What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Monday, Aug. 19

Deschutes Estuary public meeting: The state Department of Enterprise Services is hosting a public meeting to share updates on the design of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19. Join the meeting in person at the Natural Resources Building on the east Capitol Campus, or via Zoom. Register and learn more. The project will remove the Fifth Avenue Dam and restore 260 acres of estuarine and salt marsh habitat at the mouth of the Deschutes River in Olympia.

Tuesday, Aug. 20

Welcome to Medicare Zoom presentation: This presentation at 1 p.m. 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. To get a link to register, 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.

StoryOly “Awkward”: The general public (21+) is invited to tell a personal true story on stage at The Brotherhood based on the monthly theme. Each teller is rated by a group of 3 volunteer judges selected from the audience the night of the event. The winner of each monthly slam wins a cash prize, a StoryOly T shirt and qualifies to participate in the StoryOly season finale in September. Stories must be true, 8 minutes or less in duration. Judges are asked to rate each teller on their ability to tell a good story, not on their life choices. The Brotherhood is 119 Capitol Way N, Olympia. The show begins at 7 pm but get there early to get a seat. Cost is $5-15 at the door, NOTAFLOF (no one turned away for lack of funds).

Thursday, Aug. 22

30th annual Rainier Bluegrass Festival: The summertime Rainier Bluegrass Festival is a laid-back music event that requires no tickets, and it happens during the Rainier Roundup Days weekend of activities. If you enjoy the bluegrass music of fiddles, banjos and mandolins, grab your lawn chair or picnic blanket and get settled to take Thursday, through Sunday, Aug. 22-25, at Wilkowski Park in Rainier .

Friday, Aug. 23

Plaza Pop-Up Bubble Festival: Join the WET Science Center and blow bubbles like you’ve never seen them. Can you blow a huge bubble? A bubble you can hold? A square bubble? Pop on by and find out! The WET Science Center educators will be in the East Bay Public Plaza from noon to 3 p.m. Friday. The plaza is at 325 Marine Drive NE, Olympia. The fun is free.

SPSCC Percival Choir presents Water and Sky Concert: The South Puget Sound Community College’s Percival Choir, conducted by Crystal Zimmerman, will perform a concert titled “Water and Sky” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the Minnaert Center for the Arts main stage. The concert will include works by Mendelssohn, Hagenberg, and Whitacre with texts from the poems of Frost, Kipling, and e.e. cummings. Featured guest performer James Doyle will present part of his ongoing larger work “Confluence” on vibraphone. Admission is a suggested $15 donation at the door. Entrance is free to SPSCC students, staff, and faculty.

South Sound Block Party with Bikini Kill: This two-day music festival will run both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening on the Northpoint of the Port of Olympia, 1210 Marine Drive NE. The headliner will be Bikini Kill, performing at 8:55 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $45 for a single day or $80 for a weekend pass; kids under 12 get in free. There will be food trucks and a beer garden on site.

Washington State Garlic Fest: Three big days of food, music, arts and crafts and garlic at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, 1909 S. Gold St., Centralia. Admission is $7 per day, but kids 6 and younger get in free. Gates open at 11 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Hippie Bingo: Doors open at 6 pm, games start at 7 pm Saturday at the Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center, 6757 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey. Cost is $25 cash at the door and you must be 21 or older to play. It is a first-come, first-served cash-only event. In addition to Bingo, there will be a snack bar, cash bar, 50/50 raffle, special game tickets and daubers. Enter the costume contest for a prize! The entry fee covers 10 sheets for the 10 standard games, with payouts of $60 each.

Sunday, Aug. 25

Rose Photography Workshop: Head to the Schmidt House in Tumwater from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, to learn how to take calendar-worthy photos of roses with Rich Baer of the Portland, Oregon, Rose Society, a nationally recognized, award-winning expert in photographing these iconic flowers. Baer will discuss lighting, backlighting, focusing, background manipulation, and more. The workshop will consist of a beginning lecture and PowerPoint program. Attendees will then visit the rose garden, where they can practice their new skills with one-on-one tips from Baer. Following the garden session, the group will reconvene inside for a critique of attendees’ photos. Tickets are $25 each , and cover the costs of the event. Any proceeds go toward maintaining the Schmidt House’s Centennial Rose Garden. The Schmidt House is at 330 Schmidt Place SW, just north of Custer Way, in Tumwater.

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.