by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS
On September 9, the Olympia Downtown Association will host the first-ever Sip, Savor & Stroll, a culinary tour of downtown Olympia. Kim Combs, event and volunteer coordinator, says the evening will kick off with a reception for up to 300 attendees at the Olympia Farmers Market, with Washington-sourced beers and wines plus food from market vendors, including seafood dishes from Dingey’s Puget Sound Cuisine and Indian options from Curry in a Hurry. Tickets are on sale now through the ODA.
Split into groups of 25 to 30 people, attendees will weave their way through the downtown area, guided by trained volunteers who’ll pause to offer bits of downtown trivia, stories and historical facts. Each group will visit five of 10 participating businesses: Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters, Budd Bay Café, Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar, Dillinger’s Cocktails & Kitchen, Encore Chocolates & Teas, Fish Tale Brew Pub, LC’s Blackbird Mercantile & Trading Co., Three Magnets Brewing Co., Tipsy Piano Bar and Well 80 Brewhouse. Each venue will offer a designated drink, such as a craft cocktail or coffee beverage, and small bites. The event will conclude with an afterparty and live auction at the Capitol Theater.
For many years, the signature, fundraising event for the downtown association was the Fall Ball, but declining participation inspired a reimagining. This year’s tour is an interactive experience designed to appeal to a wider range of people. Revenue from ticket sales helps pay for projects that benefit downtown, similar to those the organization has funded in the past: new murals, graffiti removal and improved lighting. The association plans to make this an annual event. Combs says she’s excited to showcase venues and introduce people to the charms of the downtown area, including recent development and renovations. “We’re one of the only walkable downtown spaces along the I-5 corridor in the area,” she says. “Whether it’s art and culture, the food scene or the brewery scene, we’re able to showcase them here.”
What: Sip, Savor & Stroll
Where: downtown Olympia
When: 5-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9
How much: $95
Learn more: 360-357-8948 | Downtown Olympia Association: Sip Savor Stroll