What’s Happening for March 17

Today

Collecting or Hoarding? How to Identify When You’ve Crossed the Line: Elain Carroll, owner of Habitat for Your Sanity, will speak from 2:30-4 p.m. about how we acquire and maintain levels of stuff. Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center, 6757 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey. Information: 360-407-3967 or southsoundseniors.org.

Homes First fundraiser: The National Association of Professional Mortgage Women is sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day event to support Homes First and affordable rental housing in Thurston County. The event is 7-10 p.m. at Tugboat Annie’s, 2100 West Bay Drive NW, Olympia. Tickets are $25 or $45 per couple, call 360-753-5626 or 360-280-9690.

Olympia World Affairs Council: Problems in 21st Century China is the topic meeting featuring Karl Fields, professor at University of Puget Sound. Doors open at 7 p.m., program at 7:30 at Thurston Economic Development Council, South Puget Sound Community College, 4220 Sixth Ave. SE, Lacey. Information: Kris Gupta, 360-753-2428.

Sunshine Preschool Open House: Teachers will be on hand 5-7 p.m. to answer questions and give tours of the preschool classroom. Children can participate in art activities and explore classroom materials. At Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. Enrolling children 2 1/2 -5 years old. Information wpc.sunshine@gmail.com or 360-357-5750.

Saturday

Easter egg hunt: For kids age 10 and younger, 10:30 a.m. at Bayview Thriftway, 516 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia.

Capital Food and Wine Festival: The yearly nonprofit fundraiser features Washington wines, regional breweries, restaurant fare and music. It runs noon-9 p.m. at the Marcus Pavilion at Saint Martin’s University, 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey. Tickets are $15 at the door after 2 p.m. $10 when purchased in advance or at the door from noon-2. Tickets and info: capitalfoodandwinefestival.com.

Relay for Life fundraiser: Dinner and dancing with the Mud Bay Blues Band and Laura Lowe and special guests George Barner and Lanny Slater, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 2902 Martin Way E. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., spaghetti dinner hosted by Dirty Dave’s at 7, music and dancing at 8. $25 per person. All money raised supports the American Cancer Society. For reservations, call 360-280-3439.

Author Jerry Ramsey: photoIn his book, “Stealing Puget Sound: 1832-1869,” author Jerry V. Ramsey, Ph.D, exposes the political tension between the first British settlers and the U.S. Americanpioneers who crossed the Oregon Trail 15 years later. Ramsey will tell the story at the Tenino Timberland Regional Library on Saturday, March 19from 2-3:30 p.m., 172 Central Ave. W. Information: 360-264-2369.

Olympia Youth Chorus: "I Sing Because I'm Happy," 7 p.m., at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia. The show will feature the music of all five choirs: Dolce, Bel Canto, Coro Voce, Forza and Cantabile in an uplifting concert suitable for all ages, guaranteed to make you laugh and smile. Tickets are $20 for adults and seniors, $18 for children age 12 and under, and $10 for children under age 10, and are available at www.olytix.org or at the WCPA box office: 360-753-8586. Information: olympiayouthchorus.org.

New Orleans Style Celebration: A catfish dinner and music night is hosted by Olympia Elks Lodge #186, 1818 Fourth Ave. E. Dinner served at 6 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. For reservations, call 360-753-0186.

Sunday

Bubble Blow: Welcome spring to the South Sound with the 24th annual First Day of Spring Community Bubble Blow, from noon- 1 p.m., at “The Kiss” statue on Percival Landing. Bring your own bubbles and bubble wands or use ours.

Blintzapalooza: Blintzapalooza returns with bagels and blintzes and kicks off with a book sale at 9:30 a.m., at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 Eighth Ave. SE, in downtown Olympia. Bagels and blintzes will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual fundraiser for community charities took a year off, but is back bigger and better than ever in 2016. This year's proceeds will be split between three charitable projects: ROOF Community Services, Emergency Overnight Shelter and South Sound Parent to Parent. Special this year: a cheesecake bakeoff. Information: 360-701-3164

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 6:26 AM with the headline "What’s Happening for March 17."