September 15, 2026

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Salmon and seals at Capitol Lake

At the tail end of a long journey from the ocean to the far southern end of Puget Sound, Chinook salmon congregate at a fish ladder climbing into the lake. And every year, crowds gather at a bridge crossing Fifth Avenue in downtown Olympia, observing the salmon as they work up the courage to make the leap into the fish ladder.

But there’s another type of observer that likes to come watch the salmon here: harbor seals.

Seals love fish ladders like these because they’re chokepoints for migrating salmon — engineered to allow salmon to move over them, but still an obstacle to migration, in this case one of the final obstacles salmon face on their long journey back to the mouth of the Deschutes River. The salmon can make for an all-you-can-eat buffet for seals in the right place at the right time.

Continue reading this article published by Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife on Medium.

Salmon 101 at Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

Join Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar on Thursday, September 17 at 5:30pm for Salmon 101, the first in a new series of educational dining experiences. Chef Mike will demonstrate how to process wild-caught salmon, then prepare it for guests to enjoy with specially selected wine pairings. Attendees will also receive recipes to take home.

$75 per person with a $25 deposit applied to your final tab. Space is limited.

Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

Learn more here.

Tales Told in Ten

Olympia Family Theater’s annual 24 Hour Play Festival returns with Tales Told in Ten, an energetic celebration of local creativity and collaboration.



Six writers, six directors, a company of actors, designers and technicians have just 24 hours to create six brand-new ten-minute plays from scratch. Audiences get to experience the world premieres on Saturday, September 26, at 7pm or 9pm.



Expect laughter, surprises, creative risks and theater that will never happen quite the same way again.

Learn more here.

Cozy Cruise with Olympia Sailing Co.

Lean into the quieter season with a Cozy Cruise aboard Olympia Sailing Co.’s vintage trawler, Manna, October through December.

Settle in with blankets, a warm drink and a crackling wood stove while taking in foggy waterways, snow-capped mountains and winter sea birds. These two-hour private cruises for up to six guests are a charming way to experience South Sound in the fall and winter.

Private cruises start at $345.

Learn more here.

Two Plays, One Stage at Harlequin Productions

This fall, Harlequin Productions brings two powerful American stories to the State Theater in downtown Olympia with Our Town by Thornton Wilder, running October 2–November 1, and Sanctuary City by Martyna Majok, running October 9–25.

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Aaron Lamb, the two productions will perform in repertory, alternating on the same stage throughout their overlapping runs. While separated by nearly a century, both plays explore questions of home, belonging and what it means to be American—central themes of Harlequin’s 2026 “Home/Land” season.

During the run of Sanctuary City, Harlequin is also partnering with Legal Immigration Services of Olympia to raise awareness of the organization’s work providing free legal services to immigrants in detention.

Urban Birding: Downtown Tour

Explore Olympia through a bird’s-eye view with the Puget Sound Estuarium’s Urban Birding: Downtown Tour. This two-hour, two-mile guided walk winds through Heritage Park, Capitol Lake, the 5th Avenue Dam, Percival Landing and other downtown spots while participants look and listen for local species including Killdeer, Buffleheads, Osprey, Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons.

No birding experience is needed, and the tour also includes a visit to the Estuarium. Fall tours run September through November. Tickets are $18; kids 12 and under are free.

Learn more here.

LoveOly Halloween Pet Costume Contest is Back!

Join the event, whether your pet is rocking a hilarious outfit, a terrifyingly cute monster look, or purely adorable autumn attire.

Paws, claws, and costumes welcome—come show off your spirit and celebrate Halloween in Downtown Olympia!

The pet costume contest is part of our larger LoveOly Downtown for Halloween event! Enjoy other activities throughout LoveOly Downtown for Halloween:

• 2-week Downtown Scavenger Hunt: October 17–31
• Family Trick-or-Treating: 3–6 pm on October 31 (at participating downtown businesses!)

Discover the magic that happens when a community comes together!

Join Senior Services for South Sound for an enchanting evening of fine dining, live entertainment, inspiring stories, and silent and live auctions on October 10, 2026.

Help older adults throughout our community continue to age with dignity, independence and connection.

Learn more here.

Other Events to Know About...

• Homes First Fundraiser: September 16. Learn more.
• OMB Annual Tour of Homes: September 19 & 20. Learn more.
• LoveOly Fall Cleanup: September 26. Volunteer.
• Lula Fest 2026: September 26. Learn more.
• Olympia Arts Walk: October 2 & 3. Learn more.
• An Evening with Amy Tan: October 7. Learn more.