Events Calendar | ThurstonTalk

Home 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? Please email events@ThurstonTalk.com with the following information:

Name of Event
Date, time and location (name of business if applicable and complete address)
Organizer(s) name
Cost
URL to purchase tickets
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The Knitting Circle @ Lacey Timberland Library

Jul 11 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Knitting Circle meets at Lacey Timberland Library every Friday 10:00 am until noon.

The group meets either in the Conference Room or inside the main part of the library on the left side over by windows.

Bring your current knitting, crochet, or other needlework project & meet other needle crafters for sharing tips, troubleshooting, & crafting companionship.

All skill levels welcome.

The Knitting Circle is not a class, lecture, meeting, etc, so arrive & depart whenever you want, meet more often inside the library, etc.

Do you no longer knit or crochet & have unwanted yarn, fiber, needles, hooks, looms, spinning wheels, books, or magazines? Please consider giving them to us free of charge any Friday morning.

This event is not sponsored by Lacey Timberland Library.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: #arts&crafts crochet knitting

WORKSHOP: The Art of Pricing @ Lacey MakerSpace at St. Martin's University Campus Zaverl Hall

Jul 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Join us for an interactive and collaborative workshop where makers, artists, and creators come together to explore strategies for pricing your work, craft, and time. In this session, we’ll discuss the balance between valuing your creations and maintaining a positive mindset when navigating the often-challenging world of pricing.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Home and Garden Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Prayers for World Peace @ Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Center

Jul 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Prayers for World Peace
Sundays 10:00 – 11:15am
A peaceful, contemplative time in your weekend. Join us for prayers for world peace and uplifting advice on how we can transform our day-to-day life into opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Through developing inner peace in this way, outer peace will naturally come about.
Everybody Welcome

Categories: Health and Wellness Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Cooking with Attitude: Dumplings of Chinese origin — Gyoza & Bao zi @ Our Community Kitchen

Jul 13 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

A cooking class with a bit of attitude! We will be making gyoza (pot stickers) and bao zi (pork buns) from scratch while we learn a little bit about wheat in the current US food system. Hands on! Veggie and meat versions. Sorry, no gluten-free options.

Categories: Food & Beverage Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Argentine Tango Course: Relationship Skills Through Dance @ Thrive Community Fitness

Jul 13 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Experience the joy of partner dance as instructor Nadine Harrell teaches you the playful, flirtatious Argentine Tango.

Life is a dance and partner dance is a relationship. This 6-week course is for those who want to learn to tune into the subtle communication between two individuals and how to work with each other within a strong cooperative context.

Come build the skills which makes any partner dance or a relationship a thing of cooperative art.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Health and Wellness Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Salsa Course (Improving Posture and Balance Through Dance ) @ Thrive Community Fitness

Jul 13 @ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Experience the joy of dance as instructor Nadine Harrell teaches you the sassy dance Salsa.

This 6-week course is for individuals who want to increase their body awareness, and improve body alignment and balance while they learn the basic Salsa dance steps needed to get out on the dance floor.

Days: Sundays 6/22/25 – 7/27/25 (RSVP Only)

Time: 4:30 pm – 5:30pm

Price: $60 (6-week course)

Location: Thrive Community Fitness 5401 Corporate Ctr Lp SE, Lacey, WA 98503

For inquiries or to RSVP, use my contact page.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Health and Wellness Sports Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Teen/Adult Beginning Violin/ Fiddle @ Squaxin Park Rose Garden

Jul 14 @ 6:30 pm

Discover the joy of playing the violin in this beginner-friendly class! No prior music experience is needed. You’ll explore folk music, learn tunes by ear, and get a basic introduction to music theory. Materials will be available on the class YouTube channel for practice. Please do not buy a violin for this class. Violins purchased online or secondhand, or inherited violins from friends or family will not be functional for this beginner class. Participants must rent a violin from RL Ray Violin Shop ($30 for the month) and purchase an adjustable shoulder rest before the first class (rental information will be printed on the registration receipt). People with previous violin experience may use their personal instrument, but it must be inspected by RL Ray violin shop before class to guarantee playing condition. If this is not the case, a rental will be required for the class. Join us for a supportive, fun musical journey! Instructor: Pamela Margon

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Summer Lecture Series @ Norm Dicks Visitor Center Auditorium, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Jul 16 @ 7:00 pm

38th Annual Summer Lecture Series in July and August

2025 brings an exciting lineup of great guest speakers for the 38th Annual Summer Lecture Series! This event brings high quality speakers on a variety of natural and cultural history topics to the Norm Dicks Visitor Center Auditorium, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.

