What’s Happening for Nov. 27, 2019 in Olympia

Wednesday

Yashiro Japanese Garden Volunteer Work Party: From 9:30 a.m. to noon, staff and volunteers will weed and rake the fallen leaves in the park at 1010 Plum St. SE. Meet at the side entrance to the park. Parking is available at the Lee Creighton Justice Center, 900 Plum St. SE. Sign up in advance at http://volunteer.olympiawa.gov

See the salmon run at Allison Springs: Capitol Land Trust invites the community to share in the experience of the salmon run at Allison Springs, which is not typically open to the public. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon, and participants are asked to register in advance at https://capitollandtrust.org/see-the-salmon-run-at-allison-springs-4/?fbclid=IwAR0j0zA1V2P1P5azIRpGZv0NGINPWj7ltlKSyTIFbkH2giXnps6zN6UMPB4 Please wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the weather. It is about a quarter-mile downhill walk to the water on a gravel/dirt/grass trail.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner: This is the 50th anniversary of the nonprofit Barb O’Neill Family and Friends serving a community dinner to the low income and needy. The meal will be served from 1-4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Olympia, 1224 Legion Way SE.

Thursday through Feb. 3

Olympia Timberland Library closed for renovation: The library at 313 Eighth Ave. SE is expected to be closed for more than two months. Updates on any changes to the schedule will be posted on TRL.org and on the Olympia Timberland Library Facebook page. The renovation work will widen the aisles, re-position the shelves and furniture, add new information desks, condense the computer layout, refresh the carpet, and provide accessible and flexible community space for programs. During the renovation, patrons will be able to pick up their holds from 1-6 p.m. weekdays (except on holidays) by using the side entrance to the Meeting Room.

Friday

Fish Black Friday campaign: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is offering anglers opportunities for tight lines rather than long lines by stocking area lakes with thousands of trout averaging 15 to 16 inches in length and weighing up to 3 pounds. Lakes scheduled to be stocked include: Black, Long, and Offut lakes in Thurston County; Spencer Lake in Mason County; Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis County Park Pond in Lewis County; American and Tanwax lakes in Pierce County. Anglers 15 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license. Information: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants or https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov

Tellebration: This concert of oral storytelling, traditional folktales and modern-day stories, told by the South Sound Story Guild, happens at 7 p.m. at New Traditions Cafe, 300 Fifth Ave SW. Admission is $10 at the door.

Saturday

The Center Artisan Market: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is celebrating local vendors and Small Business Saturday with its first artisan market at the center, 512 Washington St. SE. The market will feature 20 vendors selling local and handmade original objects. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lincoln Winter Market: About 65 artists and craftspeople display their local handmade wares from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, 213 21st Ave. SE. Hot food and a kids-only market too. Proceeds benefit the Options Parent-Teacher Organization, which funds teachers, students, music, arts, and Spanish instruction.

Insight Meditation with Arinna Weisman: The Oly LGBTQ Meditation group is sponsoring this event from 7-9 p.m. at the Olympia Friends Meetinghouse, 3201 Boston Harbor Road NE. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $5-$20 on a sliding scale, with no one turned away for inability to pay. Information: http://arinnaweisman.org/

Sunday

Downtown for the Holidays: The Olympia Downtown Alliance again ushers in the holidays with a Jingle Bell Parade at 1 p.m. and tree lighting at Sylvester Park at 4 p.m., with lots of festivities in between, including visits with Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, live choir and handbell music, and hot chocolate. The parade route begins at Capitol Lake and ends at Sylvester Park, with commentary by parade emcee Mixx96.1 personality Ty Flint on the corner of Fifth and Capital.

Oly Lightstravaganza opening night: Olympia’s largest Christmas light display will showcase 90,000 lights this year at 1515 10th Ave. SE. Santa arrives at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Capital High School choir performance, and the lights turn on at 5 p.m. After that, a live band will play from 5-6 p.m. and cookies and cider will be served until 8 p.m. Donations for the Thurston County Food Bank are welcomed.

Monday

Lacey Parade of Lights: The lighted parade starts at 6:30 p.m. and travels from Lacey Boulevard north on Sleater-Kinney Road to Seventh Avenue Southeast, where it turns right/east and ends past Huntamer Park. The 30-minute parade includes the Lacey Fire Department’s Santa Mobile. Affected intersections will open up as the last vehicle drives by. After the parade, the city will light its Christmas Tree in the park. Information: http://www.ci.lacey.wa.us/living-in-lacey/the-community/arts-and-events/lighting-of-the-christmas-tree

Westminster Bell Choir Christmas Performance: The bell choir will put on a free concert at 7 p.m. at the Corbet Theater at Centralia College with the Pacific NW Chamber Orchestra. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Communicating to Connect workshop: Liv Monroe will provide a free introduction to Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication process from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, corner of Washington Street and 21st Avenue Southeast, Olympia. Contributions accepted (no pressure). Information: 360-357-4503 or livmonroe@gmail.com

Tuesday

Choose happiness – a public talk with Buddhist Monk Gen Kelsang Rigpa: Gen Rigpa, the Western United States Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition, will speak at 7 p.m. at the Black Box at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $11 plus service fee. Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Center is hosting the event. Information: washingtoncenter.org

Want to submit a community event for inclusion in What’s Happening? Send it 10 days or more in advance, written in the format you see above, to news@theolympian.com. Pictures are appreciated.