest@gmail.com.

Roxana Caples, current president of Olympia Art League, has assembled her works in a show titled “Call of the Mountain,” which is on display at Thomas Architecture Studio Gallery, 109 Capitol Way N., Olympia. The watercolors feature mountain paintings from the Pacific Northwest and will be shown through Feb. 25. A reception with Caples is 5-7 p.m. Friday (Feb. 5), and the show is open to the public 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Events for the coming week: Old-time music fest, comedy, art show, film and more happenings."