Olympia's South Capitol Neighborhood Association holds potluck-barbeque

The South Capitol Neighborhood Association (SCNA) in Olympia held its potluck/barbeque picnic on Sunday, September 8 at Lincoln Elementary School.  The SCNA is one of the many Recognized Neighborhood Associations.

Retired Lincoln Elementary School teacher Michael Dempster led his band playing '60s and '70s rock and roll music bringing over two hundred of the neighborhood attendees to sing along to songs including, "Who are the People in your Neighborhood and Mr. Rogers, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?"

Part barbeque, part old-fashioned potluck dinner, there was food for all.

Many of the attendees at this event brought potluck dishes.  There were three simultaneous barbecues going and the owner of the Frog Pond brought a great tasting Korean beef course.  Over three hundred hamburgers and hotdogs were served along with refreshments.

There were plenty of children's activities such as corn hole, bubbles and sidewalk chalk.  Plus, there was a drawing for a one-hundred-dollar gift certificate from Vic's Pizzeria. 

The event included five exhibitor tables with including representatives from the Olympia Police Department and the Deschutes Estuary Project.  Councilmembers Clark Gilman and Robert Vanderpool also attended this event.

This is the invitation that drew neighbors together last month.

The South Capitol Neighborhood thanks the City of Olympia for providing a matching grant to support this great opportunity to build a stronger more inclusive neighborhood.  This grant helped to pay for the flyers, mailings to all residents, property owners and renters alike, food and music.  They also want to recognize the Scott Lake Community Center for providing the tables and chairs for this event. 

In 2025, this annual event is scheduled for September.  For more information about the South Capitol Neighborhood activities and how to get involved, visit https://southcapitolneighborhood.org/

Editor's Note:  The South Capitol Neighborhood is one of the many Olympia Recognized Neighborhood Associations.  To learn more about the City’s neighborhood program go to the City of Olympia website.  You can check the map to see if you already live in a recognized neighborhood and if not, you can learn how to start one by contacting the Council of Neighborhood Associations at cna.olympia@gmail.com.