Olympia Events Calendar

The ThurstonTalk Events Calendar shares things to do around Thurston County including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino and beyond. Find fun activities and adventures throughout the region on our comprehensive events calendar. Have an event that isn’t listed? Click the green “Post your Event” button and our editors will review and approve within two business days.

Agenda
Agenda
April – June 2024 Apr – Jun 2024
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Apr
24
Wed
Puget Sound Estuarium Benefit Auction @ Online Auction April 19th-April 26th 10:00pm
Tickets
Apr 24 all-day
Puget Sound Estuarium Benefit Auction @ Online Auction April 19th-April 26th 10:00pm

The Estuarium Benefit Auction is back!

Join us for The Estuarium’s Annual Benefit Auction starting April 19th! Your bids directly support our programs, enabling us to offer scholarships for summer camps and provide discounted admission to low-income families.

This year, our auction will be hosted online, making it convenient for you to participate from anywhere. But mark your calendars for April 26th when we’ll host an Open House. Here, you can view auction items in person, place bids, enjoy surf rock tunes by the Jacked Lords, and light refreshments.

Get ready for a preview of incredible items generously donated by individuals, artisans, and local businesses. Stay tuned for more details and sneak peeks, and seize this opportunity to support our mission while snagging something special for yourself!

AUCTION DATES
Bidding open online: April 19th, 10:00AM – April 26th, 10:00PM
Auction Open House and Arts Walk: Friday, April 26th, 6:00PM – 9:00PM
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Categories: Education Family Events Kids Outdoor Recreation Volunteer and Community Enrichment
Celebration of the Species: Oysters!! @ Olympia Timberland Library
Tickets
Apr 24 @ 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
Celebration of the Species: Oysters!! @ Olympia Timberland Library

We are celebrating the return of Olympia’s Procession of the Species with a special program about Oysters!!

Get to know the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved bivalve: the oyster. In this talk, author David George Gordon discusses three species— the Olympia, Eastern, and Pacific oysters— along with the people who have cultivated these delicacies for many generations. Learn about the Native American sea gardens and clam beds that existed 11,500 years ago, as well as the contemporary efforts in our state to cultivate oysters, both native and introduced. Along the way, learn about the many surprising innovations that have made oysters such an enduringly popular and environmentally sustainable food. As the old saying goes: when the tide is out, the table is set.

This event is sponsored by Humanities Washington.

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Categories: Adult Focused Events Education Workshops, Classes and Lectures
Apr
25
Thu
Puget Sound Estuarium Benefit Auction @ Online Auction April 19th-April 26th 10:00pm
Tickets
Apr 25 all-day
Puget Sound Estuarium Benefit Auction @ Online Auction April 19th-April 26th 10:00pm

The Estuarium Benefit Auction is back!

Join us for The Estuarium’s Annual Benefit Auction starting April 19th! Your bids directly support our programs, enabling us to offer scholarships for summer camps and provide discounted admission to low-income families.

This year, our auction will be hosted online, making it convenient for you to participate from anywhere. But mark your calendars for April 26th when we’ll host an Open House. Here, you can view auction items in person, place bids, enjoy surf rock tunes by the Jacked Lords, and light refreshments.

Get ready for a preview of incredible items generously donated by individuals, artisans, and local businesses. Stay tuned for more details and sneak peeks, and seize this opportunity to support our mission while snagging something special for yourself!

AUCTION DATES
Bidding open online: April 19th, 10:00AM – April 26th, 10:00PM
Auction Open House and Arts Walk: Friday, April 26th, 6:00PM – 9:00PM
Read more
Categories: Education Family Events Kids Outdoor Recreation Volunteer and Community Enrichment
Machining Technologies Open House @ SPSCC Lacey Campus Building 3
Tickets
Apr 25 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Machining Technologies Open House @ SPSCC Lacey Campus Building 3

SPSCC Invites Community to Machining Technologies Open House

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) invites the community to its upcoming Machining Technologies Open House. The event will be held on Thursday, April 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. in Building 3 of SPSCC’s Lacey Campus.

The Open House welcomes makers, creators, and problem solvers who have a passion for working with their hands, machines, and advanced computer software. Attendees will have the chance to learn firsthand how graduates from SPSCC’s Machining Technology program are making a difference by crafting products such as surgical equipment, aerospace components, satellites, prosthetics, and more.

