What’s happening in Thurston County this week

Sunday, Aug. 21

Paint and Sip Class: This Sip and Paint event will be held at Tart Hard Cider, 8024 River Drive SE Suite 303 in Olympia. Participants will be able to paint the Olympia skyline and enjoy a drink. This event starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $40. Pre-registration is required on eventbrite.

Monday, Aug. 22

Learn about fentanyl and other drugs: The Centralia Police Department and the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team are inviting the public to attend a presentation titled “Chemicals of Concern and Common Sense” at 6 p.m. Monday at the TransAlta Commons on the Centralia College campus. Seating is limited to the first 150 attendees. Drug prevention specialist Stephanie Siete will provide information on fentanyl, marijuana and vapor cigarettes. The TransAlta Commons is at 615 W. Pear St. in Centralia. More information: 360-330-7680.

Wednesday, Aug. 24

Poets Laureate in Lacey: Hear live readings by Washington State poet laureate Rena Priest, Olympia poet laureate Ashly McBunch and Lacey poet laureate Cynthia Pratt from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in Harned Hall’s Room 110 at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey. This free event is sponsored by the university, Olympia Poetry Network and Humanities Washington. More information can be found on the Humanities Washington webpage.

Native Storytelling: Itsa Shash, a storyteller with the Nisqually Indian Tribe, will present at the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Online reservations are required for entry. General admission is $15.95 for most adults and children, but babies up to 17 months old get in for free.

Thursday, Aug. 25

“This Flat Earth” opens at Harlequin Productions: This play by Lindsey Ferrentino highlights the emotional fallout after a school shooting. The story is told from the perspective of 13-year-old Julie, played by Annabeth Collett and Cosette Yanasak, and her best friend Zander, played by Jones Dillard-Disston; all three actors attend Olympia middle schools. “This Flat Earth” runs Aug. 26 through Sept 17 with a Preview Night Aug. 25. Reserve tickets through Harlequin’s website.

Lunch and Learn with the Washington State Library: This is a series of free presentations intended to spotlight the large collection preserved by the Washington State Library and Archives. The presentation on Thursday will focus on how librarians help constituents understand Washington’s government and highlight the role of newspapers. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch to the event scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Columbia Room on the first floor of the Legislative Building on the Capitol Campus.

Friday, Aug. 26

South Sound Block Party: This two-day event will feature 15 bands, food trucks, games and a beer garden from 3 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at North Point at the Port of Olympia. Live music begins at 5 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Single day admission is $35, or $65 for both days; VIP tickets of $115 include close-in parking, a private bar and other amenities. For more information and tickets, visit their website or Facebook page.

Garlic Fest 2022: This event offers three big days of garlicky goodness, as well as other food, music, and arts and crafts. Admission is $5 for one day at the gate, or $10 for a three-day pass; kids 5 and younger get in free. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, 1909 S. Gold St., Centralia.

Bluegrass Festival: We Love Rainier WA will host the 28th annual Bluegrass Festival Friday through Sunday, Aug. 26-28, at Wilkowski Park in the city of Rainier. Activities will include breakfast from 7-10 a.m. all three mornings, an open mic Pickin & Jamming Party from 3-7 p.m. Friday, bluegrass shows on 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Saturday, and a gospel jam at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. This year’s event will include seven bands: Rusty Hinges, The Cowchips, Tried and Blue, Beyond the Rain, The Dills Family, Band of Friends and Hardshell Harmony. Food vendors will sell burgers, hot dogs and strawberry shortcake. Admission is free.

Vince Brown music: On Friday, iconic guitarist Vince Brown will play solo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Olympia Farmers Market. If you can’t make that, he’ll be back at the market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, playing with the Susan Tuzzolino Quartet. He’ll also play from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at La Gitana of Yelm, 309 E. Yelm Ave., with vocalist Anjali Silva and Steve Luceno on bass.

Pine Hearts’ Farm Party: Bring your family and friends to the Pine Hearts’ Farm Party on Friday and Saturday for a weekend of PNW folk performances at Oyster Bay Farm, 4931 Oyster Bay Road NW. But don’t forget your camping gear; camping is included with a $50 ticket to the event that you can buy online. All ages are welcome at the Steamboat Jamboree event, and beverages are BYOB. More information and the lineup of more than a dozen bands can be found online.

Saturday, Aug. 27

Bands at the Barn: Schilter Family Farm will conclude its summer concert series, Bands at the Barn, on Saturday at 141 Nisqually Cut Off Road, with an outdoor concert by the Olson Bros Band. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the country music band scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Luke and Isaac Olson grew up in Olympia and in 2019, they had opening gigs for Dwight Yoakam, Dylan Scott, Lonestar, and Phil Vassar. Burgers, brats and brews will be sold in the beer barn. Admission of $15 plus a $1.50 processing fee can be purchased in advance at Schilterfamilyfarm.com, or at the gate for $20. Children 2 and younger get in free. The bounce pillow, zip swings, trike track and busy bee playground area will be open. The concert will end with a fireworks display.

Indie music open house: People who were part of Olympia’s independent music scene from the 1980s to the early 2000s are invited to share their stories as part of a two-year project to document the history of that time and music. Elaine Vradenburgh of Window Seat Media and Kelsey Smith of Lefty Copywriting will host open house gatherings at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. E., to hear from people during the Saturday LoveOly Festival.

Concert at West Central Park: The Lumen will play from 7-10 p.m. at West Central Park, Harrison Avenue at Division in west Olympia. The event is free and family friendly.

The 5th Annual Night Market: The Islamic Center of Olympia will host this event starting 7 p.m. at the center, 4324 20th Lane NE, Olympia. The event will offer vendors, food and fun.

Young Choreographers Showcase: Ballet Northwest presents the 11th annual Young Choreographers Showcase, featuring 20 world premieres of works in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and more. Performances begin at 7 p.m. at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Tickets are $18 plus a $4 service fee, and are sold through the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

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