Olympia Fall 2026 Arts Walk is Oct. 2 & 3!
A semi-annual community event celebrating the arts. Since 1990, thousands gather in downtown Olympia in both the Spring and Fall for a festive arts experience that uses creativity to connect and engage. Olympia Fall Arts Walk returns Friday, October 2, from 5:00-10:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 3, from 12:00-6:00 p.m.
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Visit artswalkoly.com for the latest updates and discover newly added showcases, performances, exhibitions, and activities coming up this Fall Arts Walk.
Poetry this Week with Olympia Poet Laureate Ocean
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An UNSINKABLE Poetry Reading
Olympia Poetry Network welcomes contributors from Unsinkable: Poetry Inspired by the Titanic. Featuring Olympia Poet Laureate Ocean, Kara Briggs, Terri Cohlene, Chris Dahl, Anya Kirshbaum, Nathalie Kuriowa-Lewis, and Cynthia Pratt. Co-editor Sandy Yannone.
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Wednesday, September 23, 6:30-8:00pm
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Harbor House on Percival Landing - 217 Thurston Avenue
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Please note: seating is limited at the Harbor House
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Generative Writing Workshop - Resilient Poetry in Dark Times. Poet Michael Zinkowski in Olympia
Writing Workshop - A Project of the Olympia Poet Laureate Program
Poet and writing instructor Michael Zinkowski, author of forthcoming poetry collection The Way the Waves Do, will lead a creative workshop exploring poetic practice during dark political/personal times.
What do especially dark times ask of writers? To write, of course, but how? And why? Inspired by a rich tradition of poets writing through, about, and in spite of darkness, this workshop will reckon with how to be poetically resilient. More specifically, we will use model poems of resilience to write our own!
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Thursday, September 24, 6-8pm
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Harbor House on Percival Landing - 217 Thurston Ave NW
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Please note: seating is limited at the Harbor House
No writing experience needed-all welcome!
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Crowdsourced Poetry Night: Lost, Recorded, Found, Read
Hosted by Oly's Poet Laureate Ocean
Come for an evening of crowdsourced poetry - where the audience shapes the reading. Bring a poem you love or a recording from a passed poet. Together, we'll put a ton of poems and words in a room and see what happens.
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Friday, September 25, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
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Orca Books Cooperative, 315 5th Ave SE
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FREE, Open to All Ages. No Registration Required
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For more information, contact [email protected].
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To learn more about Olympia's Poet Laureate program, visit olympiawa.gov/poetlaureate.
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Join us at Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation for some great classes! To register or for more information, please click the link after each class, call 360-753-8380 or stop by to see us at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, Olympia.
Performing Arts & Dance
Sensory Friendly Creative Dance Class, Sep 28-Nov 16
Sensory Friendly Toddler Dance, Sep 29-Nov 17
Sensory Friendly Creative Dance Class, Sep 29-Nov 17
Intro to Theatre, Sep 29-Dec 15
Intro to Improv, Oct 19-Nov 23
British Rock Invasion Ukulele, Oct 21-Dec 2
Beginning Line Dance Class, Oct 23-Nov 13
K-pop Dance, Oct 24
RakasaFit Core Fitness Belly Dance, Nov 2-Dec 14
Intermediate/Advanced Belly Dance, Nov 2-Dec 14
Short Form Improv 2: Hosting, Games & Performance, Nov 3-Dec 8
Hawaiian Dance, Nov 4-Dec 16
Advanced Hawaiian Dance, Nov 4-Dec 16
Long Form Improv Intensive, Nov 5 -14
Ukulele Holiday Songs, Nov 7-Dec 12
Creative Contemporary Dance, Nov 9-Dec 14
All About Guitar Chords, Nov 19
K-pop Dance, Nov 21
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Olympia Family Theater Presents:
TWO VERY DIFFERENT NIGHTS OF THEATER THIS FALL!
TALES TOLD IN TEN brings six brand new plays to life in one day, followed by the magical locally written Mainstage production of THE LUNA SISTERS OF ELEMENT!
Olympia Family Theater is kicking off its 20th season with two very different theatrical experiences that celebrate imagination, collaboration and the incredible artists who make live theater happen in our community. On September 26, audiences are invited to experience Tales Told in Ten, OFT's fast paced annual theater-making challenge, followed by The Luna Sisters of Element, a magical new play celebrating family, culture, and the power of the elements, running October 16 through November 1.
