What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, Dec. 11

Olympia Musical Theatre holiday concert: The Olympia Musical Theatre Singers, under the direction of Troy Arnold Fisher, presents “The Christmas Lights Are Shining Bright on Broadway, A Leiber & Stoller Christmas.” Lyricist Jerry Leiber and composer Mike Stoller wrote over 70 chart hits. In addition to their music, OMTS will celebrate the season with Christmas favorites. There will be two performances: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia, and at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia. Donations are welcome.

Winterfest at Swede Hall: Join the fun at the annual Family Winterfest Event at Swede Hall in Rochester. From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, you can enjoy hotdogs, hot chocolate, and cookies; participate in the scavenger hunt; do crafts and play games; sing carols, and visit with Santa. The event, crafts and food is free to the public. Tree lighting ceremony is at dusk with the winner of a coloring/decorating contest turning on the lights. Swede Hall is at 18543 Albany Lane SW, Rochester.

Christmas with the Chorus: Capital City Chorus presents Christmas with the Chorus at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia. Join the free, family friendly event full of holiday spirit. All are welcome.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

History Talks! Excavating the George Bush Homestead: Racism motivated early settlers George and Isabella Bush to travel across the Oregon Trail to Washington Territory. The Bushes came with the well-known Simmons wagon train and were among the first non-native settlers in Washington. The Bushes were known as generous members in their new community. Recent excavations of the Bush Homestead led by Dr. Ulrike Krotscheck, professor at The Evergreen State College, found corroborating evidence of their generosity and renewed community interest in the Bush family, leading to the dedication of new monuments in the Olympia area. This talk will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, in person in the council chambers at Lacey City Hall, 420 College St. SE, or online on Zoom.

Thursday, Dec. 15

Celtic Contemplative Worship: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, at Henderson Boulevard and North Street in Olympia, will host a simple dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, followed by quiet reflection and contemplation at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary where participants will ritually carry light into the darkness as an act of hope for the world.

Friday, Dec. 16

Holiday Makers Market: The community is invited to shop for handmade gifts crafted by over 20 artists, artisans and makers at the first Holiday Makers Market, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, in the Lacey MakerSpace on the Saint Martin’s University Campus. The Lacey MakerSpace, Washington Center for Women in Business (WCWB), Saint Martin’s and TheWMarketplace partnered to create the event, which they hope will be an annual event. Shoppers will find a wide range of goods, from woodworking, artisan foods, weaving, and other fiber arts to ceramics, glass, jewelry, home decor, bath and body products, art prints, paintings, cards, and more. The event also includes a raffle, a kid’s craft table, warm refreshments, and treats. The Lacey MakerSpace is in Zaverl Hall, Bldg 5, on Baran Drive Southeast in Lacey.

Wrapping Up the Holidays toy and fund drive: KXXO Mixx 96.1 will hold its annual toy and fund drive from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. Donations of unwrapped gifts will be accepted at KXXO’s studios at 119 Washington St. NE, Olympia (corner of State & Washington downtown), where there also will be a secure outdoor drive-up donation box for change, cash, and checks courtesy of Zeigler’s Welding. Secure donations also can be made online anytime at www.KXXO.com. Donations will go to Holiday Connections, a consortium of area non-profits including Family Support Center, Family Education and Support Services, Thurston County Food Bank, and others. O Bee Credit Union will match the first $2,500 raised. If you would rather “adopt” a specific family or young person, call KXXO at 360-943-9937 for information.

Tenino’s Grand Twinkle Tour: The third annual Grand Twinkle Tour runs from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and is a no-cost celebration. Visit the drive-thru light and holiday displays at Tenino Middle School, 301 Old Highway 99 N., Tenino; enter at the Custer Street entrance where the Tenino Food Bank Plus with be gathering donations. The event is put on by the Combined Tenino PTSA.

Saturday, Dec. 17

Waste-free holidays: Looking to celebrate the holidays without creating lots of trash in the process? Learn tips for hosting a waste-free holiday. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, you can make homemade cards, waste-free gifts, and create beautiful gift-wrap out of recycled materials at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, in Olympia.

A piroshky pop-up: Piroshky Piroshky is an Eastern European-inspired bakery based at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Its Pre-Order Pop-Up tour visit Olympia for pre-order pickup on Saturday, Dec. 17. How it works: Customers select from the savory and sweet pies online at piroshkybakery.com ahead of the visit. Their piroshky is hand-made and made-to-order, then flash frozen and delivered for pick up on the event day. Piroshky Piroshky has been featured on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations,” the “Zimmern List” on the Travel Channel, and designated one of “The 20 Most Iconic Food Destinations Across America” by Smithsonian Magazine.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Tiny Procrastinator’s Craft Sale and Open House: Check out Community Print Olympia’s new digs at 414 Legion Way SE, buy baked goods, and enjoy some handmade Olympia style magic. Vendors will be selling typewriter poetry, letterpressed paper products, tea towels, shirts, and totes, remade wearables and mossy mug rugs. You can learn about the Olympia Open Print Shop’s community screenprinting shop, plus buy some prints and other surprises such as handmade books, broadsides, zines, earrings, greeting cards, jewelry and ornaments. The entrance to Community Print faces Fifth Avenue and the Fish Tale Brew Pub parking lot. Community Print only has two parking spaces, so please use street parking.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event.

This story was originally published December 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM.