What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, June 1

New Life Baptist Church celebrates 50 years: The Lacey area church invites the community to a celebration of its 50th anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, marking a milestone in the history of this area. The Rev. David L. Reaves leads the church at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE.

Wednesday, June 4

Civics 101 Workshop Series launches at the Olympia Timberland Library: Civics 101 is a nonpartisan interactive workshop series designed to demystify how government works and explore various methods and practical tools for engagement at the federal, state, and local level. Guest speakers will include representatives from the Secretary of State’s Office, state’s Open Data Program, Thurston County and the city of Olympia. There will be four events focused on different levels of government. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, the first session will focus on the federal government. The sessions will continue at the same time and day weekly, with June 11 on state government, June 18 on local government and a special trivia night June 24 at The Bus Stop, 107 Seventh Ave. SE. The Olympia Timberland Library is at 313 Eighth Ave.

Olympia & Beyond Sports Commission 2025 Sports Awards: This event will celebrate the local athletes, coaches, sports enthusiasts, influencers, and moments that make Thurston County a sports destination. The 2025 Sports Awards program will start at 5:30 p.m. on June 4, 2025, at South Puget Sound Community College’s Olympia campus in the Student Union Building. Doors will open at 5 p.m. There will be no ticket sales at the door this year, so get tickets in advance for $50 on eventbrite. The keynote speaker will be Dylan Ordonez of the Seattle Local Organizing Committee, who is helping bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 to Seattle,

Thursday, June 5

History Talk on Heritage Roses and the Centennial Rose Garden: Gather for this talk at noon Thursday, June 5, at the Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater. In 1988, The Centennial Rose Garden was completed on the grounds of the Schmidt House of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation. Following several years of work by the Olympia Rose Society, it was dedicated as a Washington Centennial Project in June 1989. It stands today as one of the very few Washington Centennial Projects still in existence. Nationally recognized rose expert Gary Ritchie will give a PowerPoint talk on the garden’s inception and construction and will feature many of the historical and modern roses in the garden. Weather permitting, the talk will be followed by a walk through the garden to enjoy flowers and memories. Attendance is free. Doors open at 11:30 am. First come, first seated until room capacity is reached.

Friday, June 6

First Friday $1 admission at the Hands On Children’s Museum: On June 6, from 4-8 p.m., kids can explore all the exhibits at the Hands On Children’s Museum for just $1 per person. The museum is at 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia. Timed entry tickets are available in advance.

Saturday, June 7

Parks Stewardship Volunteer Opportunity: Join the city of Olympia for an upcoming Parks Stewardship Volunteer Opportunity. Thanks to a microgrant from the American Hiking Society, the city is hosting its first National Trails Day Stewardship PRIDE Event to give the LGBTQIA2S+ community an opportunity to share their passion for environmental restoration while feeling safe and celebrated for who they are. During this family-friendly event, the group will remove English ivy and Himalayan blackberry from the wooded trails of Mission Creek Nature Park, 1700 San Francisco Ave. NE. Everyone is welcome. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments provided. Youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Learn more or sign up at Volunteer Olympia.

NAMI Thurston/Mason hosts second annual NAMIWalks: The local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will host this event on Saturday, June 7, at Thomas W. Huntamer Park in Lacey. This family-friendly event is more than a walk — it’s a celebration of connection, advocacy, and the progress being made in mental health support. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., walk begins at 10 a.m. All are welcome — friends, families, kids, and pets! Funds raised through NAMIWalks directly support free local programs, peer support groups, and mental health education and advocacy efforts. Participation is free, and everyone is encouraged to start a team, become a sponsor, or simply show up and walk. Register for NAMIWalks Thurston-Mason in advance or donate or become a sponsor.

Furniture Bank open: The nonprofit all-volunteer Thurston County Furniture Bank is open the first and third Saturdays of every month from 9 a.m. to noon at 2121 Log Cabin Road SE, Olympia. The Furniture Bank building is at the back of the parking lot. Donations of gently used furniture are accepted. Pick up of donations within a limited geographical area can be arranged but usually takes 3-4 weeks. Those looking for furniture are welcome. For further information, go to Furniture Bank of Thurston County.

WET Science Center examines Plentiful Plankton: Plankton may be tiny, but they play a huge role in the ocean ecosystem. Join the WET Science Center and the Puget Sound Estuarium to discover diverse plankton under a microscope, create beautiful plankton decorations, and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, 500 Adams NE, Olympia. Admission is free.

Free sports physicals for Olympia School District students: Free sports physicals will be offered on Saturday, June 7, for Olympia School District middle and high school students planning on participating in athletic programs during the 2025-26 school year. These sports physicals are open to all OSD students who will be enrolled in grades 7-12. A new physical examination is required to be on file with your student’s school every year for all student-athletes; they do not replace “well-child” checks conducted by family health care providers. The physicals will take place from 9 am to 3 pm in the Capital High School Gymnasium, 2707 Conger Ave. N.W. Please bring completed and signed copies of the Athletic Physical Examination Form; students can pick up a printed Physical Examination and History Form at the front or athletic offices of their school. Following the event, families will need to upload a photo or scanned copy of the completed Physical Examination to Final Forms.

Lacey Rotary Duck Dash: On Saturday, June 7, from 11 am to 4 pm at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, Lacey Rotary will host the 36th annual event that includes Duck Dash ticket raffle, music, kids area, vendors, car show, food, beer garden, and more. The raffle drawing will take place at 2 pm. Ducks are $10 each.

Lacey Block Party: SWAE Night Market and Everwild Events are kicking off summer with the Lacey Block Party, a free, all-ages event packed with food, live music, games, activities, and local vendors. The fun will run from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at 676 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, near Huntamer Park.

SPSCC Forevermore concert: Join the South Puget Sound Community College Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, conducted by Dr. John Guarente and Cameron May, for Forevermore, an evening of music that explores themes of resurrection, graduation, and seasons of life to come on Saturday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnaert Center for the Arts on SPSCC’s Olympia campus, 2011 Mottman Road SW. The program includes music by Gustav Mahler, Franz Liszt, and others, including the second performance of “Four Landscapes” by SPSCC alum Isaac Dorcy, based on the artwork of Danish painter Peder Mørk Mønsted. Admission is a suggested $15 donation at the door. Entrance is free to SPSCC students, staff, and faculty.

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.