The agenda for the Open House includes:

  1. Welcome and Introduction – 1 p.m.
  2. Program Spotlight and Shop Tours – 1:30 p.m. and ongoing
  3. Resource Fair and Activities with Machines – available throughout the event
  4. Food will also be provided

Attendees can also look forward to exciting giveaways, including machine products, keychains, tops, fridge magnets, bottle openers, SPSCC merch, and more!

With a variety of local industry connections and entrepreneurial opportunities, the Machining Technologies Open House is the perfect place to start building a successful career and future. To RSVP, visit the college’s Program Spotlight webpage.

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Categories: Education Family Events
Apr
26
Fri
Puget Sound Estuarium Benefit Auction @ Online Auction April 19th-April 26th 10:00pm
Tickets
Apr 26 @ 12:00 am – 10:00 pm
Puget Sound Estuarium Benefit Auction @ Online Auction April 19th-April 26th 10:00pm

The Estuarium Benefit Auction is back!

Join us for The Estuarium’s Annual Benefit Auction starting April 19th! Your bids directly support our programs, enabling us to offer scholarships for summer camps and provide discounted admission to low-income families.

This year, our auction will be hosted online, making it convenient for you to participate from anywhere. But mark your calendars for April 26th when we’ll host an Open House. Here, you can view auction items in person, place bids, enjoy surf rock tunes by the Jacked Lords, and light refreshments.

Get ready for a preview of incredible items generously donated by individuals, artisans, and local businesses. Stay tuned for more details and sneak peeks, and seize this opportunity to support our mission while snagging something special for yourself!

AUCTION DATES
Bidding open online: April 19th, 10:00AM – April 26th, 10:00PM
Auction Open House and Arts Walk: Friday, April 26th, 6:00PM – 9:00PM
Read more
Categories: Education Family Events Kids Outdoor Recreation Volunteer and Community Enrichment
Puget Sound Estuarium Open House @ Puget Sound Estuarium
Tickets
Apr 26 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Puget Sound Estuarium Open House @ Puget Sound Estuarium

Join us for a Benefit Auction Open House during Olympia Arts Walk! Our Annual Benefit Auction will be held online from April 19th to 26th, ending in an Open House to allow our supporters to view and make their final bids on a variety of tempting donations from local business, partners, and artists!

Admission to the Estuarium will be FREE during this event, so guests can meet our tank animals, enjoy light refreshments, participate in arts and crafts, and support the Estuarium! Not only that, the surf rock band the Jacked Lords will be playing outside of the Estuarium from 6:30-8:30pm!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the numerous donors whose generosity fuels the Estuarium’s mission and enriches our community. Discover more about this extraordinary event by visiting the link provided HERE.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of art, community, and support!

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Categories: Education Family Events Non-profit Fundraising Events Outdoor Recreation
Apr
27
Sat
The Power of Stories @ WET Science Center
Tickets
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Power of Stories @ WET Science Center

Storytelling is a fundamental part of being human. Stories connect us to our past, help us empathize with others, let us imagine possibilities, and so much more. We all have stories to tell, and we’ve got just the activities to help you get started! Tell a story with us through puppet-making and storytelling games.

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Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Tags: WET Science Center
GROWL Hall of Fame Dinner & Auction @ SPSCC Student Union Building
Tickets
Apr 27 @ 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Come support OHS athletics at the annual G.R.O.W.L dinner and auction!  Bid on items generously donated to the silent and live auctions, enjoy dinner, get an update on current OHS athletics, and honor this year’s Hall of Fame inductees:

Rockey Isley – Lifetime Achievement Award

Mike Ramsey (Track)- Class of 1980

Stefani (Bouchele) Smith (Soccer) -Class of 1988

Maureen Webb (Soccer) – Class of 1990

Adam Conley (Baseball) – Class of 2008

 

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Categories: Education Family Events Food & Beverage Non-profit Fundraising Events Sports
Apr
28
Sun
Urban Birding Tour @ Meet at Puget Sound Estuarium
Tickets
Apr 28 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Urban Birding Tour @ Meet at Puget Sound Estuarium

Urban Birding with the Estuarium is a great adventure for beginner to intermediate birders! Journey through downtown Olympia and along the waterfront to spot a diverse array of local and migrating bird species. You’ll learn to identify birds, about local restoration efforts, and contribute to citizen science by recording bird sightings. Tours meet at the entrance to the Estuarium at 9 am and the trip lasts for two hours. Registration includes the option to borrow binoculars, a local bird checklist, and as a bonus, enjoy free admission to the Estuarium! Through May, we’re also featuring a bird exhibit with specimens on loan from the Puget Sound Museum of Natural History.

