What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Tuesday, July 9

Christian Women’s Connection “Happy Summer Vacations” Luncheon: This luncheon will take place at noon Tuesday, July 9 in The Gallery next to Seventeen51 Restaurant & Bistro at Panorama, 1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey. Enjoy a lunch of smoked beef brisket with BBQ sauce, potato salad and watermelon. Cost is $20. A variety of crafts will be shown and discussed by the Wilhelmi family. The inspirational speaker, Reva Maulding, is from Marysville and enjoys cooking, travel, and various hobbies. She will speak on “Prayer”. Call Sylvia for reservations at 360-791-4698 or 360-943-0627. All women are welcome.

Wednesday, July 10

Music in the Park kicks off with The Righteous Mothers: Funny feminist folkies The Righteous Mothers are launching the Olympia Downtown Alliance’s 2024 Music in the Park concert series. The Mothers’ music is known for its frank, fiery lyrics and sweet harmonies. The music will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, in Sylvester Park, 615 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Concertgoers are advised to bring a chair or blanket and encouraged to pick up takeout from a downtown restaurant. Picnics are welcome, too. The concert series continues every Wednesday in July. Admission is free.

Welcome to Medicare In Person Presentation in Olympia: This 11 a.m. presentation at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia NW, is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements, and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. For more information, email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message and your email address at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134.

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez mobile office hours in Tenino: The congresswoman announced she will hold mobile office hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tenino City Hall, 149 Hodgden St. S. Residents of Washington’s 3rd Congressional District will be able to walk in to get assistance with federal agencies such as the VA, IRS, and State Department. Those not able to make it can always reach out online , by phone at 360-695-6292, or in person at the Congresswoman’s Vancouver or Kelso offices.

Thurston County Chamber’s July Forum on “Integrating Generative AI into Business Operations”: Melanie Seelig, a leading intellectual property expert and partner at Knobbe Martens, will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber’s July Forum from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Saint Martin’s University Norman Worthington Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey. To register for the event, visit thurstonchamber.com .

Thursday, July 11

Zoom presentation on Medicare-related cost savings programs: This 1 p.m. program will cover Medicare basics, the Medicare Savings Program, the Extra Help Program, and wellness and preventative benefits available through Medicare coverage. To get a link, email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. A registration link will be sent to you.

First meeting of the Commercial Aviation Work Group: The Commercial Aviation Work Group — created by the Legislature last year — will host its first public meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Capital Event Center, 6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater. The group will evaluate the long-range commercial aviation and transportation needs of the state, including alternatives for additional aviation capacity and expanding the use of existing airports and multimodal opportunities. Public comment of 2 minutes per person will be available 9:30–9:50 a.m., either in person or online. The public may also comment by filling out the group’s contact form. Public comments will only be logged from the comment box. The meeting is expected to last until 4 p.m. Parking is free and does not require a permit. There will also be a live stream of the meeting from TVW . The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission was the previous group who researched locations to meet the forecast demand for commercial passenger service, air cargo, and general aviation. Its final meeting last year focused on providing a solid foundation of information to be used by the Commercial Aviation Work Group. The commission released its final report June 15, 2023.

Saturday, July 13

South Sound BBQ Festival: Lacey South Sound Chamber and community partners welcome are hosting the South Sound BBQ Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Lacey’s Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE. There will be live entertainment, free kids activities, a chicken wing eating contest, adult-only beer and wine garden, outdoor activities, vendors, and more. Admission is free; food and drinks for purchase.

Corpses, Fools, and Monsters — A Trans Author Talk and Film Fest: At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Olympia Timberland Library will host this free author talk with trans film writers Caden Mark Gardner and Willow Catelyn Maclay, whose book “Corpses, Fools, and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema” hits shelves on July 9. The following weekend, the Olympia Film Society is screening six films written about in the book — two each day from Friday through Sunday. Library patrons can purchase tickets at OFS Member prices ($10 for single tickets, $39 for two days, $65 for three days) at the library author talk and the theater box office. Orca Books Co-op will sell copies of “Corpses, Fools, and Monsters” at the library event and select film screenings – as well some suggestions hand-picked by Gardner, Maclay, and Orca staff. During the film fest, the Olympia Film Society will sell merchandise featuring custom art to raise funds for Pizza Klatch, which works support LGBTQ+ youth.

Olympia Dragon Boat Festival: The Olympia Dragon Boat Club is excited to bring the Dragon Boat Festival back to Olympia on Saturday, July 13. The free festival, introduces teams from other cities and states, will take place at Port Plaza on the Olympia waterfront (701 Columbia St. NW). At least 20 teams are set to compete in the event. The races will begin at 8:30 am and continue through the afternoon until around 3 pm, competing in 250-meter sprints. This event is inspired by a tradition which originated in China more than 2,000 years ago and continues all over the world. Each team competes in a 45-foot boat fitted with a colorful dragon head and tail. A drummer keeps rhythm with the paddlers at the bow of the boat. The Olympia Dragon Boat Club practices out of Swantown Marina on Sunday afternoons, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. For more information, go to www.olympiadragonboat.org .

St. John’s Episcopal Church Rummage Sale: The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church at Capital Boulevard and 20th Avenue Southeast. Proceeds benefit St. John’s ministries and music program.

Summer Nights at the Port: Gimme Shelter, a Rolling Stones tribute, takes the stage at the Port of Olympia’s NorthPoint, 1210 Marine Drive NE, as part of their summer music series. Admission is free. Gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday and the concert begins at 6 p.m. A beer garden and food vendors will be on site until 8 p.m.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.