Downtown for the Holidays: A Month of Magic in Downtown Olympia | | Downtown Olympia is glowing this season—and you’re invited to soak up every festive moment! Downtown for the Holidays is back with a full month of celebrations, special surprises, and classic Olympia charm. Whether you’re shopping, dining, strolling, or snapping adorable holiday photos, there’s something for everyone. | |
Eat, Drink, & Be Merry During LoveOly Shop & Dine
Nov 28–Dec 24
Shop local, get rewarded! Collect a sticker for every $10 spent downtown and redeem your passport for one of this year’s exclusive LoveOly gifts: a bold new bandana, a reusable cutlery set, or a snack & stroll lunch tote.
Print your Shop & Dine Passport and start collecting today!
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See Magical Snowfall at The Washington Center
It’s snowing in Downtown Olympia! Enjoy magical snowfall outside The Washington Center before select performances—a perfect moment for families, date nights, and holiday selfies.
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Enjoy 12 Days of Complimentary Parking
Dec 12–24
Thanks to the City of Olympia, you can enjoy complimentary parking while you shop, dine, and explore. More cheer, less stress.
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Vote for Your Favorite Holiday Storefront Display During Twinklefest 2025
Get ready to glow! Twinklefest 2025 invites you to stroll through downtown Olympia and vote for your favorite decked-out holiday storefront.
When: December 1 – January 5 (voting closes at 11:59 pm)
Where: Downtown Olympia – participating storefronts listed below.
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No purchase necessary—just wander, admire, and choose the display that shines brightest.
The winning business will earn the coveted 2025 Twinklefest Glow Getter award and will be featured on the Downtown Alliance’s Facebook, Instagram, and weekly newsletter. Only one winner will be crowned—choose wisely!
Click Here to Vote
Participating shops include: Metro Body Piercing, Olympia Bed Store, Archibald Sisters, The Wine Loft, Belleza Ropa, The Leaning Maple, Noctua Emporium, Childhood's End Gallery, and Peacock Vintage.
Bring your family, bring your friends, and discover the joy of the season—Downtown for the Holidays is waiting for you in the heart of Olympia!
| | WinterFest 2025 Highlights 🌟 | | | | |
Winterfest on Sunday, Nov. 30 was an absolute blast! Here are a few quick highlights:
| | A special shout out to Lily Smith, for hosting a free greenery workshop where folks took home a beautiful, fresh, handmade creation to decorate their home for the holidays. | | | | Our community really showed up this weekend, and we’re so proud to bring events like this to downtown Olympia. If you missed it, don’t worry—our recap video is on the way and currently in production! Stay tuned! | | Join us for the next Business Connect - Dec 10 | |
Join us on Wednesday, December 10 from 5:15–6:30 pm at Olympic Rental & Landlord Services (115 State Ave NE) for this month’s LoveOly Business Connect. It’s a great chance to connect, collaborate, and grow with fellow downtown businesses.
RSVP today and we’ll see you there!
| | Olympia Family Theater Presents: The Snow Queen | | |
Olympia Family Theater, in collaboration with the artists of String and Shadow, brings a magical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale to the stage this December. The Snow Queen follows young Gerda on a journey through enchanted landscapes as she meets curious characters, uncovers unexpected challenges, and discovers the true strength of friendship while searching for her best friend. This visually rich production features original storytelling, puppetry, and imaginative theatrical elements designed for audiences of all ages.
Details
Who: Olympia Family Theater
What: The Snow Queen, co-produced with String and Shadow Puppet Theater
When: December 4 to 28, 2025
Where: Olympia Family Theater, 612 4th Avenue East, Downtown Olympia
Price: Online tickets available with a recommended price of $20
Tickets: www.OlyFT.org
Rating: All ages
| | New Exhibit at Oly AHA Museum: Light in the Dark | | |
Left: "String Theory," Dave Sederberg, upper right, "Beneath the Bark"
John Corzine, lower right, "Resume, Together, Rely," Nikki McClure and Jay T. Scott
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Light in the Dark
November 14, 2025 – April 14, 2026
This winter, the Oly AHA Museum invites you to step inside Light in the Dark, an exhibit celebrating illuminated artwork and the story of how electric light transformed Olympia’s streets. From handcrafted wooden lamps to glowing creatures of the Procession, each piece explores how light guides, gathers, and grounds us—especially in the darkest months of the Pacific Northwest.
