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We are excited to welcome back WSECU LoveOly WinterFest, a festive street celebration kicking off the holiday season in Downtown Olympia. Join us on Sunday, December 1, from noon to 6 pm, at the corner of 5th Avenue and Washington Street for a day filled with holiday cheer, family-friendly entertainment, and seasonal activities—all free, thanks to our wonderful sponsors.

Event Highlights

Bring your loved ones to enjoy live performances by school groups, the Oly Chamber Brass, and a special show from Harlequin Productions. With a range of family-friendly activities and plenty of holiday spirit, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Here's what to expect:

• Kids’ Holiday Crafts powered by the Hands-On Children’s Museum
• Storytelling in the Olympia Ballroom lobby
• Hot Chocolate Station hosted by Sofie’s Scoops and Dancing Goats
• Local Artisan Market featuring handcrafted holiday gifts
• Visits with Santa at 222 Market, located at 222 Capitol Way North

Event Details

What: LoveOly WinterFest Street Festival

When: Sunday, December 1, 2024, from noon to 6 p.m.

Where: Downtown Olympia, 5th Avenue and Washington Street

Learn more

The Heritage Room, in Olympia, WA

Downtown Olympia has a venue for every occasion, big or small. When you choose one of these unique locations, you’re not only creating unforgettable experiences—you’re also supporting our vibrant local businesses. Start planning your next event today, and let Olympia set the stage for your success!

Venues Include:

• The Heritage Room
• The Abigail Stuart House
• Traditions Fair Trade
• Room 107
• Eagle's Grand Ballroom
• The Olympia Ballroom
• Overhill at Underhill Plants
• DoubleTree by Hilton
• Mercato Ristorante
• Bayview Patio
• Uptown Grill
• Endless Sound Cellars

Read our full story here

Commute to Work in an Intercity Transit Vanpool

Save money and reduce your carbon footprint by changing up your commute! Last month, commuters going to downtown Olympia tried vanpooling through the "Switch Your Trips" campaign, resulting in fewer single-vehicle trips, less congestion, fewer emissions and more parking for customers and other visitors.

LOTT Clean Water Alliance recently started a new Vanpool group. "A friend of mine applied for a position at Intercity Transit and told me about this [vanpool] program. After doing some researchI found out it was possible to reduce our carbon footprint when four of us were commuting the same way to the office. We've been able to remove 3 vehicles off of the roadways daily and reduce our solo trips together from 370 miles round trip to 74 miles." Another benefit of vanpooling is saving money. "This was the 'why' you share the ride. Less wear and tear and all the fuel getting to work adds up. When you vanpool, it means hundreds of savings."

You can commute to downtown once a week or every day with your coworkers. You only need 3 people to start a new vanpool or join an existing one. Intercity Transit provides the van, gas, tolls, insurance, maintenance and a guaranteed ride home. Individuals pay a low monthly fare based on their daily round-trip miles and some employers cover part or all of the fare for their employees. There's no risk--your first month is free!"

To learn more, contact Intercity Transit at 360-786-8800 or vanpool@intercitytransit.com.

Last year, Madison Elementary in Olympia was nearly closed even though it was voted the best elementary in Olympia for 2 years in a row by Best of South Sound. Our PTO is holding its first auction to broaden our community outreach and raise some money! On Saturday, December 7th from 3:00-6:00PM at the Swantown Inn, guests will enjoy delicious bites, beer & wine, a silent auction, live music, raffles and more, all in support of Madison Elementary School students! Many of our prizes are from local downtown businesses, many owned by Madison families. Limited tickets available, so snag yours early!

One of our tickets even includes an overnight stay at Swantown Inn!

*Very limited childcare available, by reservation only until full. If interested please email madisonlionspto@gmail.com

Learn More

StoryOly is Olympia’s premiere Story Slam event, where community members gather monthly to share, compete, and tell true stories based on a theme. From November to August, storytellers bring their unique voices to the stage, connecting through shared experiences and celebrating the power of narrative.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
• Time: 6 PM doors / 7 PM show
• Location: The Brotherhood Lounge
• Ages: 21+

Whether you’re a storytelling enthusiast or new to the stage, StoryOly is a community celebration of connection and creativity. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable event!

Learn More

Community Youth Services’ Winter Wonders Program is an incredible initiative to brighten the holidays for young people in foster care, shelters, and transitional housing. Here’s how you can make a difference:

Holiday Gift Giving Program

Pick a family or individual to support through CYS’s website and spread holiday cheer. Hate to shop? No problem—a donation lets their team handle the shopping for you! Visit: communityyouthservices.org/winterwonders

Warm Clothing & Essentials Drive

Help keep youth warm this winter by donating new or gently used weather-appropriate clothing (sizes L-4X for men are especially needed), hygiene products, blankets, and sleeping bags. Check out their Amazon Wishlist for ideas: Click here

Team Up for a Cause

Organize a “Team Drive” with your coworkers, church, or community group!

Let’s make the season brighter for the youth in our community. For more information, contact Sarah at 360-918-7881 or email shodge@communityyouthservices.org.

Olympia Family Theater announces its next MainStage adventure, Honk! The Musical, running November 29-December 22, 2024 at Olympia Family Theater in downtown Olympia. Tickets are available now at www.OlyFt.org.

Honk! The Musical is a joyful, full-scale musical production filled with incredible songs, lively dances, and tons of laughter. This family-friendly comedy brings an important message about diversity and inclusivity, reminding us all to celebrate what makes each of us unique.

Learn More

The News of the Week in Downtown Olympia is a newsletter created by the Olympia Downtown Alliance and is a summary of happenings Downtown.

If you have news related to downtown you'd like included, please email marketing@downtownolympia.org. Preference is given to Olympia Downtown Alliance members. If we do not share it here, chances are we'll share it on our Facebook or Instagram pages. We do reserve the right to use our discretion on what we share.

The deadline is Friday at 5 pm for inclusion in the next week's newsletter.

If you know of anyone who would like to receive the News of the Week in Downtown Olympia, please have them sign-up at the bottom of our home page here: downtownolympia.org.