Free tickets are available at the door starting at 6:30, with a limit of 100 people in the audience.

At this time the event is in-person only. Combine your visit with a stroll on the refuge trails. Entry to the refuge is free for event attendees.

July 9, Steve Albrecht, Leaving No Trace

July 16, Dr. Greg Hood, Beavers in Tidal Marshes

July 23, Dave Slater, Fascinating Lives of Five Washington Shorebirds

July 30, Jennifer Hahn, Foraging as a Passport to Place

Aug. 6, Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project

Aug. 13, Dr. Jane Mangold, Invasive Plants in the West

Aug. 20, Marco Pinchot, Running the Nisqually Community Forest

Aug. 27, Janine Gates, Saving the Nisqually Delta: Lessons in Citizen Activism

Categories: Education Family Events Local History Volunteer and Community Enrichment Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Lunch and Learn: Summer Salsas & Relishes! With Chef Janna of Mothers Roots @ Olympia Farmers Market

Jul 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Celebrate seasonal blueberries and stone fruit with the legendary Chef Janna’s flavorful and savory concoctions! Discover two ways to top your favorite ingredients with: more of your favorite ingredients! Learn recipes, enjoy the tasting, and take home inspiration for your own signature salsas and relishes!

Categories: Family Events Food & Beverage Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Intro to Nature Awareness @ Burfoot Park

Jul 17 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Join Licia, certified Yoga and Meditation instructor, from Firecraft Northwest, for a quiet evening of nature awareness practice.

We’ll start the evening with a brief discussion about nature awareness and an introduction to bird language (a key tool for tuning into the world around you!). Then, we’ll take a slow, quiet walk to interpret the sounds around us. Along the way, we’ll practice two solitary awareness-building techniques – one in the woods and one on the beach. Then, we’ll walk back to the shelter with a sensory plant walk, learning plants that have unique tastes, smells, and/or textures. Reawaken your senses and reconnect with the natural world around you during this evening’s mindful outing!

Categories: Education Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures

The Knitting Circle @ Lacey Timberland Library

Jul 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Knitting Circle meets at Lacey Timberland Library every Friday 10:00 am until noon.

The group meets either in the Conference Room or inside the main part of the library on the left side over by windows.

Bring your current knitting, crochet, or other needlework project & meet other needle crafters for sharing tips, troubleshooting, & crafting companionship.

All skill levels welcome.

The Knitting Circle is not a class, lecture, meeting, etc, so arrive & depart whenever you want, meet more often inside the library, etc.

Do you no longer knit or crochet & have unwanted yarn, fiber, needles, hooks, looms, spinning wheels, books, or magazines? Please consider giving them to us free of charge any Friday morning.

This event is not sponsored by Lacey Timberland Library.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: #arts&crafts crochet knitting

MAKE: Viking Chair @ Lacey MakerSpace at St. Martin's University

Jul 19 @ 9:00 am – 12:30 pm

In this course students will use a variety of hand tools to produce their own “Viking Chair”.

This chair uses simple techniques to produce a simple and functional seating option for camping or in the backyard.

When finished, students will have the option to make a simple laser engraving on the head of the chair.

Categories: Workshops, Classes and Lectures

MAKE: Kumihimo braided cord @ Lacey Makerspace at St. Martin's University

Jul 19 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Kumihimo is a Japanese braiding technique, meaning “gathered threads,” used to create decorative and functional cords, often for jewelry and clothing accessories. Kumihimo is a relaxing and creative craft that can be done anywhere. Come learn the basics of making your own Kumihimo loom and the steps to create a key chain, or bracelet. Take home your creations and share with others. All materials provided.

Categories: Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Let’s Talk About AI @ Lacey Timberland Library

Jul 19 @ 2:00 pm

Artificial Intelligence is showing up everywhere—from writing tools and image generators to customer service chatbots and research aids. But what do we really think about it?

Join us for a guided community conversation where we’ll explore how AI is impacting our lives, both positively and negatively. Whether you’re excited about AI, cautious, confused, or curious, this is a space to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from different perspectives.