TALES TOLD IN TEN - One prompt. Six plays. One day.
On Saturday, September 26, we will transform into a whirlwind of theatrical creation for Tales Told in Ten. At 7:00am on Friday Sep 26, six playwrights will receive the same surprise prompt. By 7:00 p.m. the following day, their brand new ten minute plays will be onstage! Six directors, six casts, and a team of theater artists will have just one day to turn those freshly written scripts into fully realized performances. The result is an evening of unpredictable, hilarious, heartfelt and completely original theater.
Tales Told in Ten celebrates the collaborative spirit of live performance and gives local artists an opportunity to create something together that has never existed before and will never happen quite the same way again. Performances are September 26 at 7:00pm and 9:00pm.
THE LUNA SISTERS OF ELEMENT - Four sisters. Four elements. One magical journey.
Beginning October 16, Olympia Family Theater presents The Luna Sisters of Element, a new play by Olivia Salazar de Breaux and Katherine Trahan. With original music by Olivia Salazar de Breaux & Anjali Silva Marron. Directed by Angel Ramirez. Musically directed by Anjali Silva Marron.
Lina, Val, Zo, and Rory are four sisters connected to the elemental forces of fire, water, wind, and earth. Accompanied by a little dragonfly alebrije, the sisters embark on a magical journey that explores family, identity, tradition and the forces that connect us all.
Rooted in Mexican American culture and inspired by the traditions and imagery surrounding Día de los Muertos, The Luna Sisters of Element invites audiences into a world where magic, music, and memory come together.
The production features original music and live accompaniment with vibrant theatrical design, and a story centered on the bonds between sisters and the generations that came before them.
"The Luna Sisters of Element is a story about family, about finding your own element, and about understanding that none of us exists alone," says Director Angel Ramirez. "It's exactly the kind of imaginative and heartfelt storytelling that we love to bring to our community."
The Luna Sisters of Element runs October 16 through November 1.
TWO EVENTS, ONE COMMUNITY - From six plays created in a single day to a fantastical journey through the elements, these productions represent two sides of what OFT does best: creating space for artists to take risks, to tell stories and to build something together in community.
Both events are part of OFT's 20th season, Adventures Under the Same Sky, celebrating the many stories and cultures, generations and artists who share the same sky.
Olympia Family Theater is a nonprofit multigenerational community theater in downtown Olympia, offering Mainstage productions alongside theater education for youth and adults and Magic Curtain Mornings for toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond. Founded in 2006, OFT is celebrating 20 years of bringing accessible, imaginative theater to the South Sound.
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Tales Told in Ten - a 24 hour play festival AND The Luna Sisters of Element
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Tales Told: Sat Sep 26 at 7pm & 9pm, The Luna Sisters runs Oct 16 - Nov 1
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Olympia Family Theater | 612 4th Avenue East, Downtown Olympia 98501
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Online tickets available, with a recommended price of $20 - No one turned away for lack of funds! Thursdays are PWYC night, and Friday night shows have $10 rush tickets!
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Tickets available now at www.OlyFT.org and up to 1 hour before showtime at the box office
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RATING: All ages
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More information at www.Olyft.org
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Our Mission: Olympia Family Theater engages audiences of all ages in performances and programs that entertain and educate.
Ballet Northwest Presents Ballet Victoria's Alice in Wonderland
Ballet Northwest (BNW), Olympia's Dance Company, brings the professional dancers of Canada's Ballet Victoria to Olympia to perform their acclaimed production of Alice in Wonderland at the Washington Center. BNW Co-Artistic Director Josie Johnson says, "Audiences in the South Sound are in for a treat with this magical production featuring the beautiful dancers of Ballet Victoria."
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole and discover a whole new world of fantasy and frivolous fun. Set to a score by Benjamin Britten, this storybook ballet is playful and quirky, featuring iconic characters from Lewis Carroll's book-the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and a few special guests. Ballet Victoria brings this classic tale to life with bold choreography, striking costumes, and original sets and projections.
Ballet Victoria's retelling of Alice in Wonderland dives into absurdity, touches curiosity, meets peculiar creatures, and plays with logic, seamlessly blending reality with fantasy. Join Alice and all your favorite characters in Wonderland!
Founded in 2002, Ballet Victoria's performances are dramatic, technically demanding, accessible and relevant to a wide range of multicultural audiences. These professional shows are entertaining, hold great artistic depth and satisfy both those who discover ballet and the expert aficionado. Having produced close to 100 new works, including 10 full length ballets, and toured in Canada, the USA and Mexico, Ballet Victoria's artistic team is constantly exploring new territory. Music creates an uncompromising array of choreographies, from Baroque music to rock, from opera to folk songs. Ballet Victoria cultivates fascinating experiences and delightful memories from a profound love of dance.
Artistic Director and Choreographer Paul Destrooper was a lead dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Alberta Ballet, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Paul has created works, taught and coached for professional companies and schools including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Anchorage Ballet Theater, Evansville Dance Theater, Ballet Edmonton, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Victoria Symphony, Intrepid Theatre, and Victoria Conservatory of Music. Destrooper's choreography has been featured in four Hallmark Movies of the Week.
Ballet Northwest has a long history of presenting professional companies to broaden its own season. Previous guest companies have included Oregon Ballet Theatre, Eugene Ballet, Ailey II, Philadanco, Whim W'him, and stars from Pacific Northwest Ballet, among others. BNW's Co-Artistic Director Ken Johnson explains, "It's important for our audiences to see high quality dance performances throughout the year, and Ballet Victoria's Alice in Wonderland will complement our full-length productions of The Nutcracker and Don Quixote nicely."
Ballet Northwest's season, including Alice in Wonderland, is supported by Inspire Olympia, Capital Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric, Timberland Bank, Fieldstone of Olympia and Nisqually Indian Tribe.
Since 1970, Ballet Northwest has been a community-based group dedicated to promoting, teaching, and preserving the art of dance in Southwestern Washington. The company offers educational opportunities for local dancers as well as outreach throughout the community.
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Ballet Northwest Alice in Wonderland
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Saturday, November 7 at 2pm
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The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St SE Olympia, WA 98501
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Ticket Office - 360-753-8586 or order online at www.washingtoncenter.org.
Documenting Ourselves: an oral history workshop for families and communities
This workshop is for anyone who is interested in learning a process and tools for documenting their family or community history. We'll consider how to spark memories and make a meaningful connection through the interview process, learn basic recording techniques and technology, and explore ethical considerations of recording other peoples' stories. Participants leave with a basic framework and resources to carry out an oral history interview with a loved one.
Led by Window Seat Media in conjunction with its guest exhibit, The Third Thirty, that is on display at the Lacey Museum and Cultural Center through the end of November.
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Thursday, October 1, 5:30-7:00pm
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Lacey Museum and Cultural Center, 4160 6th Ave SE Ste 101, Lacey, WA 98503
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Free
Vaudeville Show celebrates 20 years of local variety arts in Olympia, WA!
The 20th Annual Lord Franzannian's Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show!
BigShowCity non-profit Performing Arts Organization presents the 20th annual Lord Franzannian Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show! Hosted by storyteller Elizabeth Lord. Don't miss this hilarious romp of live entertainment, and incredible local talent. Come support Olympia local live art performance. Get your tickets early, last year's show sold out each night!
Proceeds from show ticket sales benefit working performers and BigShowCity, a non-profit Performing Arts Organization whose mission is: To help burgeoning Olympia artists realize their ambitions by providing financial and emotional support.
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October 9, 10, 11, and 16, 17, 18, and 23, 24, 2026 (Recommended for ages 16+), 8:00 pm
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Plus one additional matinee performance for ALL AGES Sunday October 18 at 2:00pm
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Ticket Price: $25-$35. Matinee Youth tickets: $7 for children under 15.
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Advance Tickets available online: https://vaudevilleshow.ludus.com/200546286 or https://vaudevilleshow.ludus.com
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Buy Tickets at the door night of show: Accept Cash, Check, or Venmo
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No one turned away for lack of funds: NOTAFLOF
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Wild Child 414 East 4th Ave. In downtown Olympia, WA.
Monday at the Eagles -- the Kate Olson Quartet
Kate Olson is a saxophone improvisor and music educator based in Seattle, WA. Since moving to Seattle in 2010, she has done her best to infiltrate the local, regional and international improvised music scenes. Kate has a BA in Music (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Wyoming and an MM in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, and is currently on the jazz faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound.
