What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Aug. 24
Washington State Garlic Festival: This annual celebration of the stinking rose runs through Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, 1909 S. Gold St., Centralia. You can buy from garlic growers, gardening vendors and artisan vendors; taste garlic-inspired dishes, snacks, and treats; hear live music; and watch cooking demonstrations. Adult admission for those 13 and older is $7; kids get in free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Slow Food Greater Olympia’s Biking Garden Tour: Sign up for a biking garden tour. Bike a five-mile loop, stopping at three gardens of current and past Slow Food board members who will show you around their growing spaces. The tour runs from 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Fee is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers; registration fee includes a scoop of Sofie’s Scoop’s gelato at the final garden. The group will meet at a location on the west side of Olympia, go over the route and safety rules, and bike in a group to each garden. There will be a tour of the gardens at each location. At the final location, the group will socialize and enthuse about vegetables, fruits, and flowers.
Equality Day at the Bigelow House: From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, visit the Bigelow House for a special event commemorating women’s voting rights. The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was certified in August 1920, empowering most women nationally to vote. However, 2025 marks the 115th Anniversary of women’s permanent voting rights in Washington state. The Bigelow House is on the National Votes for Women Trail —recognized for its role in women’s suffrage history. Join Sunday’s special tours with costumed docents, a musical presentation, refreshments and crafts. Admission is by donation. For more information, visit the Bigelow House website.
Monarch Sculpture Park community art project: Only 2 Sundays left to participate in the 2025 clay popup coral reef community art project. Every week participants learn about a new coral reef creature and its importance in the reef, then create it together out of clay. It is completely free and everyone of all ages and abilities can participate. The project takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Monarch Sculpture Park’s butterfly maze at 8431 Waldrick Road in Tenino.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
Rebecca Howard Park banner unveiling: The city of Olympia invites the community to a special celebration of art and community at Rebecca Howard Park. The event will feature the unveiling of a new banner for the park. Local artist Kay the Paint Lady has created a portrait of Rebecca Howard, which Shawna Hawk and The Women of Color in Leadership Movement have transformed into an 11-foot-by-12-foot banner. This mural-style banner will be displayed on the house at Rebecca Howard Park, marking a step forward in the park’s transformation. Please gather at 4 p.m. Aug. 26 at Rebecca Howard Park, 911 Adams St. SE, to celebrate this milestone. Questions? Contact sgiannob@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8020.
Friday, Aug. 29
Harbor Days returns: Olympia celebration of its maritime heritage is this weekend on the Budd Inlet waterfront. This free event is offered every Labor Day Weekend to showcase many of the vintage tugboats of the Puget Sound with a walk aboard show at the docks and races in the bay. Visitors to the event may also find tall ships, steamships, other historic vessels of 20th century commerce, tribal canoes, and current recreational small watercraft. Harbor cruises on Budd Bay are also offered. Hours will be 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Learn more on the Harbor Days website.
SPSCC Percival Choir Presents Earth Song: The South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Percival Choir will perform a concert titled Earth Song at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, on the Minnaert Center for the Arts’ main stage. The concert explores the waiting and yearning that lead to new growth, whether in body, soul, or mindset, and will include works by Flynn, Lauridsen, and Brahms. It will also feature the title piece, “An Earth Song” by Marques L. A. Garrett, with text by Langston Hughes. Admission is a suggested $15 donation at the door. Entrance is free to SPSCC students, staff, and faculty.
Community blood drive: The Briggs Community YMCA is hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross from 10 am to 3 pm at the Y at 1530 Yelm Highway SE, Olympia. Sign up on the Red Cross website.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Olympia Peace Choir free singing workshops: The Olympia Peace Choir, which is about to begin its 16th season, will present free singing workshops on Saturday, Aug. 30, for anyone in the community who wants to sing. The workshops will take place at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. No obligation, no registration necessary, and you can bring a friend. The workshop for tenor and baritone voices will be from 9 a.m. to noon; soprano, alto and contralto voices will sing from 1-4 pm. Find more information at www.theolympiapeacechoir.org and the group’s Facebook page.
Movies at the Marina presents “Shrek”: If you’re looking for free family-friendly fun, you’ll love the Port of Olympia’s Movies at the Marina outdoor movie events. Gather Saturday, Aug. 30, at Swantown Marina, alongside the Billy Frank Jr. Trail, south of the Marina Office at 1022 Marine Drive NE, Olympia, to see “Shrek.” Concessions are available for purchase.
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 August 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM.