Urban Birding Tour with the Puget Sound Estuarium
Join the Puget Sound Estuarium for an urban birding tour starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 28. The two-hour beginner-friendly event will take place at 309 State Ave. NE, Olympia. Participants will learn how to use binoculars, discover local and migratory birds, and gain insights into ongoing restoration projects. Guides will provide tips and tricks for spotting birds, and attendees can test different viewing tools such as binoculars, monoculars, and scopes. A tablet adapter allows group viewing of birds. This tour offers an opportunity to contribute to scientific data collection and take home a list of local birds to watch for next time. The route is a loop around downtown, highlighting how birds adapt to urban environments. Attendees will also learn about the changes in Olympia’s estuaries and their impact on bird populations. The cost is $18 for adults (13 years and older), while children can join for free.
Golden Ticket Candy Hunt
The Olympia Downtown Alliance presents the Golden Ticket Candy Hunt from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 28. Participants can collect one free piece of candy at each participating downtown location. The person who finds the Golden Ticket will win a $100 Lolli Llama gift card. Participating businesses include Lolli Llama Candy, Buck’s Spices, Captain Little, Kindred Moon Apothecary, Lantern Records, Miso, Poppy Market, Psychic Sister, Radiance, and Wayside Café.
Discover Olympia on Foot with OlyAHA! Walking Tours
Experience Olympia’s history, architecture, and stories through guided walking tours offered by the Olympia Arts + Heritage Alliance. These tours start and end at the Olympia AHA Museum at 203 Columbia St. N., last under an hour, cover less than two miles on flat terrain, and cost $10 per person. Limited to 15 people, early registration is recommended. Upcoming dates include 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 28, and 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 4. For more details or to register, visit the OlyAHA website or contact [email protected].
Silent Movie Series Returns to the Washington Center
The Silent Movie Series at the Washington Center begins on September 28 with Charlie Chaplin’s “Gold Rush,” featuring live organ accompaniment. This year’s ticket prices are reduced by 50% to just $20, making it accessible for families and fans. Films are shown as they would have been 100 years ago, with live accompaniment on the center’s 100-year-old Wurlitzer played by house organist Dennis James. Discounts are available for military, low-income families, and students. More information can be found at the center’s website or at the Box Office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5:30 pm and Saturday noon to 4 p.m.
Week Without Driving
Intercity Transit and other local organizations encourage residents to participate in the Week Without Driving from Monday, September 29, to Sunday, October 5. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those who do not drive due to age, disability, or financial constraints. Participants are encouraged to pledge to ride the bus, walk, or bike instead of driving. For more information and to sign up, visit weekwithoutdriving.org.
Tumwater Walk Audit
City staff and elected officials will host a walk audit from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30. The route starts at 930 Trosper Road SW and ends at 5900 Littlerock Road SW. This event is part of the National Week Without Driving and provides an opportunity to learn about pedestrian opportunities and challenges. Participants should wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. For more information, contact Alyssa Jones Wood at [email protected].
History Talk at the Schmidt House
Ed Echtle, oral historian for Legacy Washington, will discuss his book “New Land” co-authored with John Hughes. The book features conversations with Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian refugees who resettled in Washington after Gov. Dan Evans opened the state’s doors. The talk takes place at noon on Thursday, October 2, at the Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Pl SW, Tumwater. Attendance is free, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. First come, first seated until room capacity is reached.
How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient Panel Discussion
Restoring Earth Connection hosts a panel discussion on making homes more energy efficient. Experts will discuss the benefits of home energy audits, insulation, weatherization, double-pane windows, heat pumps, solar panels, and federal tax credits that expire at the end of the year. After the panel, attendees can engage in small group discussions to develop strategies and set priorities. The event runs from 6:30-8:30 pm on Thursday, October 2, at Traditions (Soul Café) at 300 Fifth Ave SW in downtown Olympia.
Learn About the Washington Center’s Upgraded Assistive Listening System
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts has acquired new hearing devices powered by Auracast Bluetooth LE Audio, delivering sound directly to compatible hearing aids, earbuds, or external receivers. The center is hosting a special Assistive Listening Open House on Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. Guests can try out the new Auracast System during one of three live 15-minute demonstrations. Staff and volunteers will be available to help. Bring your Auracast-enabled hearing aids, a cell phone, and Bluetooth earbuds or headphones, or borrow one of the free Auracast receivers and headsets (available on a first-come, first-served basis).
