Family events in Olympia, WA

Celebrate all things Dolly with a free screening of the 1980 comedy 9 to 5 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Olympia. Embrace the theme by dressing Dolly-inspired with big wigs, rhinestones, short skirts, and bold curves. In honor of Dolly’s legacy of literacy, bring a new or gently used children’s book to donate. This event is free and open to the public.

Get equipped for emergencies at a preparedness expo taking place at the Lacey Community Center. This free event is suitable for families and offers an engaging, educational setting with information, guidance, and interactive activities that support safety and readiness for individuals and households.

Celebrate the Nisqually watershed with a full day of art, science, music, wildlife, and family-friendly discovery at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy live musical performances and educational wildlife encounters, explore interactive exhibits from local environmental organizations, and dive into hands-on crafting like fish printing—bring a T-shirt—and wooden fish painting. Learn something new with educational shark dissections and an insect extravaganza, and look for FIN, the 25-foot giant wild salmon. Food and drinks will be available throughout the festival, including multiple snack, dessert, and lunch options with a salmon barbecue. Free shuttles run every 15 minutes from the Hawks Prairie Park-n-Ride to the Refuge, and admission is free all day.

An evening centered on food, community, and giving supports Veterans, Military Service Members, First Responders, and their loved ones on the path to healing. Contributions through tickets, donations, and participation in the silent and dessert auctions help provide access to integrated therapies that ease trauma, chronic pain, and stress, and address suicidal thoughts. Sharing a meal becomes a step toward hope, recovery, and renewed strength. It is a reminder that healing is possible together.

This car show at North Thurston High School welcomes Mustangs alongside other Ford-powered vehicles for a full day of automotive enthusiasm. Pre-registration is available for $20, and onsite registration is $25. Show T-shirts are offered by pre-order only, priced at $25 for sizes Small through XL and $30 for 2X through 5X, with tall options available for L through 4X. Expect raffle prizes, a 50/50 raffle benefiting a local charity, activities for kids, music, food, and a variety of vendors. Awards will recognize first through third place across more than 50 classes, plus Kid’s Choice, People’s Choice, Best in Show for early and late models, specialty awards, and a club participation honor that includes a $100 cash prize. Vehicle classes span early non-Mustang Fords through current models and include vintage Mustangs by year and body style, stock and modified categories, Shelby and Roush entries, Ford trucks, Boss, Bullitt, Mach 1, Saleen, Cougar, Dark Horse, special editions such as Ford GT and RTR, European Ford models, police and Panther-platform vehicles, under-construction Ford-powered builds, and a young enthusiasts category. Class listings are being updated and may change. Gold Sponsor: Mullinax Ford of Olympia.

Experience a dazzling afternoon of silent-era comedy and suspense with a double feature that scales the skyline. The program begins with Liberty from 1929, where Laurel and Hardy navigate a precarious steel framework after a wardrobe mix-up sets off a chain of close calls and expertly timed gags. The feature presentation, Safety Last! from 1923, follows Harold Lloyd as he tackles a vertigo-inducing ascent up a city skyscraper, building to one of cinema’s most famous moments. Expect thrills, laughs, and breathtaking physical comedy from start to finish.