What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Saturday, July 29
Illuminate Pride -- A Celebration of Diversity and Community: Illuminate Pride is an immersive one-day festival that merges the LGBTQIA2S+ community with the creative energy of the city. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is hosted by Capital City Pride, WildTiny Productions, and Lucy ElleBalls Productions. Festival highlights include a Pride Gathering, artistic light installations, cultural showcases, workshops and panels, a Pride Market, a fashion show, and a family zone. Activities will be held at The Armory at 515 Eastside St SE, in the drill hall, lower level and lawn areas.
2023 Thurston County Fair: The annual fair runs daily through Sunday, July 30, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds at 3054 Carpenter Road SE in Lacey. The fair — which has happened for more than 150 years — educates, promotes, and showcases the agricultural, business, industry, and home life of Thurston County residents, but it also includes plenty of fun and carnival rides. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors over 60, $5 for youth ages 6-14, and free for those 5 and younger. For all the details, go to the fair’s webpage.
Sunday, July 30
Music in the Park: The Olympia Downtown Alliance’s annual free outdoor concert series wraps up this week with a concert by Platinum Soul at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 30. The hourlong concert is in Sylvester Park, 615 Washington St. SE. Bring your own chairs or blankets.
Scherler Sundays Free Summer Concert Series: Head to the backside of the old Carnegie Library at 620 Franklin St. SE in downtown Olympia for a free outdoor concert series sponsored by Scherler Beer at 3 p.m. each Sunday through Aug. 13. This Sunday’s show will feature Riley Kendig and UK Gold. The events are family friendly and include an interview of the performers by Markly Morrison with the podcast Low Profile. There is limited seating, but lawn chairs are welcome. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Plum Street Mural Ribbon Cutting: The Plum Street YMCA will unveil the newest edition to downtown Olympia’s mural collection with a celebration from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, July 30 at the Y, 505 Plum St. SE. The new piece of public art created by Elisa Del Guidice welcomes guests with a message of hope and love. The work is also part of a larger, national project called You Are Not Alone Murals. The event will include an opportunity for attendees to participate in a ZUMBA for Mental Health exhibition, as well as remarks and a ribbon cutting.
Wednesday, Aug. 2
Lacey in Tune noon concert series: This week’s lunchbreak concert will feature Good Company, which bills itself as traversing funk, pop, electro swing, and everything danceable. The free concert starts at noon at Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey.
Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, tune in to an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It will cover Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare supplements and programs available to limited income beneficiaries. To get a Zoom link, email jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call to leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program, 360-586-6181 ext. 134. A registration link will be sent to you.
Thursday, Aug. 3
Senior Medicare Patrol -- Preventing Fraud and Abuse: This Zoom program at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, will inform consumers about how to prevent, detect and report Medicare Fraud. To get a link, email jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program, 360-586-6181 ext. 134. A registration link will be sent to you.
Friday, Aug. 4
Screen on the Green Flashback Friday: Screen on the Green, Tumwater’s family-friendly series of movies under the stars, will screen an old community favorite this week: “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” And the event will not be on the Tumwater Valley Golf Course, but instead at Barclift Park, 690 Barclift Lane, south of the cemetery, off Cleveland Avenue. The series is free. Low-backed chairs are allowed, but please leave grills, umbrellas, and pets at home. Movie screenings begin at dusk, which is about 9 p.m.
Lacey in Tune: This week’s free concert and a movie at Lacey’s Huntamer Park is the last in this summer’s series, and it’s all about the beach. It will feature the Beach Boys tribute band Catch a Wave performing a concert at 7 p.m. followed by a screening of Disney’s “Moana” at dusk. You can grab dinner or a treat from one of the food vendors on site beginning at 6 p.m. or bring your own picnic. Bring your own blanket or seating as well.
Saturday, Aug. 5
Summer Nights at the Port: The Port of Olympia is celebrating the season — and its view of the water and the Olympic Mountains — with Summer Nights at the Port, featuring free music, food trucks and a beer garden. The final concert is by The Little Lies, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the port’s NorthPoint, 1210 Marine Drive NE, Olympia. Food and drinks go on sale at 5 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets, and dress in layers.
Sunday, Aug. 6
Benise -- Fiesta! This Emmy-Award-winning Spanish guitar and dance spectacular features an international cast of musicians and dancers in stunning costumes. Armed with his Spanish guitar, Benise will take the audience on a musical adventure through Spanish flamenco, Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, Parisian waltz, exotic drumming, and more. The touring show comes to Olympia for a 7 p.m. performance Sunday, Aug. 6, at the Washington Center for the Performing Art, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets range from $95 to $39 plus a service fee.
Tour the Bigelow House Museum: The historic Bigelow House Museum at 918 Glass Ave. NE in Olympia is open for regular escorted tours on the first and second Sundays of the month at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. For more information about tours, tickets and membership, visit olympiahistory.org or email bigelowhousemuseum@gmail.com.
Scherler Sundays Free Summer Concert Series: Head to the backside of the old Carnegie Library at 620 Franklin St. SE in downtown Olympia for a free outdoor concert series sponsored by Scherler Beer at 3 p.m. each Sunday through Aug. 13. This Sunday’s show will feature Chance of Ghosts, XOHNO and Morgan & the Organ Donors. The events are family friendly and include an interview of the performers by Markly Morrison with the podcast Low Profile. There is limited seating, but lawn chairs are welcome. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
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.