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Music in the Park Returns on Wednesday with Righteous Mothers

Get ready to dance, Olympia! The beloved Music in the Park concert series is back this July 2024, presented by Olympia Federal Savings! Join us for an unforgettable season of live music!

Kicking off on July 10 at Sylvester Park, we're thrilled to feature The Righteous Mothers, a band of four talented singer-songwriters who’ve been rocking the Northwest music scene for over 40 years. Their eclectic, genre-bending tunes and witty lyrics promise a night of joy, laughter, and thought-provoking entertainment.

Music in the Park is a free outdoor concert series showcasing the best local and regional musicians. Bring your friends, family, and a picnic, and enjoy live music from 7 to 8 p.m. in a relaxing and inviting environment. We'll have Sofie's Scoops with Root Beer Floats and Dancing Goats with hot and iced coffee! We also have opening acts to entertain you starting at 6 p.m., so bring your lawn chair and arrive with plenty of time to get a good spot!

• July 10 - Righteous Mothers
• July 17 - Slainte
• July 24 - Brittany Danielle
• July 31 - Creedence Revelation (At Port Plaza)

See you at the park!

Learn more

Music in the Park is made possible with support from:

Archibald Sisters

Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

Church Rietzke

City of Olympia

Dancing Goats Coffee

Daniel Farber

Drees

Fiddlehead Marina 

First + Main Films

Heritage Bank

Holy Lamb Organics

Maddox & Laffoon

McDonald's

Mixx 96 FM

Olympia Community Solar

Olympia Computer

Olympia Federal Savings

Olympic Rental & Landlord Services

PCS Structural Solutions

Port of Olympia

Providence Swedish

Puget Sound Energy

South Puget Sound Community College

Targa Real Estate

The Evergreen State College

WSECU

Author Talk: Corpses, Fools, and Monsters

Saturday, July 13, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Join the Olympia library for a special conversation with writers Willow Catelyn Maclay and Caden Mark Gardner, facilitated by Elizabeth Purchell, a Brooklyn-based queer film historian, programmer, and filmmaker.

Willow and Caden will talk about their new book Corpses, Fools And Monsters: The History And Future Of Transness In Cinema. Orca Books will sell copies of the book, as well as some curated suggestions. A volunteer from the Olympia Film Society will also sell specially-priced tickets to the following weekend's Trans Film Festival at the Capitol Theater, programmed by Willow and Caden!

Learn more

LoveOly Microgrants Now Open

Photo: Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar received a grant to add planters to their entryway.



Placemaking pays close attention to the myriad ways in which a place's physical, social, ecological, cultural, and spiritual qualities are intimately intertwined. 

The program provides micro-grants to qualifying downtown businesses. Grants are defined in two categories: 

Physical space: Improvement includes façade refreshing and cleaning 

Event space: Can include musical performances, DJs, or temporary art installations. 

Grant Award: Eligible businesses will receive reimbursement of up to $500. 

June 21, 2024: Application Open

July 12, 2024: Application Closes

July 19, 2024: Selections made. Applicants notified.

August 2 – October 4, 2024: Project Implementation Period.

Apply here

Fall Arts Walk Registration Closes July 15

Sign up online by July 15 to participate in Fall Arts Walk on October 4 & 5!

Olympia Arts Walk is a community celebration of the arts featuring visual art displays and performances hosted by participating Arts Walk locations throughout the City. The event is a biannual two-day festival presented to the public by local artists and businesses in partnership with the City of Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department. Its next production takes place October 4 and 5, and we’re inviting you to get involved!

Artists & Performers: Showcase your art or performance at Arts Walk! All types of art are welcome. Contact a business or organization to host your exhibit or event, and they will register for your group online. The registration deadline is July 15, so act quickly! If you need help getting started, the Arts Walk staff is ready to assist. Email Jessica Strauss Tomy at estrauss@ci.olympia.wa.us for support.

Local Businesses and Organizations: Register online by July 15 to host an art exhibit, performance, or activity for Arts Walk this fall! Registered locations will be featured on the Arts Walk illustrated map, online calendar, and get a dedicated webpage on the Arts Walk website. If you want to participate but need help finding an act to feature, the Arts Walk staff is here to assist. Email Jessica Strauss Tomy at estrauss@ci.olympia.wa.us for support.

Food Vendors: Join the Arts Walk Food Village in the downtown street closure by submitting the Interest Form online by July 15! Don't miss this chance to share your culinary talents with the foodies of Olympia!

Volunteers: Sign up to volunteer your support for Arts Walk. Volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit the volunteer page on the event website!

Capitol Lakefair returns July 17 -21

Capital Lakefair starts Wednesday, July 17 and runs through Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Heritage Park in Olympia.

Experience the thrill and excitement of the Funtastic Traveling Shows Carnival!

There are a wide array of rides and games for all age groups. Take a look at the complete event lineup, which includes the Parade (Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 5 p.m.), fireworks, main stage entertainment, non-profit food vendors, arts & crafts, and a car show: www.lakefair.org/events

The News of the Week in Downtown Olympia is a newsletter created by the Olympia Downtown Alliance and is a summary of happenings Downtown.

If you have news related to downtown you'd like included, please email marketing@downtownolympia.org. Preference is given to Olympia Downtown Alliance members. If we do not share it here, chances are we'll share it on our Facebook or Instagram pages. We do reserve the right to use our discretion on what we share.

The deadline is Friday at 5 pm for inclusion in the next week's newsletter.

If you know of anyone who would like to receive the News of the Week in Downtown Olympia, please have them sign-up at the bottom of our home page here: https://downtownolympia.org/.