What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Saturday, March 2

Olympia Dance Festival: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts and Ballet Northwest present the 2024 Olympia Dance Festival at 7 p.m. Saturday. It will feature 16 dance companies from throughout Western Washington, as well as Giovanny Garibay as the special guest artist this year. Garibay, a Centralia native, now dances with the Cincinnati Ballet. The program will include ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, jazz, Irish dance, Chinese dance, ballroom, musical theatre and more! Tickets are $21 plus a service fee. The Washington Center is at 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia.

Sunday, March 3

Students Orchestras of Greater Olympia Winter Concert: The Winter Concert highlights a variety of musical styles. Music Director Cameron May leads the Conservatory Orchestra in Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody and Moncayo’s Huapango, a dance-like work. SOGO member Cade McBride has arranged Debussy’s piano work The Sunken Cathedral for orchestra. The concert closes with the fourth movement of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8. The 18-member SOGO Brass Choir opens the concert with the Fanfare for Brass and Percussion conducted by Greg Allison. The audience will also enjoy the Academy and Debut Orchestras performing familiar works from orchestral literature. The concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $8-23, with a $4 service fee; children 6 and younger get in free with service fee.

Monday, March 4

Friendly Flower Garden Club meeting: The club will meet at the Mountain Greens Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 5280 55th Lane SE, Lacey, at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The social time will be followed by a monthly meeting and program. Cassie Cichorz, the Outreach and Education Specialist for plant-pest protection in the Washington state Department of Agriculture, will talk about invasive pests and how these insects can get to Washington. She also will bring specimens of the invaders. Admission is free. For more information, contact Joan Mikow at 360-438-0232.

Black Box Jazz with the D’Vonne Lewis Group: D’Vonne Lewis was named the 2013, 2018, and 2021 NW Instrumentalist of the Year and is the grandson of 1950s-60s Northwest organ legend Dave Lewis. Lewis composes for his own band, D’Vonne Lewis’ Limited Edition and The D’Vonne Lewis 2 (duo). He is also the 2006 Earshot Golden Ear Award winner for Emerging Artist of the Year and The Stranger’s 2014 Genius Award. He currently serves as Vice President on the Seattle Jazz Fellowship Board. Lewis’ group will perform at 8 p.m. Friday in the black box at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $39 for reserved seats and $32 for general admission.

Wednesday, March 6

Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 11 a.m. Wednesday is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It will cover Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. To get a link to register, 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.

Saturday, March 9

Lacey Cultural Celebration: Explore the world at the Lacey Cultural Celebration, a free, family-friendly event honoring diverse cultures. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Saint Martin’s University’s Worthington Center and Pavilion in Lacey. Throughout the day, attendees can experience the sights, sounds, and traditions of various cultures by watching live dance performances, listening to music, seeing amazing attire, taking in a cooking demonstration, and more. Vendors will be selling a variety of merchandise and foods from around the world. Members of cultural clubs and organizations will be on hand, and kids can play interactive games. A sensory space will allow people to step away from the noise and stimulation at the event without leaving the site. For details, visit LaceyParks.org/Cultural-Celebration.

Rise to the Challenge at the WET Science Center: Sea level rise may be frightening, but through a presentation and a fun, team-based game, you can learn strategies to make Olympia more resilient. No prior knowledge required, best for ages 8 and older. Games at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Activities all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.

Washington State Patriotic Day celebration: America’s First Corps Band, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will host the festivities from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Middle School, 1750 Bobs Hollow Lane, DuPont.

Wine Tasting: Boston Harbor Marina will host wine tasting on the dock from 5-7 p.m. Saturday. The marina is at 312 73rd Ave. NE.

The Greatest Piano Men fundraiser: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts will host a live rock & roll celebration of the greatest piano icons in music. The production, which debuted to rave reviews at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, celebrates showmen from Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles to Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Billy Joel. The show features storytelling, video, a great band and 25 hit songs including “Good Golly Miss Molly”, “Superstition”, “Rocket Man”, “Tiny Dancer” and “New York State of Mind”. Tickets to the show are $69 to $36, plus a service fee. The concert is part of a fundraiser for the Washington Center. For more information on the accompanying dinner and auction, visit CENTER Stage Awards & Gala.

Sunday, March 10

St. John’s concert series wraps up: The last concert of the season is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave. SE, Olympia. Wyatt Smith, an American concert organist, will be performing works by living composers that celebrate Mother Earth and the environment on St. John’s 3,800-pipe Schlicker Organ. Smith holds degrees in organ performance from the University of Washington, Yale University, and the University of South Dakota. A $20 donation is suggested for attendance but all are welcome. All proceeds support the St. John’s music program.

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.