Thurston County Fair is the headliner this weekend, but there’s theater, park fun too
All’s fair in Thurston County
Join the festivities already in progress at the Thurston County Fair, continuing through Sunday, July 30. In addition to carnival rides and the kind of food the doctor recommends you only eat a few times a year, the county fair boasts baking contests (cookies July 28, berry pies July 29 and cupcakes July 30), animals raised as 4H projects (market sale July 29) and opportunities for dogs to show their stuff (obstacle course July 29). The fair even has daily egg-on-a-spoon races. The fair — at the fairgrounds at 3054 Carpenter Road SE in Lacey — is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 27; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 30. Tickets are $5-$7; children 5 and younger are admitted free.
Happy birthday, West Central Park
West Central Park, Olympia’s nonprofit community park, is celebrating its first decade with a party Sunday, July 30. There’ll be popsicles, beverages, bubbles, streamers and music by surf-inspired combo the Jacked Lords at the free party, happening from 2 to 4 p.m. in the park at 1919 Division St. NW, Olympia. “The wonderful Jacked Lords … present a colorful concoction of their own take on surf music as well as related tunes with an upbeat and happy vibe,” said Thea LaCross, who’s on the park’s board. “We love them.“ The park has plenty to celebrate, including a weekly Saturday market and regular warm-weather concerts, and it’s also in need of some assistance, LaCross said. “Like many small local nonprofits, we are hurting for volunteers and especially need community members willing to serve on our board of trustees,” she said. “We totally rely on volunteers — no staff.”
Catch ’em before they close
Who says summer is a slow season for theater? There are three plays happening right now — and all three are in their closing weekends, so if you’ve been procrastinating, it’s time to jump. Harlequin Productions “Falsettos,” a Tony-winning musical about a complicated family, has been extended through Sunday, July 30, at the State Theater, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Tickets are $33-$50. Bonus: The theater is air-conditioned, so you can watch the characters play baseball and tennis while you sit back and chill out. If you’d rather sit outdoors and pack a picnic, you have two options. Animal Fire Theatre’s creative take on Shakespeare’s political drama “Measure for Measure” is wrapping up its run with performances at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 28-30, at the Water Garden on the East Capitol Campus. (Look for it just south of the pedestrian bridge.) Like all Animal Fire shows, the production is free, with donations welcome. Or catch String and Shadow Puppet Theater’s fantastical “Ship of Fools,” an all-ages-friendly romp filled with clowns and puppets, wraps up its Olympia run with shows at 6:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 28-30, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at Calliope Farm, 1335 Overhulse Road NW, Olympia. A $20 donation is suggested; no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Freelance writer Molly Gilmore strongly suggests you take in all three shows if you haven’t seen them yet and maybe revisiting at least one if you have. She talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.
This story was originally published July 27, 2023 at 5:00 AM.