What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, Oct. 27

Haki Farmers Collective Night Market: Close out the summer season and welcome autumn by supporting BIPOC farmers in the region. This night market features produce grown by the collective farmers. Haki means Justice in Swahili. The Haki Farmers collective seeks to bolster and reincorporate traditional and sustainable farming knowledge present in our migrant and indigenous communities. The market will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at New Traditions at Fifth and Water Street in downtown Olympia.

Spooky concert by Olympia Chamber Orchestra: The orchestra hosts its first concert of the season, “Faust & Fate,” at 2:30 pm Sunday at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center, 2707 Conger Ave. NW, Olympia. Experience the shadowy ambience of the Faust legend through two distinct lenses: Emilie Mayer’s dramatic Faust Overture and Charles Gounod’s enchanting Ballet Music from his opera, Faust. The program features other spooky music, including from Peter Josef von Lindpaintner’s Overture to Der Vampyr (The Vampire) to the powerful and immediately recognizable sound of fate in the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Be sure to wear your Halloween costume! Secure your tickets, which are $25 with discounts for seniors, students, military and children, at OlympiaChamberOrchestra.org.

Davis-Meeker Oak Cowlitz Trail Walk: Supporters of the Davis Meeker oak tree and Cowlitz Tribe elders are gathering at the oak tree at 1 p.m. Sunday to walk 2.7 miles on the path of the Cowlitz Trail/Oregon Trail. The walk ends next to a possible grave mound in a forest where one of the last known unpaved remnants of the Cowlitz Trail crosses through. The walk will pass by the old homestead of Tumwater pioneers George and Isabella Bush, who were among the first settlers to come to the south Puget Sound region after journeying on the Oregon Trail from Missouri. At the end of the walk on Sunday, attendees can expect food and a fire in the fire pit and are encouraged to bring camp chairs. The chairs will be ferried to the end while people are doing the walk. The Davis Meeker oak has been a trail marker on the Cowlitz Trail for hundreds of years; the trail is a traditional trading route that later became a spur of the Oregon Trail.

Tuesday, Oct. 29

Thurston County public hearing on the Grand Mound West UGA Expansion: The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to accept public comment on the Grand Mound West Urban Growth Area (UGA) Expansion, Land Use Plan, and Rezone Amendment at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 110 of the Atrium building at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia. The amendment is made up of two applicant-initiated amendments. The Black Lake Quarry applicant requests to rezone 66 acres from Rural Residential Resource to Light Industrial. The Wilmovsky applicant requests to rezone 29 acres from Rural Residential Resource to Residential — 4 to 16 dwelling units per acre. Both locations request the UGA be expanded to include their properties. You can view more detailed information about the proposal on the Thurston Planning website. You can also view the hearing online. Those wishing to testify should appear in person or connect virtually during the hearing. You may also submit written comments no later than noon Tuesday, Oct. 29 by sending an email to Amelia.Schwartz@co.thurston.wa.us or by sending mail to: Thurston County Community Planning & Economic Development, Attention: Amelia Schwartz, Associate Planner, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

Movie at the Library -- “The Company of Wolves”: Head to the Olympia Timberland Library for a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday special film screening with live score accompaniment! See the 1984 chiller “The Company of Wolves”, a gothic fantasy horror film based on a story by Angela Carter. Local DJ and musician Domenica Diavoleria will perform her own score alongside the film. Diavoleria’s albums will be available for purchase after the show. Admission is free.

Thursday, Oct. 31

Gov. Inslee and First Spouse Trudi Inslee host trick-or-treaters: Trick-or-treaters are invited to stop by the Governor’s Mansion for a basketball-themed Halloween from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Inslees are cheering for a SuperSonics Halloween. Trick-or-treaters are welcome to bring small bags for trick-or-treating, but no large backpacks. Open carry of weapons is prohibited at the state Capitol. Washington State Patrol troopers will be on site to ensure a safe trick-or-treat experience for all.

LoveOly Halloween Block Party: From 4-7 p.m. on Halloween, join the fun on Washington Street between Legion Way and Fifth Avenue in downtown Olympia. Enjoy a DJ, dancing, a raffle from the scavenger hunt, a free Captain Little photo booth, Lolli Lama Candy surprises, and more. Trick-or-treaters also are invited to participate in safe, family-friendly trick-or-treating at downtown shops offering treats from 4-7 p.m. on Halloween. For a list of 61 participating merchants, visit loveolydowntown.com.

