July 21, 2026

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The Jinglebell Parade is Returning to Downtown Olympia & Now's the Time to Plan Your Entry!

We know...it feels a little strange to think about jingling bells when you're reaching for sunscreen. But if you've ever dreamed of building a festive float, dressing up your dog in reindeer antlers, or marching through downtown in your favorite ugly holiday sweater, now's the time to start planning!

After several years away, Olympia's beloved Jinglebell Parade is back! The parade was last held in 2019 before COVID put the tradition on pause, and we're thrilled to bring it back to downtown Olympia on Sunday, November 29.

Whether you're a business, nonprofit, school, performance group, car club, marching band, or simply a holiday enthusiast, we'd love to have you join this festive community tradition. The parade will culminate with the annual tree lighting ceremony in Sylvester Park, making it the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Registration is now open, and entries are due by November 9. So go ahead—start brainstorming those floats, polishing those marching routines, and finding the perfect elf costume for your four-legged friends. November will be here before you know it!

Last Wednesday's Music in the Park was a knock-out. We were blasting tunes from dance punk project J. Graves and surf punk jams from The Proffits! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate free live music in Olympia. 

Music in the Park Returns This Wednesday with Anne Magnolia & WINEHOUSE

Music in the Park, presented by Olympia Federal Savings, is back this Wednesday with another night of free live music, family fun, and great local food in our beautiful downtown parks.

Grab a bite from local favorites Sofie's Scoops, Lolli Llama Candy Shop, Batdorf & Bronson, and The Bus Stop, then let the kids get creative with free hands-on crafts provided by the Hands On Children's Museum. There's something for everyone to enjoy at Music in the Park!

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, gather your friends and family, and enjoy another memorable summer evening in downtown Olympia!

Next Gen Talent — Wednesday, July 22 (SYLVESTER PARK)

Celebrate emerging local talent with singer-songwriter Anne Magnolia and Olympia-based soul-pop group WINEHOUSE.

6:00 PM – 6:45 PM | Anne Magnolia

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | WINEHOUSE

Indie-Americana — July 29 (PORT PLAZA FINALE)

The series wraps up with an evening of heartfelt songwriting and harmonies featuring Olympia favorite Erina and acclaimed Americana band Daring Greatly.

6:00 PM – 6:45 PM | Erina

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Daring Greatly

Mark your calendars and join us for free music, community, and summer fun in Downtown Olympia.

Music in the Park Bingo is Here!

Pick up your bingo card at the Olympia Downtown Alliance info tent at Music in the Park:

• July 22 at Sylvester Park | 6-8 PM
• July 29 at Port Plaza | 6-8 PM

Bring proof that you've completed the activities to the ODA Info Tent at Music in the Park to receive your stamps.

3 Ways to Win: 

• X PATTERN - Complete activities in the X Pattern and enter to win the Grand Prize ($500 value!) 
• 4 ACROSS - Complete 4 activities in a row and enter to win the Oly Summer package ($150 value!) 
• ANY 4 - Complete any 4 activities (could simply attend all 4 Music in the Park concerts) and enter to win the LoveOly Pack ($45 value!)
  

Must be present at the July 29 Music in the Park concert to win. Good luck!

You + a local business = the perfect pair.

Thank you for supporting Downtown Olympia. To celebrate, and to help us test something new, we're launching a beta run of the LoveOly Downtown Dollar.

To say a quick thank you for keeping our community vibrant, we are launching a special beta test of our new LoveOly Downtown Dollar (the $2 bill)!

Want to help us test it out? We will be handing them out at the Music in the Park info tent on Wednesdays this month:

• July 22 at Sylvester Park
• July 29 at Port Plaza

Next time you visit your favorite participating downtown spot, just hand over your $2 Downtown Dollar at checkout to score an instant 20% off your purchase.

Quantities are limited for this test run, so come see us at the park! Check your Downtown Dollar for the expiration date, and see the full list of participating businesses at the link below.

Single Use: Redeem one $2 Downtown Dollars on purchases of $10 or more.

Multiple Use: Ability to redeem multiple $2 Downtown Dollars. Each $10 increment allows one additional $2 Downtown Dollar to be redeemed

Discover Olympia's Newest Weekend Market

There's something new happening at the corner of 4th Avenue and Capitol Way!

Spend your weekends exploring Olympia's newest recurring market, featuring local artists, makers, vintage vendors, and creative entrepreneurs.

Browse original artwork, handcrafted goods, jewelry, ceramics, home décor, vintage finds, and more while meeting the talented people behind the creations.

Open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm at 112 4th Ave. E. Admission is free, making it the perfect stop during your next downtown visit.

Experience "MOTHER" at TCMoFA

The Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts (TCMOFA) invites the community to experience "MOTHER," a powerful new group exhibition curated by self-taught visual artist Fern Tallos. Opening with a free reception on Friday, July 24, from 6–9 pm, the exhibition explores the many dimensions of motherhood through works that reflect joy, loss, resilience, transformation, and creativity.

Featuring artwork by 19 regional artists across a variety of mediums, MOTHER celebrates the often-overlooked intersection of caregiving and artistic expression. The exhibition runs July 24–September 18, with a closing reception on September 18. Admission is always free.

Museum Hours: Fridays, 2–7 pm (until 9 pm on First Fridays); Saturdays & Sundays, noon–4 pm.

Share Your Wish for America's Future

As the United States marks its 250th birthday, the Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance Museum invites you to be part of the conversation. Visit the "What Do You Wish for USA?" Wishing Wall in the Lobby Gallery and share your hopes for the nation's future.

Part of the national Civic Season Wish Wall program, this interactive installation encourages visitors to reflect on America's past and imagine what comes next.

Stop by now through August 9 to add your birthday wish for America and see what others in the community are dreaming about.

Take the Stage at StoryOly

Have a true story to tell? Or just love hearing unforgettable ones? StoryOly is Olympia's monthly live storytelling competition, where community members share personal, true stories inspired by a new theme each month.

Held on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at The Brotherhood Lounge, the event welcomes anyone 21+ to tell an eight-minute story or cheer on the night's storytellers. Audience volunteers serve as judges, and a suggested donation of $10–20 supports local charities and nonprofits—with no one turned away for lack of funds. Arrive early, as this popular event fills up quickly!

Catch Fireside Collective Live

Spend your Saturday evening with Fireside Collective, an energetic band known for blending bluegrass traditions with influences from folk, blues, and funk.

Their original songs, tight harmonies, and dynamic musicianship have earned them a reputation as one of the genre's most exciting live acts.

Don't miss this performance on Saturday, July 25, at Ilk Lodge from 8–10 pm for an unforgettable night of music.

Learn more.

Other Events to Know About...

• Harlequin Productions presents Million Dollar Quartet, June 19-July 26. Learn more.
• Fall ArtsWalk Registration, July 1 - July 31. Learn more.
• E4E Market - Aug 8. Learn more.
• Festival of the St̓əč̓as - Aug 14. Learn more.
• Movies at the Marina: August 21, Sing. September 5, Jumanji. Learn more.
• South Sound Block Party, August 28 - 29. Learn more.
• Olympia Harbor Days, September 4 - 6. Learn more.
• Homes First Fundraiser, September 16. Learn more.