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Categories: Education Family Events Outdoor Recreation
Touch A Truck and Spaghetti Lunch @ Garfield Elementary School
Tickets
Apr 28 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
    • ​​Touch a Truck – 12 – 3 PM. Sensory friendly time 12:00 – 12:30 PM – no lights, sirens or horns. Join Garfield Elementary PTA, City of Olympia Public Works, Parks Arts & Recreation, Police, Fire, Thurston County Sheriff’s Dive Team, and WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife for a FREE hands on look at their big rigs. Sit in the driver’s seat of police cars, dump trucks, hydro excavators, dive boats, and more! All ages welcome!
    • Spaghetti Lunch  – 12 – 2 PM. Join Garfield PTA for a Spaghetti Lunch fundraiser in the Garfield Cafeteria during the Touch a Truck event. Spring fundraiser donations are appreciated at this event! Lunch is sponsored by Olive Garden.
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Categories: Education Family Events Food & Beverage Local Government Non-profit Fundraising Events
2nd Annual Boutique Clothing Swap @ The Olympia Ballroom
Tickets
Apr 28 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Swapping is the new shopping! According to the British Fashion Council, there are enough clothes on the planet right now to dress the next six generations of the human race!? So, pull out those items from your closet that are still in fabulous condition and bring them to our clothing swap boutique! Bring clean and good condition 5-10 items of clothing/bags/purses/jewelry (NO shoes) and you’ll get to take home 5-10 new to you items. We’ll have drinks and snacks and music, dressing rooms and mirrors and a photo station for some fun selfies with friends. There will be education about fast fashion, garment worker rights, fashion pollution and how you can volunteer in your community with the Olympia Surfrider Foundation. Plus, JR from Tailor’s Ring Vintage will be available for appointments to alter any great swaps you find. Clothes arent made for us, we sometimes have to make them fit, so JR can do those alterations for you! Thank you for being the change in this fashion revolution!
Thank you to Compass Rose Shop Olympia for helping sponsor!
Thank you to Lark Boutique, Hot Toddy, Tailors Ring Vintage & The Window vintage for helping make the event cooler than your average swap! We support small business and remember to shop local when you can!
*Thank you for paying the little bit extra to cover the Eventbrite costs On your ticket

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Categories: Adult Focused Events Education Non-profit Fundraising Events Volunteer and Community Enrichment Tags: @olysurfrider #olysurfrider #plasticpollutes #volunteer #clothingswap #shopsecondhand #sustainablefashion #whomademyclothes #buylesschoosewell #fashionrevolution
May
4
Sat
Water Experiments @ WET Science Center
Tickets
May 4 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Water Experiments @ WET Science Center

Water is an essential part of everyday life, but it also has many mysterious properties that have intrigued scientists for ages. Through an assortment of hands-on experiments, we’ll be exploring some fascinating aspects of this familiar substance.

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Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Tags: WET Science Center
May
7
Tue
Lacey South Sound Chamber Military Affairs Meeting @ O'Blarney's Irish Pub and Restaurant
Tickets
May 7 @ 8:00 am

We work to enhance communications and business opportunities between the Thurston County business community and local military installations and units.

Representatives from various units on JBLM, the National Guard and Reserve Forces provide an update on their ongoing activities and current events.  If you want to take the opportunity to develop relationships with our local military individuals and be aware of their activities, please consider attending the meeting.

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Categories: Adult Focused Events Education Everyday Tags: lacey Military public meetings
Join us for our inaugural Olympia Reads!! @ Capital High School Performing Arts Center
Tickets
May 7 @ 6:00 pm
Join us for our inaugural Olympia Reads!! @ Capital High School Performing Arts Center

Book lovers across Olympia prepare yourself because you are in for a treat. The Olympia School District is proud to announce the inaugural year of Olympia Reads!! The mission of this event, made possible through funding set aside in this year’s school board budget, is to excite readers of all ages by connecting them with published authors and illustrators. Olympia Reads!! is proud to partner with Timberland Regional Library and the Olympia Education Foundation in bringing this enriching literary event to our community.

Mark your calendars for May 7, 2024, as we gather at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center to celebrate Olympia Reads!! with author Christine Day.

