What’s Happening for Dec. 3, 2019 in Olympia

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

Holiday tree arrives at state Capitol: The tree that will be put up in the Rotunda of the Legislative Building will be delivered about 10 a.m.

Santa at the Swantown: The Swantown Inn will offer hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies while kids visit with Santa. Free photos taken with Santa. Donations to the food bank are encouraged, either cash or non-perishables. On arrival enter the Grand Victorian Ballroom. Your name and the kids will go on a list, then the elves will escort you to see Santa. The Elf Squad also will run some activities in the ballroom. Parking on Central (not 11th Avenue), with the Inn’s parking lot reserved for overnight guests and people with mobility issues.

Wednesday

Lacey Museum History Talk: “Washington on Wheels: Odd and Innovative Transportation Ideas from the Pacific Northwest” is the topic for the talk by author and broadcaster Harriet Baskas at 5:30 p.m. at Lacey City Hall Council Chambers, 420 College St. SE. The lecture is sponsored by Humanities Washington. Information: LaceyMuseum.org

State Public Works Board stakeholder workshop on Broadband Internet Service Access Law: The meeting will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Department of Commerce, Building 5, 1011 Plum St., Olympia. The new law established minimum requirements for broadband internet access for businesses and residences throughout Washington. By 2028, all Washington businesses and residences will have access to at least one service provider with upload and download speeds of at least 150 megabits per second. Register for the workshop at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/pwb-home-page/

Pet photos with Santa: Bring your pet to Capital Mall from 6-8 p.m. to have their photo taken with Santa. Photo packages are available.

Decatur Woods volunteer work party: From 9:30 a.m. to noon, volunteers will remove invasive holly and ivy competing for resources crucial to native plant species in this neighborhood park at 1015 Decatur St. SW. Meet at the shelter. Street parking is available, and overflow parking is available at the church next door. Register for the work party at http://volunteer.olympiawa.gov/

Arts & Crafts Fair at Evergreen: Admission is free to this sale featuring original work by Evergreen students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. It will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Evergreen State College College Activities Building, on the second floor. Information:

Thursday

Panorama program on Hawks Prairie interchange: Project Engineer Brian Whitehouse will explain and illustrate the new Hawks Prairie Diverging Diamond Interchange being built at Interstate 5 and Marvin Road which will eliminate left-hand turns on and off the freeway. Whitehouse will speak at 2 p.m. in the Quinault Auditorium at Panorama, 1751 Circle Lane, Lacey. Information: doddsbpan@comcast.net

Thurston County Republicans gubernatorial forum: From 7-9 p.m. at the Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Bldg. 1, Room 152, you can meet Anton Sakharov, Joshua Freed, Loren Culp and Phil Fortunato and hear their positions on the issues facing Washington state. Followed by Q and A. Information: http://www.thurstoncountyrepublicans.com/ or ThurstonCountyRepubicanParty@gmail.com

Regional Economic Forecast & Innovation Expo: The five-county region’s economic development groups will convene from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound to showcase emerging economic sectors, including media, brewing, arts/culture/creativity, and sports and outdoor recreation. Registration is $75 per person and can be done here https://fs26.formsite.com/Thurston_EDC/si8qymdmx7/index.html

Saint Martin’s Holiday Brass: Brass players in middle school, high school, and greater community are invited to participate in a fun evening of brass music. Rehearse side-by-side with SMU students and faculty, culminating in a performance as part of the “Christmans Under the Canopy” tree-lighting and concert. Rehearsal is at 5 p.m., and the free performance is at 6:30 p.m.To register to play, visit stmartin.edu/music

Friday

School Climate Strike: Students from across Washington will leave school and gather from noon to 2 p.m. at the Capitol Campus. There will be a handful of youth keynote speakers to share their perspectives on climate change and its effects. The goal is for Gov. Inslee to declare a climate emergency.

Jazz Vocalist LaVon Hardison performs a free concert: Joined by David Deacon-Joyner on piano, Hardison presents the second “Fridays at the First” series of free noontime concerts at First Christian Church of Olympia, 701 Franklin St. SE. The church library opens at 11:30 for complimentary coffee and cookies. The concert begins at noon and lasts about an hour. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed by the musicians. Information: www.firstchristian.org 360-943-8025

Saturday

Parade of Lighted Ships: The Olympia Yacht Club’s annual Parade of Lighted Ships is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. Spectators are urged to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to hear local carolers from the Capital High School Chamber Choir, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, see the Jingle Bus and the Grinch, and enjoy complimentary hot cocoa. The yacht recommends viewing from the Port Plaza Park/Tower in front of Anthony’s Homeport restaurant, 701 NW Columbia St, Olympia. Information: www.olympiayachtclub.org

Yelm Christmas in the Park: The daylong Christmas in the Park will take place at Yelm Community Center, also known as Yelm City Park. The event includes performances by Yelm High School’s band and choir.

Capitol Volkssport Club Holiday Walk: This walk through Olympia goes through downtown, the Farmer’s Market, and the State Capitol building. With the exception of a gravel, uphill section not suitable for strollers, the walk is on sidewalks. The walk starts between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia. Walkers must finish by 4 p.m.

City of Shelton aims for Guinness Book of World Records: Historically known as the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World,” Shelton and Mason County are celebrating the distinction with an attempt at the Guinness World Record for “Most Lit Christmas Trees” in one location. The current record is 559 trees, set in New York in 2015. Shelton’s attempt will be logged during the 5 p.m. Christmas parade. The 600+ trees will be arranged in a lighted maze that families can explore from 6-9 p.m. along with Santa visits, refreshments, caroling, gingerbread house contests, live music, gift workshops, and a new Christmastown Market at 414 Franklin St., Shelton. The market that will be open through Dec. 21. Trees will be replanted, donated to families in need or can be purchased with a $10 donation for Toys for Tots, Seattle Children’s Hospital or the local food bank.

Medicare Open Enrollment deadline: Washington’s 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries have until today to fill out their paperwork. Information: www.medicare.gov/

Olympia Toy Run: The yearly event draws thousands of motorcycles to Olympia. Motorcyclists donate toys and money to The Salvation Army’s Toy N’ Joy Shop, which distributes the gifts to needy children. The motorcyclists meet at South Sound Center in Lacey around 10 a.m., then ride to Marathon Park on Capitol Lake around 1 p.m., traveling via Pacific Avenue, State Avenue, Capitol Way, Fifth Avenue and Deschutes Parkway. The Toy Run typically lasts two hours. Drivers can expect heavy traffic and long delays in downtown Olympia during the event.

Capital Mall holiday storytime: Timberland Regional Library will put on a free storytime featuring holiday books for young and old at 11 a.m. at Macy’s Court.

Springwood Parcel Volunteer Work Party: The work party from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is at the former Zabel’s Rhody Garden, 1500 Springwood Ave NE, Olympia. Volunteers will be removing invasive plant species, including yellow archangel, which must be bagged for disposal to stop its spread. Volunteers should park only on Devon Drive Northeast. After parking, follow the signs to the entrance to the parcel. Meet just inside the gate. Register for the work party at http://volunteer.olympiawa.gov/

Olympia Waldorf School Winter Faire: The festival that runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school at 8126 Normandy St. SE, Olympia, will include candle making, snow queens, treasure hunts, crafts, baked goods, vendors, puppet plays, jump rope making, and more. Free admission and all events cost between $1 and $5. Puppet show tickets are on sale at 360-493-0906.

Rube Goldberg Machines: Explore the world of physics and engineering by creating a Rube Goldberg Machine, a complex chain reaction to complete a simple task, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Free.

Tenino Winterfest: The festivities run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tenino High School, 224 Sussex Ave. E, Tenino. Activities include pictures with Santa, lunch w/donation, live music, 75 vendors, gift wrapping by the Girl Scouts, raffles and a food drive. Admission is free.

Sunday

Holiday Tour of Historic Homes: The Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum are sponsoring the 2019 tour from noon to 4 p.m., featuring nine historic properties, including the Bigelow House at 918 Glass Ave. NE. Tour tickets are $25 and available in advance at Artistry in Flowers at 300 Cleveland Ave. SE, Drees at 524 Washington St. SE and Thompson’s Furniture at 5407 Capitol Blvd. as well as online at www.olympiahistory.org. Net proceeds benefit the preservation and interpretation of Olympia’s historic Bigelow House and programming throughout the year by the Olympia Historical Society. Information: www.olympiahistory.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.