2024 Second Half Property Taxes due: The deadline for Thurston County residents to pay their 2024 second half property taxes is Thursday, Oct. 31. Taxpayers have four options for paying: Pay online at www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/treasurer. There is no additional charge for the electronic check payment option on-line, but there is a 2.35% transaction fee for a major credit card payment and a flat fee of $3.95 for a VISA debit card payment. Pay by mail: Check or Money Order payments can be mailed to the Thurston County Treasurer, 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Mailed payments must be postmarked by Oct. 31. Pay by drop off: Payments can be dropped in the green outside drop box near the flag poles at 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia. Pay in person: Payments can be made in person at the Treasurer’s Office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If paying by credit card, there is a 2.35% transaction fee and a flat fee of $3.95 for a VISA debit card payment. As required by Washington state law, late fees will be charged for those who do not make their payment on time. For more information, call 360-786-5550 or email trsr@co.thurston.wa.us.

Olympia Garden Club meeting: This year, the club is celebrating 100 years of promoting gardening and floral design and serving the community. The October meeting will be on Thursday, Oct. 31, at the new meeting place: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. Visitors are welcome. Gathering begins around 9:30 a.m. with a social time and sales of plants donated by members. Meeting begins at 10 a.m. Garden Club member, author and certified landscape designer Vanessa Gardner Nagel will present the program “Spring Forward This Fall: Planning a Garden During the Quiet Season.” Members bring their own lunch for this meeting. Coffee and tea are provided. For more information about the club, visit www.olympiagardenclub.org.

St. John’s concert series Halloween event: At 6 p.m. Oct. 31, Steve O’Connor will play Halloween organ music, followed at 6:30 p.m. by a screening of “Nosferatu,” the 1922 silent movie with the soundtrack orchestral score by Hans Erdmann.

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services closed: Public Health and Social Services’ main office at 412 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, will be closed all day Thursday for an all-staff meeting, as will the Environmental Health office at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia. Regularly scheduled operations will resume as usual the following day, Friday, Nov. 1.

Friday, Nov. 1

Dia de los Muertos Altar Exhibition: Celebrate Day of the Dead at ASHHO Cultural Community Center in Tumwater. On Friday, Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m., you can immerse yourself in the beauty of colorful altars created by the ASHHO community, savor snacks and refreshments, and kids can catch a special showing of Disney’s “Coco” at 6:30 p.m. Want to create your own altar? Send an email to zazil@ashho.org. This free community event sponsored by Coordinated Care and is open to all, but RSVP to ensure there are plenty of treats for everyone. The altars will also be available to view during ASHHO’s Cultural Bazaar from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. ASHHO is at 5757 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater.

Center for Spiritual Living hosts musician: On Friday, Nov. 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, New Thought musician Jessie Powers brings her deep, inspiring, fun music to CSL Olympia, 3437 Libby Road NE, Olympia. She will have just played at the NextGen retreat (for young New Thought adults) the week before and heads for CSL Seattle the following Sunday. Take this opportunity to hear a powerful rising star. Admission is by a suggested offering of $25, or pay what you can.

Saturday, Nov. 2

Olympia’s Women’s March: Capital City Pride has organized this march to give women a platform to “stand up, speak out, and make history.” Participants will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Capitol steps to kick off with speeches from local people fighting for change. Then the group will march together to Heritage Park, where there will be live music to celebrate. Participants are encouraged to bring signs, as well as their voices and passion for justice, equality, freedom, and the rights of all women.

Precipitation Celebration at WET: It wouldn’t be the Pacific Northwest without rain, so why not celebrate it? Precipitation is what keeps this region so verdant and bursting with life. Enjoy crafts and games from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and join a 1 pm tour of LOTT’s wastewater treatment plant. Tour participants must be 10 or older and wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes. All ages are welcome to join the activities at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.

Sunday, Nov. 3

SOGO Fall Concert: This concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Washington Center of the Performing Arts kicks off SOGO’s 25th anniversary season, featuring its Conservatory, Philharmonic, and Academy orchestras as well as the Brass Choir. Experience Johannes Hanssen’s Valdres March, Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, conducted by Conservatory student Adeline Rice, and Florence Price’s Dances in the Canebrakes, featuring dancers from Ballet Northwest. Plus, hear Mark Thome’s inventive variations on America the Beautiful. The program of classical and contemporary compositions celebrates the talents of over 160 young musicians from across the South Sound region. Tickets are $8-24.

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.

This story was originally published October 26, 2024 at 12:00 PM.