What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Jan. 12
Samba Olywa dance workshop in preparation for Procession of the Species: Guest instructor Donna DonnaMation Pongetti, who has choreographed for Samba Olywa before, will teach a dance set to the Samba Reggae rhythm. All are welcome at this workshop, and no pre-registration is necessary. Dancers should wear good supportive shoes, and be ready to sweat. The workshop will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the Eagles Grand Ballroom at Fourth and Plum streets in downtown Olympia. Tuition for the workshop is $5-$15, on a sliding scale. Teaching begins promptly at 5 pm, and all participants should arrive early to check in. Live music will be provided by Samba Olywa drummers. The new dance will be used in Samba Olywa’s routine for Procession of the Species in April.
Monday, Jan. 13
Legislative session begins: State lawmakers will arrive in Olympia to kick off Washington’s 2025 legislative session. It’ll be 105 days from Jan. 13 to April 27. The long session will include budget writing, policy making, public hearings, lobby days and rallies. The Legislature must write a state budget for the next two years before they adjourn, and they are facing a projected $10 billion to $12 billion budget hole that will require cuts, deferred programs or new taxes.
Tuesday, Jan. 14
Christian Women’s Connection “Happy New Year” Luncheon: This luncheon will be at noon Tuesday at Panorama in The Gallery next to Seventeen51 Restaurant & Bistro, 1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey. Rae-Anne Tooth, from Re-Max NW Realty, will talk about the benefits of staging a home to sell well. Pastor Josh Young will sing. Pat Martinelli, from Everett, will present a talk on “Shooting Stars”. Lunch will be vegetable quiche, green salad and raspberry sorbet. The $22 cost includes lunch. Call Sylvia for reservations at 360-791-4698 or 360-943-0627.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
Inauguration of Gov. Bob Ferguson: Bob Ferguson will be sworn in as governor of Washington state at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Capitol. The inauguration will be broadcast on TVW and streamed at tvw.org.
Inaugural Ball: The Thurston County Chamber is hosting the Governor’s Inaugural Ball starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the Capitol Campus. The event is open to the public, and general admission tickets are still available for $150. Festivities will be spread across the Capitol Campus but centered at the Legislative Building. The ball will feature toasts, official introductions and entertainment. Organizers are expecting about 3,000 guests. More information can be found at wastategovball.org.
Rally for Tahlequah: The loss of orca Tahlequah’s newest calf, who passed away on New Year’s Eve, marks another heartbreak in the story of the Southern Resident orcas of Puget Sound. This rally will be a call for action to save the endangered orcas and the salmon they depend on, including breaching the dams that block spawning grounds. Join the rally at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. Captain Paul Watson, founder The Captain Paul Watson Foundation, is organizing the event.
Housing Instability -- A Solutions Forum: The League of Women Voters, NAACP, and Olympia for All (a coalition of 14 community organizations) have joined together to sponsor this forum to focus on solutions to reducing housing instability in Thurston County. Housing instability is experienced when renters pay more than 30% of their monthly income toward rent. It puts renters throughout Thurston County at risk of becoming houseless, creates employment instability, and induces mental health issues for adults and youth. Housing instability now affects 54% of renters in Thurston County (Thurston Regional Planning Council). A panel representing the housing industry, affordable housing providers, state lawmakers, and advocates for social housing will discuss the work they are doing and the policies they would propose to reduce housing instability and strengthen Thurston County communities. A Q&A session with audience participants will follow the panelist presentations. The forum runs from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Capital Event Center for ESD 113, 6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater.
The Pack Drumline: What started as an after-school program for at-risk youth is now the official drumline of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks. And the company, which has appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” tours internationally, too. The Pack will stop in Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for a 7 p.m. show at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. The Seahawks Blue Thunder drumline will open the show. Tickets are $26-$66.