Kate has been nominated for many Earshot Golden Ear Awards, including Emerging Artist and Best NW Instrumentalist Categories. In 2016 her band KO Ensemble was also nominated as best NW Alternative Group. In 2020 the KO Ensemble won the Golden Ear Award for best NW Instrumental Group and in 2022, KO Electric was nominated for Best Alternative Group. In 2025, Kate won the Best NW Instrumentalist category.
The Quartet is Kate Olson, Saxophone; Conner Eisenmenger, trombone/trumpet; Tim Carey, electric bass; Evan Woodle, drums.
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Monday, September 21st, 7 - 9:30pm
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The Eagles Social Club, 4th and Plum
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$15 - $35 suggested
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All ages welcome until 9pm
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The Eagles Social Club welcomes Eagles members and their guests. Be our guest for the evening.
SoundCore Exchange
Free Nature Poetry Workshops with Puget Sound Estuarium and Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
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Cynthia Pratt, October 27, 4:30-6pm
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Ocean & Emily Van Kley, November 7, 4:30-6pm
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Kathleen Byrd, November 21, 4:30-6pm
Workshops at Puget Sound Estuarium, 309 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98501
Book Launch Celebration- The Joyful Practice Handbook
What if play, not discipline, is the key to unlocking your creative work?
Olympia authors Jennifer Berney and Sarah Tavis celebrate the launch of their co-created book, The Joyful Practice Handbook: analog play for dark times. Written on typewriters and illustrated by hand, The Joyful Practice Handbook explores the challenge of being creative in the age of AI. Tavis and Berney present an approach that centers play, experimentation, connection to nature. They see this work as an antidote to grind culture and digital imperialism.
In this talk, the authors will read and share images from the book and tell stories about their collaborative process and the evolution of the work.
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Olympia Timberland Library 313 8th Ave SE Oly, WA 98501
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Wed, Sept. 23 6:30pm
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Learn more
Governor's Mansion Celebrates America 250 Art Exhibition Power of Place Artist Meet & Greet Reception
The public is invited to a special Artist Meet & Greet reception in celebration of the America250 exhibition Power of Place, on Thursday, October 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Washington State Governor's Mansion.
The event, sponsored by the Governor's Mansion Foundation, gives the public a unique opportunity to step inside the residence to meet the artists behind Power of Place. Guests will hear firsthand the stories, inspirations and connections behind the artwork while exploring the exhibition in the company of many of the artists.
Renowned glass artist and featured event speaker Dan Friday is a member of the Lummi Nation and a Skagit Valley-based artist who often draws on themes and images from his Coast Salish heritage. Salmon are central to the cultural, ecological and economic story of Washington and Friday's salmon glass art brings light, movement and living indigenous artistic tradition to the mansion's historic space. Friday's art is seen in museums and private collections across the world and now joins the Governor's Mansion's permanent collection.
From farm fields to city streets, Indigenous heritage to the quiet and bustling corners of Washington, the other featured artists reflect a wide range of experiences. Carla Paine's intimate depictions of Olympia farm life celebrate family, labor, and community. Andy Eccleshall reflects the enduring agricultural presence that continues to shape the land. Melanie Thompson captures the vast skies and iconic geology of Eastern Washington, emphasizing both scale and stillness. Louie Gong centers Coast Salish design and contemporary Indigenous values. Urban scenes by Michael Stasinos, James Kroner, and Nancy Romanovsky complete the exhibition, underscoring the dynamic relationship between land, people, and place in Washington State.
About Washington State's America250 exhibition Power of Place: The exhibition explores Washington State across time-before statehood, during its formation, and into the present-through landscapes, people, and lived experience. The exhibition brings together historic works from the Mansion's collection alongside contemporary voices, highlighting the deep connections between land, culture, and identity. America250 is the official bi-partisan nationwide observance and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
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Power of Place Artist Meet & Greet Reception
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Thursday, October 8, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
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Washington State Governor's Mansion, Campus Map (501 133h Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98501)
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$40 - general admission; $34 - Governor's Mansion Foundation members
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Ticket price includes light lunch/refreshments
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Advance reservations are required
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Ticket purchase deadline: September 29, 2026
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For more information and tickets, Purchase Here
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To become a Friend of the Mansion, visit wagovmansion.org
Hummingbird Studio at Fall Arts Walk
Join hummingbird studio during Fall Arts Walk at the corner of 5th Avenue and Washington Street. Together with internationally acclaimed artist Jennifer Kuhns, we invite the community to help create a mosaic as a gift to the Thurston County Food Bank. Free. All ages & abilities welcome. Come create in community with us!
