Catch a beer fest, outdoor music and a movie, or two local plays before it’s too late
Raise a glass
Beer aplenty — including ample non-alcoholic offerings — will be on tap at the South Sound Beer Fest, happening Saturday, July 26, at Three Magnets Brewing Co., 600 Franklin St. SE, Olympia. The fest, with live music by the Low Wires, The Proffits and Lonesome Bramble, showcases beers, ciders and meads made by local breweries, with a few options from further north. There’ll be least 10 of Three Magnets’ own alcohol-free Self Care beers available. There’ll also be food available from O.G.’s Smokehouse Barbecue and Citra Pizza. The fest is open to all ages, and dogs are welcome. Tickets ($29 plus a 15% gratuity) include 10 5-ounce tastes and a commemorative glass.
Catch shows before they close
There’s been much ado about Harlequin Productions’ “Rent” and Animal Fire Theatre’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” both of which have been delighting audiences this month. If you’ve been putting off catching Jonathan Larsen’s Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical or William Shakespeare’s magical comedy, dawdle no more: Both productions are wrapping up their runs on Sunday, July 27.
Remaining performances of “Rent” are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the State Theater, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Regular tickets are $43-58; tickets for VIP tables, which include a meal, are $120; and tickets to stand on stage are $15. For the July 26 performance, pay what you choose.
“Midsummer” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 25-27, in Wonderwood Park, 5304 32nd Ave. SE, Lacey. (The performance space is near the tennis courts.) Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Chairs, blankets and picnics are all good ideas, and insect repellent is essential.
Catch a Wave in Lacey
Lacey is aiming for good vibrations on Friday, July 27, when its Music and Movies lineup begins with Beach Boys tribute band Catch a Wave. The Los Angeles-based Wave, which performed at the California Beach Boys state landmark dedication ceremony in 2005, was part of the annual Lacey in Tune series in 2024, when it was the opening act for Disney’s “Moana,” an animated adventure set in Polynesia. This time around, Wave is paired with “Moana 2,” in which the intrepid adventurer is tasked with raising a legendary island that has sunk to the bottom of the sea. The music begins at 7 p.m. in Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, and the movie follows at dusk. Food trucks will be on hand beginning at 6 p.m.
Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks with DJ Kevin the Brit about what’s happening around town on KGY-FM’s “Oly in a Can,” airing at 2 p.m. Fridays.