Categories: Education Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Prayers for World Peace @ Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Center

Jul 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Prayers for World Peace
Sundays 10:00 – 11:15am
A peaceful, contemplative time in your weekend. Join us for prayers for world peace and uplifting advice on how we can transform our day-to-day life into opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Through developing inner peace in this way, outer peace will naturally come about.
Everybody Welcome

Categories: Health and Wellness Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Argentine Tango Course: Relationship Skills Through Dance @ Thrive Community Fitness

Jul 20 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Experience the joy of partner dance as instructor Nadine Harrell teaches you the playful, flirtatious Argentine Tango.

Life is a dance and partner dance is a relationship. This 6-week course is for those who want to learn to tune into the subtle communication between two individuals and how to work with each other within a strong cooperative context.

Come build the skills which makes any partner dance or a relationship a thing of cooperative art.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Health and Wellness Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Salsa Course (Improving Posture and Balance Through Dance ) @ Thrive Community Fitness

Jul 20 @ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Experience the joy of dance as instructor Nadine Harrell teaches you the sassy dance Salsa.

This 6-week course is for individuals who want to increase their body awareness, and improve body alignment and balance while they learn the basic Salsa dance steps needed to get out on the dance floor.

Days: Sundays 6/22/25 – 7/27/25 (RSVP Only)

Time: 4:30 pm – 5:30pm

Price: $60 (6-week course)

Location: Thrive Community Fitness 5401 Corporate Ctr Lp SE, Lacey, WA 98503

For inquiries or to RSVP, use my contact page.

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Health and Wellness Sports Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Teen/Adult Beginning Violin/ Fiddle @ Squaxin Park Rose Garden

Jul 21 @ 6:30 pm

Discover the joy of playing the violin in this beginner-friendly class! No prior music experience is needed. You’ll explore folk music, learn tunes by ear, and get a basic introduction to music theory. Materials will be available on the class YouTube channel for practice. Please do not buy a violin for this class. Violins purchased online or secondhand, or inherited violins from friends or family will not be functional for this beginner class. Participants must rent a violin from RL Ray Violin Shop ($30 for the month) and purchase an adjustable shoulder rest before the first class (rental information will be printed on the registration receipt). People with previous violin experience may use their personal instrument, but it must be inspected by RL Ray violin shop before class to guarantee playing condition. If this is not the case, a rental will be required for the class. Join us for a supportive, fun musical journey! Instructor: Pamela Margon

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Drop-In Direct Animation and Printmaking: with Westport Aquarium @ Olympia Timberland Library

Jul 22 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us to create your own direct animation mini movie on 35mm film leader. Westport Aquarium will provide 2 historic 100 year old machines of the past to create a unique mini movie. Then hand crank and project your own film on a c. 100 year old 35 millimeter hand crank film projector. We will be using markers to draw directly on 3 feet or more of 35 mm film leader. In this method you can watch your film right away. You don’t need to wait to send the film off for development. Bring the whole family or a group of friends and splice your sections of film together into one longer film. All ages welcome!

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Education Family Events Kids Workshops, Classes and Lectures

Summer Lecture Series @ Norm Dicks Visitor Center Auditorium, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Jul 23 @ 7:00 pm

38th Annual Summer Lecture Series in July and August

2025 brings an exciting lineup of great guest speakers for the 38th Annual Summer Lecture Series! This event brings high quality speakers on a variety of natural and cultural history topics to the Norm Dicks Visitor Center Auditorium, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.

Free tickets are available at the door starting at 6:30, with a limit of 100 people in the audience.

At this time the event is in-person only. Combine your visit with a stroll on the refuge trails. Entry to the refuge is free for event attendees.

July 9, Steve Albrecht, Leaving No Trace

July 16, Dr. Greg Hood, Beavers in Tidal Marshes

July 23, Dave Slater, Fascinating Lives of Five Washington Shorebirds

July 30, Jennifer Hahn, Foraging as a Passport to Place

Aug. 6, Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project

Aug. 13, Dr. Jane Mangold, Invasive Plants in the West

Aug. 20, Marco Pinchot, Running the Nisqually Community Forest

Aug. 27, Janine Gates, Saving the Nisqually Delta: Lessons in Citizen Activism

Categories: Education Family Events Local History Volunteer and Community Enrichment Workshops, Classes and Lectures

July 2025 Jul 2025