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Get Ready for LoveOly Downtown for Halloween!
Downtown Olympia is getting into the Halloween spirit with two weeks of festive, family-friendly fun! LoveOly Downtown for Halloween, presented by Captain Little, returns this year with a scavenger hunt, downtown trick-or-treating and the second annual Pet Costume Contest.
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Halloween Scavenger Hunt | Oct 17–31
Pick up a passport or print one online, then explore participating downtown businesses in search of hidden costumed rubber duckies. Collect stickers along the way and submit your completed passport by 6:00 p.m. on October 31 for a chance to win local prize packages.
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Downtown Trick-or-Treating | Oct 31, 3–6 pm
Costumes encouraged! Participating downtown businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters for an afternoon of treats, creativity and Halloween fun throughout our walkable downtown.
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Pet Costume Contest | October 31, 4–5 pm
Bring your costumed companion to 5th Avenue & Washington Street for their moment in the spotlight! Judges will award first- and second-place prizes for creativity and crowd enthusiasm, with online voting continuing through November 2 for a People’s Choice winner.
Space is limited, register here!
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Connect with Your Downtown Neighbors
Downtown business owners and managers: Join us for LoveOly Business Connect on Wednesday, October 14, from 5:15–6:30 pm at Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar.
This one will include:
- Shucked oysters + small bites
- Beer, wine + N/A options
- A photo booth to capture the fun!
- A raffle for a Chelsea Farms hoodie
The LoveOly Business Connect is a chance to step away from the day-to-day, meet the people behind other downtown businesses, and build the relationships that make our downtown community stronger. Sometimes the best connections form when we simply pause, get together and share a bite. Hope to see you there!
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Help Us Spruce Up Downtown Before Arts Walk!
Join the Fall LoveOly CleanUp on Saturday, September 26, from 9:00–11:00 am and help get downtown Olympia looking its best ahead of Arts Walk.
Volunteers will help sweep sidewalks, pull weeds, and wipe down signs and meters. Batdorf & Bronson coffee, morning snacks and cleanup tools will be provided. Please bring work gloves if you have them, and dress for the weather—the cleanup happens rain or shine!
Check-in: 9:00 am at the parking lot on Capitol Way N next to Sound and Vision Living.
If you’re planning to join us, please complete the required volunteer waiver in advance to make morning check-in quick and easy.
Sign Your Waiver Here!
Questions? Email mwillie@downtownolympia.org.
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Join us on September 26 for Art, Music and Community in Downtown Olympia
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Lula Fest 2026, a free arts and culture celebration happening Saturday, September 26, from 1–9 pm at the Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave.
Lula Fest will feature a car show, vendors, an art exhibition and live music, including performances by Mona and Latin Drums, AKA, DJ Muñeca and DJ Kalambre.
Colectiva Cocuyá is the Lula Fest 2026 Cultural Impact Award recipient for projects centering the Latinx community. The accompanying exhibit, “Chicanx & Latinx Posters: Art, Identity, and Resistance in the PNW and Beyond,” features a selection of works from the Evergreen State College Chicano/Latino Archive.
Learn more here.
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Discover Downtown Olympia Through Its Murals
Take a closer look at the art that colors downtown Olympia during a Murals of Downtown Olympia Walking Tour with the Olympia AHA Museum & Visitor Center, presented in partnership with the Olympia Artspace Alliance.
The tour begins at AHA’s “Paint the Town” exhibit before heading out on a flat, less-than-one-mile route to explore some of downtown’s more than 120 murals and the stories behind them. Along the way, participants will learn about local artists and visit works including “Welcome to Squaxin Territory,” the Rebecca Howard mural, the Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural, the Olympia Dragon Mural and more.
Upcoming tours are offered through October 17, with both Saturday morning and Tuesday evening options. Tickets are required; children 12 and under are free, and adult tickets are offered on a sliding scale with a suggested contribution of $15.
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The Joyful Practice Handbook: A Celebration of Creativity and Play
What if play—not discipline—were the key to unlocking your creative work?
Join Olympia authors Jennifer Berney and Sarah Tavis at the Olympia Timberland Library on Wednesday, September 23, from 6:30–8:00 pm as they celebrate the launch of their co-created book, The Joyful Practice Handbook: analog play for dark times.
Written on typewriters and illustrated by hand, the book explores creativity in the age of AI through play, experimentation and connection to nature. During the event, Berney and Tavis will read from the book, share images and talk about their collaborative process and how the project evolved.
Olympia Timberland Library
313 8th Ave NE, Olympia
Learn More
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Nocturnal at Childhood’s End Gallery
Step into the world that emerges after the light fades with Nocturnal, a new exhibition at Childhood’s End Gallery featuring paintings by Liza Brenner and Jonathan Happ, alongside mixed media sculpture by Loralin Toney.
Celebrate the exhibition during Fall Arts Walk with a free artist reception on Friday, October 2, from 5–9 pm.
Arts Walk continues at the gallery on Saturday, October 3, from noon–6 pm.
Nocturnal will be on view September 25 through November 15.
Childhood’s End Gallery
222 4th Ave W, Olympia
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25 Cats from Qatar + Filmmaker Q&A at Capitol Theater
The Olympia Film Society presents a one-night-only screening of 25 Cats from Qatar on Monday, September 28, from 7–9 pm at the Capitol Theater.
The documentary follows one woman’s unsanctioned mission to rescue 25 cats while shining a light on a little-known animal welfare crisis in Qatar.
The evening will also include a post-film Q&A with the filmmaker, giveaways from Meowtel, and support for Paws 4 a Cause/Cancer Fighters.
Capitol Theater
206 5th Ave SE, Olympia
Runtime: 95 minutes. Not rated; may not be appropriate for children under 14.
Buy Tickets.
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Fall Arts Walk at Thomas Architecture Studios
Celebrate Fall Arts Walk at Thomas Architecture Studios with the vibrant work of Suzana Bulatovic, accompanied by glassworks from Michael Diamond.
The gallery will be open Friday, October 2, from 5–9 pm and Saturday, October 3, from 12–4 pm.
On Friday evening, enjoy a live saxophone performance from 6–7 pm while you explore the artwork, connect with local artists and soak up the creative energy of downtown Olympia.
Thomas Architecture Studios
525 Columbia St SW, Olympia
Learn More.
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The Luna Sisters of Element Opens at Olympia Family Theater
Beginning October 16, Olympia Family Theater presents The Luna Sisters of Element, a magical new play by Olivia Salazar de Breaux and Katherine Trahan, with original music by Olivia Salazar de Breaux and Anjali Silva Marron.
The story follows sisters Lina, Val, Zo and Rory, each connected to one of the elemental forces of fire, water, wind and earth. Accompanied by a little dragonfly alebrije, they set out on a journey exploring family, identity, tradition and the forces that connect us all.
Rooted in Mexican American culture and inspired by the traditions and imagery surrounding Día de los Muertos, the production brings together original music, live accompaniment and vibrant theatrical design in a heartfelt story about sisterhood and generations.
The Luna Sisters of Element runs October 16–November 1 at Olympia Family Theater, 612 4th Avenue East in downtown Olympia.
Tickets are available now at OlyFT.org, with a recommended ticket price of $20. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
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📰 About this Newsletter
The News of the Week in Downtown Olympia is a newsletter created by the Olympia Downtown Alliance and is a summary of happenings downtown.
Preference is given to Olympia Downtown Alliance members. We do reserve the right to use our discretion on what we share.
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