July 22, 2026 — Feast eyes and ears on sculptures, puppets, performances
Molly Gilmore “Arts Aficionado” — July 22, 2026
— ‘Liberty’ on Percival Landing
— Puppet ‘Opera’
— Concerts and films al fresco
Kids
Wild Child’s New Year’s Menu: “Eat the Rich”
Olympia’s family friendly Wild Child Taproom’s openness to a wider swath of the community is evidenced by their involvement with Arts Walk and SafePlace, and by the range of their events programming, whether organized in-house, or, in the case of music, by CapCity Presents, or in New Year’s Eve’s “Eat the Rich” by Capital City Pride, or by the many other individuals and organizations, large and small, who’ve come to see Wild Child as a welcoming venue.
Matilda the Musical at Tacoma Little Theatre
Given the flights of fancy of both the Roald Dahl novel and the Danny DeVito film of Matilda, it seemed only a matter of time for Matilda to get the musical treatment, which it did in 2010 with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and book by Dennis Kelly. Now, Matilda the Musical is hitting Tacoma Little Theatre through December 28, directed by Jennifer York, with a sizable cast of child and adult actors, led by Hazel Barnett and Nell Edlund, trading off performances as Matilda.
Bear’s Souper Sunday Cookbook: Recipes for Hungry Animals
Bear’s Souper Sunday Cookbook: Recipes for Hungry Animals is a charming cookbook for the whole family with recipes and stories by Olympia author Chris Hyde and illustrations by Olympia artist Roxanna Groves. The Souper Sunday movement began with an idea that came to Hyde to foster community togetherness and feed his neighbors in a world isolated after the Covid pandemic. What started out as a Facebook group that offered free soup to community members flourished into something bigger including this book.
LoveOly SummerFest Brings Summer Fun
The purpose of LoveOly, in its third year, is to bring people together and promote downtown. “I love it that we bring the community together right when kids are fresh from the school year,” said Desiree Freeman, executive director of the Downtown Olympia Alliance, which organizes LoveOly. The family-friendly event comes to life June 20 to 22.
Magic Curtain Mornings at Olympia Family Theater
Olympia Family Theater’s new Magic Curtain Morning shows engage and delight toddlers and preschoolers. Each show runs no longer than 30 minutes, providing littles a playful introduction to the magic of live theater. The first show is “Little Red and the Dancing Wolf,” offering a new take on the old tale, running April 18, 25, and 26.
Check Out Special Events at Timberland Library This Spring
by Molly Walsh As the weather grows warmer and days grow longer, the Lacey Spring Fun Fair will celebrate the season with a weekend of entertainment for the whole family. The Lacey Spring Fun Fair takes place Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 …
Timberland Library This Spring
by Molly Walsh As the pages turn from winter to spring, a series of special events from Olympia Timberland Library will allow attendees to discover regional bands, share their favorite stories, engage in meaningful philosophical discussion and reconnect with their inner child. Programming includes events for infants, toddlers, school-age children, teens, adults and families. According …
Explore The World of Literature and Creativity Through Special Events at Shelton Timberland Library
Programming for the youngest patrons and their families at Shelton Timberland Library can help jumpstart a lifelong love of reading, learning and community participation. According to Kristine Techavanich, youth services librarian for Shelton Timberland Library, the bottom level of the library is a devoted space for children, tweens, teens and families.
Olympia Family Theater Responds to Financial Challenges
Olympia Family Theatre, which has closed its adjacent all-ages space and reduced staff hours, is hard at work on raising the money it needs to keep the theater on solid footing going forward. Dean Shellman, chair of the non-profit theater’s board, said, “We’re carefully looking for savings opportunities that don’t change the experience for our audiences and students. OFT provides magical moments for families, and that won’t change.”