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Categories: Author Talks & Book Signings Education Family Events Kids
Washington Agate Mineral Society (WAMS) monthly meeting @ First Baptist Church of Lacey
Tickets
May 7 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

The monthly meeting of the Washington Agate and mineral club is the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00. WAMS was established in Olympia in 1937. It is the oldest nonprofit gem and mineral club in Washington state.
Club meetings include demonstrations and informative presentations about rocks and minerals. There is a show and tell for members to share their favorite specimens and lapidary work. Light refreshments are served. Junior rockhounds meet from 6:30-7:15.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in rocks and minerals.
WAMS will gladly accept donations of rocks, minerals, fossils and lapidary equipment. All donations are offered for sale at our big July show at Oregon Trail Days in Tenino.
Proceeds go towards funding educational programs for children and adults.
If you would like to make a donation please contact us at wamsolympia@gmail.com or call Audrey at 315-941-8348.
Thank you and hope we see you soon!

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Categories: Education Tags: #children'sprograms #earthscience #lapidary #rockhounding
May
11
Sat
South Sound Dementia Conference @ Worthington Center at St. Martin's University
Tickets
May 11 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
South Sound Dementia Conference @ Worthington Center at St. Martin's University

The South Sound Dementia Conference is a gathering of healthcare professionals, caregivers, and individuals impacted by dementia.  This annual event will celebrate the fostering of an environment focused on learning, support, and advocacy.  Featuring experts in the field, a comprehensive agenda is planned which will include innovative and practical presentations.  Highlighting the many challenges faced by the dementia community, attendees will be presented with strategies to enhance quality of life while promoting inclusivity and advance care practices. Through collaboration and education, it aims to empower participants by paving the way for a future where dementia is met with understanding and compassion. 

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Categories: Adult Focused Events Business Networking Events Education Health and Wellness Volunteer and Community Enrichment Workshops, Classes and Lectures
A Day in the Life of Mama Birds @ WET Science Center
Tickets
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
A Day in the Life of Mama Birds @ WET Science Center

Mother birds work hard to raise their babies from eggs in the nest to fledglings taking flight. Follow the growth of a bird family through different activities, including nest building, bird feeding, and bird watching! *No live birds will be attending

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Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Tags: WET Science Center
May
16
Thu
The Aunties – Women of the Salish Sea, Episode 2 @ Washington Center Main Stage
Tickets
May 16 @ 7:30 pm
The Aunties – Women of the Salish Sea, Episode 2 @ Washington Center Main Stage

The Aunties – Women of the Salish Sea features stories by Native American and First Nations Matriarchs, told live from stage to be immortalized in an online series of shorts. The term Aunties is an honorific that signifies a woman or non-binary person who holds a place of significance and respect in their communities. This original Indigenous Performance Production features women and non-binary Aunties who have spent their lives dedicated to serving their communities through the creation of hope, opportunity and connection. The Aunties amplifies their life’s work through a once-in-a-lifetime event featuring traditional storytelling, theater and multimedia arts.

We pay tribute to Aunties and the important role they play in Indigenous communities-of which they have long been recognized as vital caretakers of its connection, tradition and cohesion. Through shared storytelling, Aunties provide a space for everyone to gather to collectively reflect on their pasts and shared identity, as they look for ways towards a better future. The Aunties are the Keepers of their Community. We celebrate them now, at an especially important time due to the loss of so many elders from Covid-19. As Native and Indigenous communities bear the burden of those lost including their leadership, guidance and connections, The Aunties honors their contributions and preserves their stories for future generations to come.

In Partnership with Indigenous Performance Productions

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Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Family Events Local History Theater Performances
May
18
Sat
Take Flight! @ WET Science Center
Tickets
May 18 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Take Flight! @ WET Science Center

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a kite! Join us to build all sorts of things that take flight. Construct a variety of paper planes to see which flies best and assemble your own “frustrationless flyer” kite to fly outside.

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Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Tags: WET Science Center
Jun
1
Sat
Fabulous Flowers @ WET Science Center
Tickets
Jun 1 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fabulous Flowers @ WET Science Center

After the cool colors of winter, spring arrives and suddenly there are rainbows everywhere you look! You can find flowers of every color: red-flowering currant, orange jewelweed, yellow skunk cabbage, white trillium, purple lupine, pink bleeding hearts, and so many more. Learn more about these beauties through fun activities and colorful crafts.

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Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Tags: WET Science Center
April – June 2024 Apr – Jun 2024