What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Saturday, April 27

Procession of the Species: The Procession begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and winds its way through downtown Olympia, using art, music, and dance to inspire cultural appreciation, understanding, and protection of the natural world.

The Greatest Showman Sing Along: One of the Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ most popular sing-along movies is back! The Greatest Showman was inspired by the legend and ambitions of America’s original pop-culture impresario, P.T. Barnum. Local host Lauren O’Neill will warm up the audience. Come sing along with Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya on the big screen. The screening begins at 6 p.m. at the center, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $6 plus a service fee.

Family & Friends Game Night: Get ready for a night of fun and games from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at ASHHO Cultural Community Center in partnership with the South Sound YMCA. Bring your favorite board games because we’re turning up the excitement with chess, dominos, spades, art, and more. The center is at 5757 Littlerock Road SW #4, Tumwater, across from Costco. Register using an ASHHO form.

Sunday, April 28

Silent Movie -- Kings of Silent Comedy: Experience silent films the way they were meant to be seen and heard, accompanied by the Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ 1924 Wurlitzer Organ. Featuring Charlie Chaplin’s The Pilgrim and Harold Lloyd’s Why Worry? Tickets are $21 and $26 plus service fee.

Wednesday, May 1

Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 11 a.m. is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. To register to get a Zoom link, email ThurstonMasonShiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. A registration link will be sent to you.

Thursday, May 2

Author talk with Kirk Hanson: Olympia author Kirk Hanson will host an event to introduce his new book,”A Forest of Your Own: The Pacific Northwest Handbook of Ecological Forestry,” co-authored with Seth Zuckerman, at 6 p.m. Thursday at Browsers Bookshop, 107 Capitol Way N., Olympia.

Friday, May 3

Ladies of Laughter comedy show: This fest of funny femmes returns to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts featuring standup comics Alycia Cooper, Liz Glazer and Maureen Langan. The show starts at 7:30 pm Friday. Tickets are $25 to $45. The center is at 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia.

Saturday, May 4

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival: Head to Pack Forest near Eatonville for a sweet and sticky celebration of all things maple syrup. Get ready to indulge in delicious maple treats, learn about the syrup-making process, and enjoy fun activities for the whole family. This event is outdoors, so prepare accordingly. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day in a beautiful setting near Mount Rainier. A burger lunch is available in Pack Forest’s cafeteria: $18/adult, $13/age 10 and younger. Admission is $25 per car. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All ticket sales are final. Please print your registration receipt and put it on your dash when you arrive. For updated information on the event, go to the Washington State Extension Service Forestry website. Pack Forest is at 9010 453rd St. E., Eatonville.

Water Experiments: Water is an essential part of everyday life, but it also has many mysterious properties that have intrigued scientists for ages. Through an assortment of hands-on experiments, you can explore some fascinating aspects of this familiar substance. All ages are welcome to join activities at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia, from 10 a,m, to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

Thurston County Furniture Bank: The furniture bank is open the first and third Saturdays of every month from 9 a.m. to noon at 2121 Log Cabin Road SE, Olympia. The Furniture Bank building is at the back of the parking lot. Donations of gently used furniture are accepted and those looking for furniture are welcomed. For more information, go to Furniture Bank of Thurston County — Olympia CRC.

Cultural Bazaar: The ASHHO Cultural Community Center will host the bazaar from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday. Explore the unique offerings from the center’s local black, brown, LGBTQ, women, and marginalized vendors. Get something to eat at Runia’s Soul Cafe, enjoy live music by Choro Tomorrow, and stay for a free Spoken Word Workshop led by Terrance Caution. The ASHHO center is at 5757 Littlerock Road SW #4, Tumwater, across from Tumwater Costco.

Walk with Erin Jones: Lace up your shoes and join a stroll with a purpose at the ASHHO Cultural Community Center’s “Walk with Erin Jones” event. Save the date for the first Saturday of every month from 11 am to 1 pm. The morning will provide a chance to build bridges, celebrate diversity, and foster unity. The ASHHO center is at 5757 Littlerock Road SW #4, Tumwater, across from Tumwater Costco.

A Spoken Word of Art: Step into the world of poetry and expression at the ASHHO Cultural Community Center’s “A Spoken Word of Art” workshop from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Led by poet and spoken word artist Terrance Caution, the workshop will help participants unlock their inner poet and explore the beauty of spoken word. The center is at 5757 Littlerock Road SW #4, Tumwater, across from Tumwater Costco.

Sunday, May 5

Thurston-Lewis-Mason Labor’s South Sound Labor School Working People’s Picnic: May Day falls on a Wednesday, which makes celebrating International Workers Day difficult for families with work or school obligations during the week. The South Sound Labor School, a committee of the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council, doesn’t want working families to miss the opportunity to commemorate this important holiday so they are putting on a free Working Families Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey. All working people in our region (and their children) are invited to enjoy food and drink, “bouncy houses,” a petting zoo, and more at this family-friendly event sponsored by TLM Labor in partnership with AFSCME Local 3758, WFSE Local 443, and UFCW Local 367. Picnic-goers do not have to be union members to attend. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit the Labor Council’s website or contact Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council Treasurer Rachelle Martin at treasurer@tlmlabor.org or 360-261-2090.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.