Poet Laureate Ocean at Fall Arts Walk
Join local DJ Bardo Drift and poet laureate Ocean for an immersive experience at Death Dancer's new space during Artswalk: "Death Journey Meditation." Together we will embark on a deep mortality meditation accompanied by emotive soundscapes. You will emerge changed!
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"The Edge" 412 Jefferson St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
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October 4th 10:00am
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No registration needed; all welcome.
Newsletter Roundup
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South Sound Studio Tour Volunteer Opportunities
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The South Sound Studio Tour is looking for Board Members. Send a resume and short statement of interest to [email protected] to apply.
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The South Sound Studio Tour is looking for volunteers. Fill in the Volunteer Interest Form to help with the 2027 Studio Tour, artist opportunities, and related events.
Downtown Oly Winterfest & Parade is BACK!
Here's how you can help make it happen!
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LoveOly WinterFest - November 29, 10am - 4 pm
We are currently booking 20-30 minute volunteer performances on our Main Stage at 5th and Washington St. This includes dancers, singers, holiday themed performances, etc. Contact Morgan Willie [email protected], for details.
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Jinglebell Parade - November 29, 2-3 PM
We're also bringing back the Jinglebell Parade as part of WinterFest and are looking for local organizations to participate. We're especially hoping to showcase the incredible arts and culture community here in Olympia. There's no cost to enter. Here is the registration link with more details.
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Tree Lighting Ceremony at Sylvester Park - Nov 29, 4:30 pm
We will cap off the day and kick off the season with the tree lighting at Sylvester Park with support from DES!
Museum & Visitor Center Front Desk Docent
The Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance is seeking volunteers to support the OlyAHA! Museum & Visitor Center. Volunteering at the Olympia AHA Museum is a chance to learn and share Olympia's stories, to build connections in the community, to gain museum and customer service experience, and to be a part of something local, vital and lasting. Our volunteers are the face of the Olympia AHA Museum. They greet guests, share stories, and connect visitors to the best of Olympia.
As a volunteer you will:
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Welcome and assist visitors
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Interpret exhibitions
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Sell merchandise
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Help visitors to discover Olympia's arts, heritage, and cultures
We're looking for committed volunteers who are enthusiastic about Olympia's arts, cultures and history.
Our volunteer team is:
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Friendly, welcoming, and professional
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Comfortable learning point-of-sale and scheduling tools
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Reliable, cooperative, and ready to assist visitors
Volunteer Experience:
Volunteers work in pairs at our front desk for three- or four-hour shifts. Volunteers can expect seasonal appreciation events and ongoing learning opportunities!
Learn more and complete a Volunteer Interest Form at www.olyaha.org/volunteer.
Volunteer at the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts
TCMoFA is currently looking for volunteers to help support our organization in upcoming programming. The museum is a volunteer operated project run on the passion, commitment, and enthusiasm of local artists and arts organizers. We are seeking volunteers for front desk shifts and flyering in Olympia. To apply visit our website tcmofa.org
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Olympia Historical Society
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If you have an interest in local history, please consider becoming a volunteer with the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. We have a variety of roles to fill, including tour guides for the museum's Sunday afternoon open hours (1:00pm-4:00pm), groundskeeping at monthly Saturday morning work parties, and committee work for our Education, Bigelow House Operations, and Events (annual historic homes tour and spring fundraiser) committees.
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The ARCH Digest is a summary of Arts, Culture and History happenings in the greater Olympia area, submitted by the community. Please turn in ArCH Digest listings to [email protected].
Deadline Monday morning, 8 a.m.
If you know of anyone who would like to receive the City of Olympia Arts & Culture news, which includes a weekly ArCH Digest, direct them here and have them mark the Arts & Culture box.
Disclaimer: Information in the Arts Digest is not vetted through the City, nor is it endorsed by the City. The reader is solely responsible for checking background on any opportunity listed above.
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Contact
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
360.709.2678
[email protected]
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