Click here to learn more about this exhibit.
| | Find Unique Gifts at the Arts + Crafts Market at LGM Studio | | |
What: CONTEMPORARY ARTS + CRAFTS MARKET
When: First two weekends of December (Fridays 5-8PM, Saturdays/Sundays 12-5PM)
Where: LGM Studio Location - between State Ave NW and 4th Ave, on the south side of the alley on the second floor.
Who: Lynette Charters, John Corzine, Lucy Gentry, Lynn Helbrecht, Melissa Nicholas, Rose Nicholas, Randi Parkhurst, Francisco Reyes, Julie Simpson, Mariana Vera, & Kelly Watson.
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Visit Oly on Ice this Holiday Season for Family Friendly Fun! | |
Winter break is coming — keep the kids busy with a trip to Oly on Ice!
Olympia’s favorite winter tradition has returned to Isthmus Park for the holiday season now through January 19, 2026.
Whether you’re gliding under the twinkle lights with family, friends, or a cup of hot cocoa in hand, Oly on Ice offers a fun and festive way to celebrate the season in the heart of downtown Olympia. With themed skate nights, special events, and plenty of local charm, it’s the perfect place to make winter memories.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for schedule updates, ticket information, and event details on the Oly On Ice website.
| | OlyFed Named One of the Nation’s Best Banks to Work For | | Above: OlyFed staff at the September ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of their ninth branch, located in Chehalis, Washington. Photo courtesy of Independent Banker. | | |
Olympia Federal Savings (OlyFed), one of our wonderful sponsors, has been recognized by the Independent Community Bankers of America as a 2025 Best Community Bank to Work For, honoring its people-first philosophy and strong community culture.
With nine branches and 115 employees across the South Sound, OlyFed is known for deep local engagement — contributing more than 1,500 volunteer hours each year and serving on over 40 nonprofit boards.
The bank’s commitment to employee well-being, transparent leadership, and shared success sets it apart, alongside robust benefits, mentorship programs, and a long-standing tradition of philanthropy. OlyFed is featured in the December issue of Independent Banker magazine.
| | Ballet Northwest Presents "The Nutcracker" at the Washington Center | | |
Ballet Northwest‘s Nutcracker has been a South Sound holiday tradition for over 40 years! The production features professional sets, stunning costumes, and beautiful dancing! Join Clara and The Nutcracker on their magical journey through the battle scene between the mice and toys soldiers, the enchanting Kingdom of Snow, and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Land of Sweets.
Tickets here.
| | Harlequin Presents, "A Christmas Carol" | |
For five unforgettable seasons, Harlequin’s A Christmas Carol has captured the hearts of audiences across the South Sound. Now, in our 5th anniversary production, we invite you to rediscover Dickens’ timeless tale of hope, redemption, and the true spirit of the season. Whether it’s your first visit or a return to a beloved tradition, this year promises to be the most memorable yet—with a reworked script, new characters, an updated set, new special effects, and all the warmth, music, and holiday magic you’ve come to cherish. Traditions evolve, and who knows what the future holds? Don’t miss this milestone year of A Christmas Carol at Harlequin.
Tickets here.
| | Events at the Olympia Timberland Regional Library | | |
Discovery Speaker Series: Freeing Ocean Giants
Thursday, December 4, 2025
6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
Join us for the Discovery Speaker Series at Timberland Regional Library as Jenn Tackaberry from Cascadia Research Collective shares her work rescuing large whales entangled off the West Coast. Learn about the challenges and successes of protecting these ocean giants, and stick around for a live Q&A!
Habitat at Home Workshop
Saturday, December 6, 1:00 pm
Join the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Stream Team for a hands-on workshop focused on creating habitat where you live, work, and play. Leave with a custom habitat plan and free native plants! Registration required at https://streamteam.info/events
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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.
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