Fall Arts Walk
Downtown Olympia comes alive during the Fall Arts Walk from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, October 3, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 4. This seasonal event transforms streets and businesses into galleries and performance spaces, showcasing the talents of local and regional artists. Grab a map online at artswalkoly.com or pick one up at a participating location downtown. There will be over 100 artist exhibits and events, including live performances of music, dance, comedy, circus arts, and drama. A 6-block downtown street closure creates a pedestrian-friendly space for hands-on all-ages activities and shopping at the Arts Market.
“Sylvester’s Window” at Olympia Timberland Library
Explore the paintings that wrap around the library walls with “Sylvester’s Window,” a nonprofit, educational art project by Lynn Erickson and Robert Chamberlain. This exhibition teaches local history through eight cityscapes envisioned from a single vantage point over time in downtown Olympia. Gather at the library between 6 and 7:30 p.m. to enjoy the paintings and learn more about the history behind each tableau. Members of the Olympia Historical Society/Bigelow House Museum will be present to share historical expertise. Art supplies will be available to create your own future vision of Olympia. The library is located at 313 Eighth Ave SE.
The Land Remembers – An Indigenous Art Exhibition
Experience “The Land Remembers,” an evocative new exhibition honoring the enduring relationship between Indigenous communities and the land. Opening on October 3, the exhibit will be on view during Arts Walk and on selected dates throughout the month at the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts, 120 Olympia Ave NE. The exhibition focuses on themes of land rematriation and reconnecting with the land. Each artist brings their unique voice using a diverse range of materials, including bones, cedar, beadwork, ceramics, paintings, and poetry, to share their ancestral memories and current experiences.
Clean-Up, Drop-Off Event at Tumwater City Hall
Safely discard expired prescription medications, donate non-perishable food and reusable grocery bags, shred personal documents, and recycle rechargeable devices and batteries at this free event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday in the Tumwater City Hall parking lot at 555 Israel Road. All you need to do is drive through the parking lot and remain in your vehicle. Volunteers will remove items from the trunk or back of a pick-up truck. For more information about what will be accepted and what will not, visit the city of Tumwater’s webpage.
Walk for Parkinson’s — Join the 2025 South Sound Optimism Walk
Gather friends, family, or coworkers to create a team, join a team, or walk as an individual to raise funds for the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) on Saturday, October 4, at Woodland Creek Community Park, 6729 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey. Check-in and pre-event activities begin at 10:30 a.m. The walk ceremony starts at noon, followed by the walk itself. For more information or to register, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/apdanwsouthsoundwalk25/
2025 Arbor Day Celebration in Olympia
Celebrate Arbor Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, at the Heritage Park Fountain during Arts Walk. Enjoy kids’ activities, a native plant giveaway, community resources, the Ask-an-Arborist booth, and the “Friends of Trees” award recognition. Learn about the City’s new Urban Forest Management Plan and share your ideas with staff.
Thurston County Furniture Bank
The nonprofit all-volunteer Thurston County Furniture Bank is open the first and third Saturdays of every month (as well as the following Wednesdays) from 9 a.m. to noon at 2121 Log Cabin Road SE, Olympia. Donations of gently used furniture are accepted. Pick-up of donations within a limited geographical area (15 minutes from the building) can be arranged but usually takes 3-4 weeks. Those looking for furniture are welcome. For more information, go to bit.ly/furniturebankdonations.
Autumn Art with Arbutus at the WET Science Center
Join Arbutus Folk School instructor Dannielle Swan for an art sculpting activity at noon, 1 p.m., or 2 p.m. at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free.
Olympia Tree Hugging Fest 2025
Celebrate PNW trees at the 2025 Tree Hugging Fest from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Sylvester Park at Capitol Way and Legion Way. Listen to trees communicate through song—and change their tune when you hug them. Connect with yogis, storytellers, poets, and dancers. Build a bird nest. Learn to do vibrational yoga. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening calendar? Email the details to [email protected] at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.
