What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Oct. 8
Oysterfest in Shelton: The West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington Seafood Festival is set for the first full weekend of October. There’s plenty of seafood and fair favorite fare, family friendly activities, live music, Pacific Northwest microbrews and wines to go with the shucking competitions. The Shelton Skookum Rotary hosts this event, which continues from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 per day, with kids 12 and younger admitted free and discounts for active-duty military. The event is held at the Port of Shelton Airport’s Sanderson Field, a half-mile north of Shelton, west of US Highway 101, at 250 W. Sanderson Way. Parking is free and Mason Transit will operate a shuttle within the parking lots. There also is free shuttle service from the Kamilche Transit Center at Little Creek Casino, Shelton Matlock Park & Ride and Olympic College’s Shelton Campus.
Sammy Miller and the Congregation: Music group Sammy Miller and The Congregation are on a mission, crisscrossing the country like a vaudevillian revival show, to celebrate the music of 1973 on its 50th anniversary. The seven-piece band is led by Juilliard trained and Grammy-nominated drummer Sammy Miller. Since the band’s inception, the Congregation has played nonstop all over the world including Lincoln Center, The White House, and the Newport Jazz Festival. Hear them at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $56 to $25.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Welcome to Medicare In Person Presentation: This gathering at 11 a.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia NE, is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare supplements, and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. For more information, email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134.
Thursday, Oct. 12
Welcome to Medicare In Person Presentation: This gathering at 11:30 a.m. at the HUB in Belfair is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare supplements, and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. For more information, email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134.
Medicare-related cost savings programs Zoom presentation: This online program at 1 p.m. will cover Medicare Basics, the Medicare Savings Program, the Extra Help Program and wellness and preventative benefits available through Medicare coverage. To get a link, email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134. A registration link will be sent to you.
Friday, Oct. 13
Apple Tree Productions 10th anniversary Fall Festival: This celebration for the children’s theater company will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the South Bay Grange, 3918 Sleater Kinney Road NE, with performances by Second Act Productions, pumpkins from Ashley Creek Farms, games, trunk or treating, costume contest, face painting, live performances and more. There also will be a raffle offering a grand prize of free Apple Tree tuition. Entry is $5, with kids 2 and younger getting in free.
Taylor Swift’s Eras on the big screen: Cinemark theater complexes will host the premiere of the “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” concert film on Friday, Oct. 13. The theaters will have specially themed popcorn tubs and exclusive foil design cups, iridescent popcorn, and free mini-posters while supplies last. The Cinemark theater in Thurston County is Cinemark Century Olympia at the Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW. Visit the Cinemark website for showtimes and ticket prices.
Six Appeal performs a cappella: Six Appeal has been described as a vocal ensemble, a comedy group, and a rock band, all in one complete show. The a cappella group performs classic oldies, current chart toppers, and catchy original tunes. They perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $57 to $27.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Orca Recovery Day 2023: Thurston Conservation District will hold its 6th annual Orca Recovery Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Squaxin Park, 2600 East Bay Drive NE, Olympia. Join the district and the City of Olympia for a region-wide day of action to support Southern Resident Orcas by removing non-indigenous plants from Squaxin Park and replacing them with native species. The event is one of more than 40 events across Washington state. The Southern Resident orcas that call the Salish Sea home are critically endangered, with only about 70 members left in the wild. The three main threats to their recovery are contaminants in the water, vessel noise and disturbance, and lack of their primary food, Chinook salmon. Individual event details can be found at BetterGround.org/ord where people and organizations can sign up for these family friendly events.
Tumwater Craft District opening event: The new Market Building in the Tumwater Craft District is opening, and to celebrate, it is hosting an event from 2-6 p.m. Saturday. Stop by the venue at 4242 Capitol Blvd. SE, Tumwater, to visit all the businesses and enjoy food, drinks, games, live music, and a beer garden. Open to all ages. Tenants in the new building include the Olympia Seafood Co., Sweetlee’s Ice Cream, Kluh Art Gallery, Finn River Farm & Cidery, Mount Olympus Brewing, Percival Creek, and Tumwater Taco Co.
Delphi Craft & Swap Meet: The monthly Craft & Swap Meet is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the McLane Grange, 931 Delphi Road SW, Olympia. Vendors will sell new, pre-owned and vintage treasures, including household goods, handcrafted wood yard art and Halloween decorations, jewelry, fabric art, Tastefully Simple culinary delights, plants and planters, Avon products, chalk paste inspirational art signs, Scentsy candles and warmers, wildlife photography, and buttons. Proceeds from the bake sale go to families in need. Ample parking available. Please bring extra egg cartons and grocery bags for the Food Bank collection.
2023 South Sound Clam Chowder Challenge: Lacey Hawks Prairie Rotary invites the community to their fundraiser, the 2nd Annual South Sound Clam Chowder Competition, from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the Lacey Community Center in Woodland Creek Community Park, 6729 Pacific Ave. SE. Early tickets are $25 online or $30 at the door; kids 12 and younger get in free with a paid adult ticket. A ticket gets you 12 chowder tastes and a chance to vote for the best chowder in Thurston County. (Must be 18 years old or older to vote.) The competitors include River’s Edge, Fire Creek Grill, The Cove, Budd Bay Cafe, Beau Legs, Uptown Grill, Indian Summer, Sidewalk Cafe, Lacey Rotary, Hawks Prairie Rotary and Jubilee Neighbors. Heavy appetizer stations will serve hot dogs, bratwurst and grilled cheese.
Masterworks Choral Ensemble’s Fall Festival: Head to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday to experience the joy of live choral music. Masterworks will sing seasonal autumn music under the leadership of its new artistic director Ben Luedcke, and the choral group also is welcoming dozens of new members. Ticket prices range from $24 to $12 on the Washington Center website. The center is at 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia.
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. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.