What’s happening around Thurston County this week
Editor’s note: This listing has been updated with new information about parking for the Nisqually Watershed Festival.
Sunday, Sept. 18
Olympia Musical Theatre’s 1000 Beautiful Things fundraiser: The nonprofit theater is throwing this cabaret fundraiser directed by Troy Arnold Fisher at The Albee’s Garden Parties, 4127 20th Lane NW, Olympia. Food service begins at 4 p.m., and the program begins at 5 p.m. RSVP to olympiamusicaltheatre@gmail.com.
Tuesday, Sept. 20
CPR classes: Thurston County Medic One will provide compression-only CPR with AED training from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Tumwater Fire Department, 311 Israel Road SW. Classes are free to those who live or work in Thurston County; pre-register online because classes fill quickly.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Ribbon cutting at Lacey food bank location: The Thurston County Food Bank is inviting the community to help officially opening Lacey’s new Client Service Center with a ribbon cutting event from 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The center is at 7027 Martin Way E. The food bank has been serving the community for 50 years, so it will honor its past and highlight the new, unique multi-use property. Tours of the 1.3-acre property and light refreshments will be provided.
Meet the Candidates Forum: On Wednesday, attendees can meet Tye Menser and Vivian Kay Eason, candidates for Thurston County Commissioner’s District 3, as well as Derek Sanders and John Snaza, candidates for Thurston County Sheriff. The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. at The Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive SW. The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce will host the event. Tickets cost $30-$40, and can be bought online or at the door.
Thursday, Sept. 22
Regional Fire Authority Town Hall: Olympia Fire Chief Todd Carson and Tumwater Fire Chief Brian Hurley will host this event at Olympia Fire Headquarters Station, 100 Eastside St. NE, to discuss the future of fire and emergency services in the two cities. Olympia and Tumwater are proposing a joint Regional Fire Authority. Learn more about fire regionalization on the Olympia Tumwater RFA webpage.
Friday, Sept. 23
TCMedia Presents The Studio A Concerts: Olympia singer-songwriter Ethan Tucker will kick off this series to raise funds to support Thurston Community Media and to showcase regional musicians. The concerts will be recorded with a studio audience at the media center, 440 Yauger Way SW, in Olympia. A pre-concert reception starts at 6:30 p.m. and music begins at 7. Patrons may purchase a table for four for $180 or individual tickets for $45. Tickets are available at www.tcmedia.org or by calling 360-956-3100.
Saturday, Sept. 24
Nisqually Watershed Festival: The 33rd annual free, family-friendly festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The festival celebrates the cultural history and environment of the watershed. The event includes interactive exhibits, exploratory nature trips and educational activities as well as a critter parade, art, music, science, and a salmon bake. There will be shuttles to the Nisqually Reach Nature Center to tour the Nisqually shore. Free parking and a shuttle to the festival will be available at Hawks Prairie Park & Ride, 2548 Hogum Bay Road. Find more information on the Nisqually River Council webpage.
Return of the Chinook Salmon: Learn about the life cycle of Chinook salmon during the annual return of adult fish to the Deschutes River. State Department of Fish & Wildlife salmon expert Lee Pilon will explain the process of fish returning, illustrate their anatomy, and tell the history of Washington hatcheries and why hatchery fish are important to the ecosystem. This free program will be held 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the Tumwater Falls hatchery inside Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, 110 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater.
Meet the Cheesemakers in Olympia: The Washington State Cheesemakers Association is bringing its traveling “Meet the Cheesemakers” series to The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. The seminar will include a panel discussion featuring local cheesemakers from Lost Peacock Creamery, Mountain Lodge Farm and Toboton Creek Farm, and a guided tasting of cheeses made by those cheesemakers. There will be an opportunity to buy cheese directly from the makers. Cost is $20 per person; tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.
Clean-up, drop-off event in Tumwater: Safely discard expired prescription medications, donate non-perishable food, and shred personal documents from 9 a.m. to noon at Tumwater City Hall, 555 Israel Road SW. Volunteers will remove items from the trunk or back of a pick-up truck. Learn more on the city of Tumwater website.
Harlequin Productions’ Annual Gala and Season Announcement: Theater fans can dine under an event canopy behind The State Theater starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, eating dishes from Cascadia Grill and Sofie’s Scoops. There also will be musical entertainment and a silent auction. Inside the theater, attendees will get a preview of the theater’s 2023 season. A live auction also will occur. Tickets, which are $100, can be purchased online.
Composting with worms: The Olympia Food Co-op’s west side garden center is hosting a class to teach about composting with worms. Jennifern Falknor, a lifelong gardener who’s “favorite garden enhancement is worm compost,” will teach the $7 class from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday, Sept. 25
Sundays in the Park: Love Local Lacey presents Sundays in the Park at the Lacey Food Truck Depot at Train Depot Park, 5790 Lacey Blvd. SE, starting at noon. The event offers live entertainment, food and local artisan vendors.
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This story was originally published September 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.