Thursday, Jan. 16
See the original Washington state Constitution document: The Washington State Archives will display the original 1889 Constitution of the State of Washington outside of the bronze doors of the House Chamber in the Legislative Building on the Capitol Campus from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. Representatives from the Washington State Archives will be on hand to answer questions about the document. The Washington State Patrol will escort the state constitution from the archives, remain with the document at the Capitol, and escort it back to the vault. Outreach archivist Benjamin Helle has a busy day on Thursday. The House Journal, a record of activity in the territorial House of Representatives from 1854 to 1857, will first be on display in the House chamber press table starting at 10 am. Helle will answer questions about it from the legislators and their staff. Public can view those proceedings from the gallery. Then Helle will prepare the Constitution for display starting at 12:30 pm. While on display, the document will be protected by a special glass case inside a display and guarded by a Washington state trooper. The document was created in 1889 by 75 delegates who worked to draft a constitution that would allow Washington statehood. On Nov. 11, 1889, President William Henry Harrison approved the state constitution, and Washington became the 42nd state to be admitted into the U.S.
Intro to Machine Sewing: Head to the Lacey Library meeting room from 5-7 p.m. for an introduction to basic sewing with a machine. The course will go over the functions of the machine, safety, and helpful tools. After the demonstration, a limited number of sewing machines will be available for use. Arrive on time to get a sewing spot! Those who arrive in time to get a sewing machine spot can bring their own project, or work on a simple project provided by the library. All supplies provided. The class is for those 15 and older. If you’d like to bring your own machine from home to work on, please make arrangements by emailing nbell@trl.org. The class is free.
Friday, Jan. 17
An Evening Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy: Dr. Thelma Jackson will be the keynote speakers at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. event hosted by the Thurston Group of Washington State and South Puget Sound Community College starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Minnaert Center for the Performing Arts on SPSCC’s Olympia campus, 2011 Mottman Road SW. Admission is free. Jackson, a distinguished leader and equity advocate, will deliver the keynote address, “Answering the Call to Greatness,” on behalf of the NAACP of Thurston County. Drawing from over five decades of experience, she will offer insights on civic engagement, justice, and community advocacy. The evening will conclude with an audience dialogue on building a stronger, more inclusive Thurston County.
What does racial healing look like to you? The City of Olympia invites you to share your vision through an community art project for the National Day of Racial Healing on Jan. 21. Submit a drawing, painting, or poem on a 3.5-inch-by5-inch card by Jan. 17 to be part of a special display at City Hall. Email submissions to DEI@ci.olympia.wa.us or drop them off at Olympia City Hall (ATTN: Keli Drake), 601 Fourth Ave. E. Learn more at www.DayofRacialHealing.org
Saturday, Jan. 18
Kevin Nealon live in Olympia: “Saturday Night Live” alumni Kevin Nealon will bring his global stand-up comedy tour to Olympia for an 8 p.m. Saturday show at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $35 general admission or $50-$60 for reserved seats in the front rows, with discounts for Olympia Film Society members.
Southern Hemisphere Summer Celebration at WET Science Center: Tired of winter in the Northwest? Come celebrate summer in the southern hemisphere! Take a quick trip to the other half of the world and get a taste of summer spirit as you craft a parade mask, design a sick surfboard, and more. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and fun for all ages, at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams. St. NE, Olympia.
Best Books of 2024 discussion: Join local librarians on a tour of the year’s best fiction, nonfiction, and cookbooks — and share some of your favorites! Light refreshments will be provided at the event from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia. Admission is free.
Sunday, Jan. 19
The Aluminum Show: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is hosting this unique show that brings music, artists and aluminum together on stage in a combination of visual theater, dance, and humor. This is the story of one man’s incredible journey to a parallel universe — a futuristic planet made entirely of aluminum. Aluminum pipes come to life before the audience’s eyes, transforming into imaginary, mysterious, and playful characters. The show is suitable for all ages and languages. Tickets are $39 to $74. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening calendar? 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 January 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM.