Events Calendar | ThurstonTalk

Author Talk: Lisa Nickel- Tugboat Sand Man @ Olympia Timberland Library

Aug 19 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Lisa Nickel, author of the new local history book, Tugboat Sand Man, will be hosting a presentation with the Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum. She will show unique photos and tell stories of Olympia’s beloved tugboat, Sand Man, from its birth in 1910 to the present. This is the story of the little tug that could and did! Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For over a century, the Olympia harbor tugboat Sand Man has worked on Puget Sound waters. Built in Tacoma in 1910, Sand Man towed such commodities as sand, gravel, oysters, logs, and more to and from Budd Inlet. The tugboat was owned by three commercial companies and one private owner. In 1997, the Sand Man Foundation formed, took ownership, and placed Sand Man on multiple historic registries. Through fundraising efforts, the deteriorating Sand Man was miraculously saved and rebuilt after three sinkings. Over the years, the vessel participated in many Olympia Harbor Days activities and vintage tugboat races and was the festival’s first logo boat in 1983. Sand Man, a workhorse and survivor, is known as “Olympia’s Tugboat.”

Aug

20

Wed

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

Tickets

Aug 20 @ 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

Aug

27

Wed

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

Tickets

Aug 27 @ 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

Aug

28

Thu

Showing of “Fish War” @ Norm Dicks Visitor Center Auditorium, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Tickets

Aug 28 @ 1:00 pm

We are hosting two free showings of the film “Fish War.” This film explores the tribal battle for recognition of their treaty rights and the current co-management of the resource. Learn more about the film here: FISH WAR

There are two showings on Thursday, Aug. 28: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free tickets are available 1 hour in advance; and first-come, first-served seating in the Norm Dicks Visitor Center auditorium is open 30 minutes before the showing. Capacity is 100 attendees. Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge | Events | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Categories: Education Local History

Showing of “Fish War” @ Norm Dicks Visitor Center Auditorium, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Tickets

Aug 28 @ 7:00 pm

We are hosting two free showings of the film “Fish War.” This film explores the tribal battle for recognition of their treaty rights and the current co-management of the resource. Learn more about the film here: FISH WAR

There are two showings on Thursday, Aug. 28: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free tickets are available 1 hour in advance; and first-come, first-served seating in the Norm Dicks Visitor Center auditorium is open 30 minutes before the showing. Capacity is 100 attendees. Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge | Events | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Categories: Education Local History

Sep

27

Sat

36th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival @ Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Tickets

Sep 27 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

The Nisqually Watershed Festival returns this fall to Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge for its 36th annual celebration of nature, culture, and community! Join us on Saturday September 27th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, for a free, family-friendly event that honors the people, wildlife, and history that shape the Nisqually Watershed.

For more than three decades, this event has brought together thousands of community members, partners, and nature lovers in support of collaborative conservation. “It was over 50 years ago that the mouth of the Nisqually River was made a National Wildlife Refuge and now as we’re seeing the return of local salmon populations once thought lost, it’s clear the difference a community can make working together towards a healthier watershed,” said Justin Hall, Executive Director of the Nisqually River Foundation.

Throughout the festival, guests can explore and discover the wonders of the watershed through interactive exhibits, hands-on education activities, and a variety of performances and presenters! Highlights include:

Live Performances: Kick off the day with rousing bagpipes as the Olympia Highlanders perform alongside local dancers followed by drum and song from the Nisqually Indian Tribe Canoe Family
Up-Close Animal Encounters: Don’t miss seeing everything from snakes and alligators to vultures and owls as The Reptile Lady takes the stage in the morning followed later in the afternoon by The Falconer
Interactive Exhibits & Activities: Step inside a 25-foot salmon replica in Critter Corridor, decorate your very own salmon print t-shirt, and meet fascinating creatures in the Insect Extravaganza!
Hands-On Learning: Join environmental educators and local scientists for fun, educational activities for all ages featuring salmon and dogfish dissections, invasive species archery, survival crafting skills, and walks through the Refuge’s nature-filled trail system.
Delicious Local Food: Enjoy a salmon barbecue lunch with fish provided by the Nisqually Indian Tribe, plus local food vendors offering burgers, coffee, sweet treats, and more.

“The Nisqually watershed community has been working hard to protect and restore this unique place for years,” said Hall, “The festival serves as a showcase for what makes Nisqually special. It’s where we all come together to celebrate what we have accomplished.” Mark your calendar and join in the festivities Saturday, September 27th!

For more information, visit: https://nisquallyriver.org/festival

Parking: Free parking and a continuous shuttle will be available from the Hawks Prairie Park-N-Ride (2548 Hogum Bay Road NE, Olympia). Google Maps link

Categories: Arts and Entertainment Family Events Festivals, Expos, and Parade Kids Local History Outdoor Recreation

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