I know, the weather is perfect. You need to get your home prepped for the coming rain. There’s football and BASEBALL PLAYOFFS to watch for the first time in 19 years. However, if you can stand to be indoors for a few hours, Thurston County is bursting with artistic events to attend!

• The Rochester Citizens Group and the Olympia Elks Lodge are collaborating with the Tenino Young-at-Heart Theater to celebrate the month of Halloween with three performances of a murder mystery dinner, “Murd-arr! Pirates of the Salty Dog” on October 14, 15, and 21. For more details, click here.
• Olympia Indie Music Project is hosting a Zoom focus group on October 14 for anyone wishing to share feedback or stories about the history of independent music in Olympia between 1980 and 2022. For more details, click here.
• BigShowCity presents the 16th annual Lord Franzannian Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show October 14-23. In the tradition of vaudeville shows from the early 20th century, this fast-paced variety show promises a little something for everyone, including music, sketch comedy, acrobats, magic, juggling, storytelling, dance, and even feats of amazement! Proceeds benefit working performers and BigShowCity, whose nonprofit mission is: “To help burgeoning Olympia artists realize their ambitions by providing financial and emotional support.” For more details, click here.
• Join Olympia Family Theater for the world premiere of a modern-day twist on the classic novel, The Secret Garden! Set in the Pacific Northwest, the new adaptation is a tale of friendship and the healing that happens when we reconnect with nature as told from a Latinx perspective. For more details, click here.
• On October 14, join Harlequin Productions as they present “Fun Home.” Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes. For more details, click here.
• The Olympia Arts Commission will conduct its annual retreat on October 15 to consider its work plan and engage in deeper discussions. Commissions will tour the Armory, revise the Arts Commission mission statement, and discuss the Grants to Arts and Culture Organizations. For more details, click here.
• The Olympia Symphony Orchestra will offer a sneak peek at its upcoming 2022-2023 season with a preseason concert on October 16. This is a wonderful opportunity to see their new Music Director, Alexandra Arrieche. The event will offer a mix of live symphonic performances, video excerpts highlighting the upcoming season, as well as a surprise performance by a mystery musician (any guesses?). For more details, click here.
• The Timberline High (THS) School Choirs present “And Nature Smiled” on October 18. Come and hear the award-winning THS Choirs perform their first concert of the year with a nature-themed concert. Admission is FREE; however, donations will be accepted. For more details, contact tshaw@nthurston.k12.wa.us.

Soup is on!

This Saturday, October 15, the Hawks Prairie Rotary will present its first South Sound Clam Chowder Competition at the Lacey Community Center. (I already have our tickets). For more details, click here.

Come Out Today

Today, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. This day was set aside to raise awareness of individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and recognize that homophobia thrives in silence. On this day, individuals are encouraged to “come out” (as in out of the closet) to reveal their sexuality to friends and family. If you would like to learn more about our LGBTQ+ community, I encourage you to visit some of the local nonprofits whose mission is to support these groups.

• Capital City Pride – https://www.capitalcitypride.net/
• PFLAG Olympia - http://pflag-olympia.org/
• Pizza Klatch – https://pizzaklatch.org
• Sage Olympia - http://sageolympia.org/

Thank you for being a TRL Friend

Next week, October 16-22, is the 17^th annual National Friends of the Library Week. During the week, libraries across the nation, including our own Timberland Regional Library, will be celebrating and raising awareness of our local Friends of the Library groups.

Other Nonprofit Events

• The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation is requesting nonprofit 501c (3) organizations that serve the South Sound to apply for their “Share the Plate” program. The six organizations selected will receive part of their weekly offerings. Applications are due on October 31. For more details, click here.
• The Master Gardener Foundation will be hosting its final plant sale of the season tomorrow, Wednesday, October 12. For details, click here.

Volunteer Events and Opportunities

• Congratulations to the Olympia Learning Center on the dedication of their new playground at the Family Support Center of the South Sound campus. The playground was created in partnership with three local Rotary groups and the state Department of Social and Health Services. More than 50 volunteers contributed 700 hours of time to the project (which has a value of almost $21,000).
• This Saturday, October 15, join Thurston Conservation District and the City of Olympia at Squaxin Park (Formally Priest Point Park) for their annual Orca Recovery Day! Volunteers will restore forested habitats to their intended state by removing non-indigenous vegetation and planting Pacific Northwest trees and shrubs. The day will also include a guided shore walk, refreshments, and a chance to learn about other organizations helping to better our orcas! For more details on this and other upcoming events, click here.
• The Olympia Downtown Alliance is looking for volunteers for their Downtown Cleanup on Saturday, November 19. Don’t wait – the deadline for registering is Wednesday, November 16. For more details, click here.

Soliciting Your Ideas

If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!

Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at  MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com