Summer means live music, dancing, parties in open air. It means warm days, cool nights and sweet-smelling breezes. It means folks coming together for food, fun, and friends old and new.
All that and more will take place when LoveOly SummerFest kicks off summer in downtown Olympia. The family-friendly event comes to life Friday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22, on the corner of Washington Street and Fifth Avenue. It’s a party, it’s free and you’re invited!
“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. “We’re showing them a good time.”
The good time begins at 3 p.m. Friday, June 20, when the event opens with a Biergarten, live music, games, buskers, children’s entertainment powered by the Hands On Children’s Museum, vendors, a curated makers market, and, new this year, an inflatable Bungee Run. Pop-up food venues will offer cuisine from Chicory, Dos Hermanos, the Oyster Boys, Sophie’s Scoops and others, on all three days.
Festivities continue Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Activities include a pet parade, Biergarten, live music and children’s entertainment including a Super Smash Bros. competition and chalk art competition (noon to 3 p.m., with prizes announced on Sunday), vendors, the makers market, buskers, and more.
And on Sunday, the popular Diva Drag Brunch takes place at 11 a.m. At noon, Scherler Sunday host Markly Morrison, host of the podcast “Low Profile!” will present Olympia’s surf punk combo The Proffits, who will both perform and share stories about coming of age in the Olympia music scene of the 1980s and ’90s.
The purpose of LoveOly, in its third year, is to bring people together and promote downtown, Freeman said.
“I’d like people to come away with a sense of community, diversity and an awareness of what downtown has to offer,” she said. “And I hope people know that coming downtown is fun.”
During LoveOly, downtown throbs with live musical performances. On Friday, main stage musicians are Sarah Adams, Coven Dove, Seaside Tryst, Brittany Davis, Horse Feathers and Little Lies.
On Saturday, performers include The Zaniac, The Rat Utopia Experiment, Sweet N’Juicy, Beatrix Sky, Johnny Franco, Lovely Colours, Sera Cahoone, LAKE and Glitterfox.
And on Sunday, the Drag Diva Brunch at 11 a.m. is followed by the surf punk combo, The Proffits, at noon, sharing music and stories.
The Downtown Olympia Alliance is grateful for LoveOly SummerFest 2025 sponsors: Oly Fed, Providence Swedish, Puget Sound Energy, WSECU, Olympia Rental and Landlord Services, Timberland Bank, Hands On Children’s Museum, and KXXO radio, 96.1. Also, Archibald Sisters, Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar, City of Olympia, Heritage Bank, Holy Lamb Organics, Olympia Computer and South Puget Sound Community College.
Downtown Olympia Alliance Executive Director Freeman hopes that LoveOly SummerFest helps to excite people about what downtown Olympia has to offer.
“Maybe they haven’t been downtown in a while and they come to hear a band at LoveOly,” she said. “We hope it re-ignites their passion and interest in downtown.”
Photos by Kierston Smith Photography.
WHAT:
LoveOly SummerFest
WHEN:
Friday, June 20, to Sunday, June 22
WHERE:
Downtown Olympia, Fifth Avenue and Washington Streets
COST:
Free
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://loveolydowntown.com/events/loveoly-summerfest/