The Olympia Downtown Alliance is launching Oly Third Thursday starting May 17. The events will continue monthly though 2018. Part block party, part Art’s Walk, all shopping local and all fun!
What are Third Thursdays?
“There is often a community consensus after the City of Olympia puts on Olympia Arts Walk of, ‘we should do that more often,’” says David Wasson, President of Batdorf & Bronson and the Downtown Alliance. “The Alliance agreed and decided to do something about it – welcome to the creation of Oly Third Thursdays.”
Taking advantage of the warm weather and longer days, the event will have plenty to do outside in the streets, as well as inside businesses and restaurants in the heart of Olympia. Third Thursdays will have a roving block party. This month the block party will be at the U.S. Bank parking lot off of 4th and Washington.
Each event will have a different theme. May’s is “Downtown in Bloom.” “Think spring, flower baskets, Mother’s day, gardening – it’s just a great time to get out and enjoy the wonderful weather in our beautiful downtown,” says LuWana Hawley, owner of Hawley’s Gelato’s and Chair of the Third Thursday committee.
For June the theme is “Solstice in the City” because the event takes place on the summer solstice (longest day of the year); July is “Rock around Downtown”; and August will be, of course, “The Dog Days of Summer.”
Shop Local
The festivities start at 10:00 a.m. on May 17, with participating businesses staying open until at least 8:00 p.m. There are over 30 participants so far, spanning a wide variety of interests, including The Popinjay, Olympia Family Theater, The Mousetrap, Radiance Herbs and Massage Spa, Batdorf and Bronson, Belleza Ropa, Captain Little, State of the Arts Gallery, Le Voyeur, Dillinger’s, Blackbird Mercantile, Painted Plate, and more.
Each of these downtown businesses will all be hosting their own unique in-store events or promotion. For example:
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Hawley’s Gelato is hosting a “Downtown in Bloom” coloring contest to win a free scoop of gelato every day for a month. Photo courtesy: Olympia Downtown Alliance At VUE you can pick a bloom and save 25-40%
- Hawley’s Gelato is hosting a “Downtown in Bloom” coloring contest to win a free scoop of gelato every day for a month.
- All day free iced tea will be offered at Encore Teas and Chocolates, drawing to win gifts and a Native American style Flute circle where you can listen or learn to play.
- Artist Lori Campbell will be at State of the Arts Gallery to talk about her new works painted especially for this event.
- Browser’s Books will host Olympia author Matt Young to talk about his new book, Eat the Apple: A Memoir (Bloomsbury).
- The 222 Market will be in bloom with a flower identification scavenger hunt throughout the market. Bouquet giveaways, face painting, photo booth, craft table. Floral drink specials at Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar and Shoebox Distillery. Hibiscus Margaritas at Dos Hermanos Mexican Kitchen, and floral inspired gelato and bean bag toss for free scoops at Sofie’s Scoops!
There is a full listing of businesses and what they are doing that day at the Oly Third Thursday website.
Join the Game
To add to the fun, the Olympia Downtown Alliance has created a game for anyone attending Oly Third Thursday. The rules are simple. Take a photo in a participating business and post it to social media with the hashtag #OlyThirdThursday. Do this, and you are entered to win a $100 gift card to the Compass Rose. Each month the game will continue, but the prize will change.
BONUS! Each picture posted with the hashtag from a different business gets you an additional entry into the drawing.
It’s a Party!
For the first Oly Third Thursday, the Alliance is closing the U.S. Bank parking lot off of 4th and Washington. At 5:30 p.m. it will become a block party. “There will be a stage, band, a flower craft, bubbles and sidewalk chalk,” says Stephanie McManus, Imagemaker for the Olympia Downtown Alliance.
Entertainment will also include performance by local groups on the following schedule:
- 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Blackhills High School Jazz Ensemble will take the stage.
- 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Skrill Meadow’s Anklebiters, with Sam Gray, Ben Kapp, Andrew Ebright and Mark Morrison. Performing original, dance-able songs for children, including a few classics.
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – The Hard Way takes the stage. The Hard Way from Olympia, WA have been making music together since 2007. Fueled primarily by Scott Taylor’s manic, artfully crafted pop songs, The Hard Way play rock n’ roll with lots of tight vocal harmonies, soaring guitars and driving drums. THW features the talents of: Scott Taylor (lead vocals, guitar, keys), Dave Hyatt (drums, vocals), Luke Ogden (bass, vocals) and Skyler Blake (guitar, vocals).
“When The Hard Way takes the stage, the entertainment will be be from our own backyard with a well honed sound,” says Ryan DiCrescenzo, owner of Le Voyeur. “This band throws down unstoppable powerpop tunes that really stick in your head.”
Calling All Artists and Buskers
Are you an artist, musician, entertainer, juggler or busker? Or something else completely different? The Olympia Downtown Alliance has an open call for these acts to fill the streets. These spots are open:
- Washington St between 5th Ave and Legion Way
- Corner of 5th Ave and Capitol Way
- Corner of Chestnut St. and 4th Ave
- In front of the 222 Market
- At the Artesian Well
- At 4th and Water street on the dock by the kissing statue
Potential buskers can contact Stephanie McManus at smcmanus@downtownolympia.org or just show up May 17. They do request all acts are family friendly!
This fun, new event is also supported by Providence Health and Services, Mixx 96.1, the PBIA and the City of Olympia. Whether you are there to shop, watch, listen, eat, or all of the above, Oly Third Thursday is sure to be a night you and your family will enjoy. When it’s all over, the only thing you will be concerned about is having to wait a month of the next one.
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