This weekend in Lacey, WA

Participants gather at North Thurston High School in Lacey for a poker run with stop details provided at check-in. Groups of five to ten will head out based on turnout, and the route concludes at JJ's Car Care in Rainer, the fifth stop, for a barbecue and potluck while poker hands are tallied. Bring a dish to share, and if needed it can be left at the school for pickup before departure. Poker hands cost $10 each with no limit on how many you can purchase. At the final stop, one additional card per hand may be bought for $5. Proceeds help cover the barbecue. Awards will be presented for the best hand, second best, and the worst hand. Plan for the drive and start the day with a full tank.

Make the most of your jelly roll stash with a quick, efficient project that uses nearly every strip. It comes together fast and leaves only minimal scraps, offering a satisfying stash buster.

The Thurston County Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Lacey Community Center is a free event suitable for families, focused on building emergency readiness. Attendees can explore resources, receive practical advice, and take part in activities that promote safety and preparedness.

American Legion Auxiliary Post 164 presents its first Chili Cook-Off, bringing neighbors together to taste a wide variety of community-made chili recipes. Alongside the tastings, local businesses and vendors will be on hand with goods to browse and buy, offering an opportunity to support area enterprises. Families will also find kids’ activities so children can stay entertained while adults explore the event and sample the chili. It is a welcoming community gathering centered on flavor, local shopping, and family-friendly fun.

Now in its fifth year, Fall in the Northwest Market brings over 80 vendors and a variety of food trucks to the Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center. Browse a wide selection of goods and seasonal items to get a head start on the fall holidays while supporting local small businesses. Admission and parking are free. Prospective vendors can apply through the event’s official website.

Intuitive Tarot sessions with Sage are offered at Radiance Olympia. With four decades of experience, Sage combines Tarot with dreamwork, astrology, and professional coaching, using principles from neuroscience and depth psychology to help clients gain clarity about their path forward. Both appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Sessions are available in 15, 30, 45, or 60 minute formats priced at $40, $60, $80, and $100 respectively.

Free Magic The Gathering open play takes place at Eckys, a veteran owned and operated store in Yelm with a clean, family friendly atmosphere. Players can connect through the store’s Discord page to find other participants, learn about upcoming special events, and share strategies. Members there also get first updates on new releases and items for sale.

Open Commander play for MTG takes place at the store every Saturday. Participation is free. Players can connect with other players through a Discord community.

Lula Fest 2026 brings live music, a car show, and vendor booths to Capitol Theater. Headlined by The Pazific from Seattle, the bill also includes Mona Y Latin Drums from Chile, AKA from Olympia, DJ Kalambre from Tumwater, and DJ Muneca from Olympia, and more. VIP tickets are available for 25 dollars. The event is presented with support from City of Olympia, First Security Bank, The Long Game Advisory Group, South Sound YMCA, The JOLT, Mullinax Ford of Olympia, Bytes Recycling, Olympia Downtown Alliance, Olympia Salsa, and Charro Mexican Restaurant.

This community gathering centers on food, connection, and generosity to support healing for Veterans, Military Service Members, First Responders, and their families. Buying tickets, making a donation, or taking part in the silent and dessert auctions helps expand access to integrated therapies that ease trauma, chronic pain, stress, and thoughts of suicide. Every shared meal contributes to hope, recovery, and renewed strength for those who serve and protect. It is a heartfelt effort to make a real difference together.

23 Kitchens transforms its backyard into a festive Oktoberfest beer garden featuring live music by Lavon Blue. Each ticket includes admission, a custom 5 oz mini beer stein, and four tasting tickets to sample a variety of brews. Enjoy cold beer, traditional German bites, and great company in a lively atmosphere. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Baurice Nelson returns to headline in his hometown at Ricardo's Kitchen and Bar, bringing a sharpened voice, a bigger stage presence, and a set honed over two years in Boise. During that time he has featured and headlined in clubs, theaters, and comedy rooms up and down the West Coast, winning laughs with honest storytelling, quick wit, and a larger than life take on everyday moments. Known for turning real experiences into relatable jokes delivered with confidence, charm, and a touch of edge, this homecoming feels more like a victory lap. Ian Yearsley will appear as the featured act. A walk up bar and snack food will be available. Dinner is offered in the restaurant, and reservations can be made by calling Ricardo's and mentioning that you are attending comedy.

A showcase for all Mustangs and Ford powered vehicles comes to North Thurston High School with Ponies in the Park, presented by Mustangs West. Expect show cars alongside music, food, vendors, kids activities, and raffle prizes, including a 50/50 drawing that supports a local charity. Awards will recognize first through third across more than 50 classes, plus Best in Show for early and late models, People’s Choice, Kids Choice, a club participation honor with a $100 cash prize, and several specialty awards. Classes span early and modern Mustangs, non‑Mustang Fords, Ford trucks, Shelby, Roush, Saleen, Boss, Bullitt, Mach 1, Dark Horse, Ford GT, RTR, Cougar, Cobra, special editions, panther and police car, European Ford, under‑construction Ford powered builds, and young enthusiasts. Pre‑registration is available for $20, and day‑of‑show registration is $25. Show T‑shirts are offered by pre‑order only, priced at $25 for sizes Small to XL and $30 for 2X to 5X, with tall options for select sizes. Mullinax Ford of Olympia is the Gold Sponsor. Event details and class groupings may be updated, and participants are encouraged to ignore unofficial messages offering to handle registration.

This is a fiction critique session at the Haagen food court. Participants bring several copies of a 4 to 6 page piece for feedback, read it aloud, then listen as the group highlights what works before exploring questions, points of confusion, and suggestions.

Enjoy Pokemon open play at Eckys. It is free to play and free to join. A Discord channel is available to coordinate plans and connect with other players.

Enjoy a weekly open play session at Eckys that makes it easy to meet fellow players, talk strategy, and plan future sessions. There is no cost to participate. A Discord channel is available to help coordinate meetup times and connect with others.

Presented by SPICY Lounge in collaboration with Chayanne Montiel, this waterfront Latin dance gathering brings salsa, cumbia, bachata, and merengue to an open-air setting by the water. A group lesson is led by SPICY’s dance instructors alongside Chayanne Montiel, with DJ Santos curating the music. Expect lively rhythms, shared laughs, and a welcoming community vibe for friends and families.