• Best Place To See Fall Foilage 
• Fun Events For First Weekend of Fall
• Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Weekend Events

Tumwater Falls Fest

• 📅 Date: Saturday, September 26
• 🕒 Time: 10 am - 4 pm
• 📍 Location: Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, 110 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater
• 🎟️ Admission: Free
• 📄 Details: Celebrate the arrival of fall and the return of wild salmon with live music, food, art activities, demonstrations and family-friendly attractions beside Tumwater Falls. Details here!

Nisqually Watershed Festival

• 📅 Date: Saturday, September 26
• 🕒 Time: 10 am - 4 pm
• 📍 Location: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, 100 Brown Farm Road NE, Olympia
• 🎟️ Admission: Free
• 📄 Details: The 37th annual festival offers wildlife encounters, live music, science exhibits, environmental organizations, fish printing, wooden-fish painting and other hands-on family activities. Get details here!

Fall in the Northwest Market

• 📅 Date: Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27
• 🕒 Time: 10 am - 4 pm
• 📍 Location: Thurston County Fairgrounds, Lacey
• 🎟️ Tickets: Free
• 📄 Details: Kick off the first weekend of Fall with a two-day market at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. It's a family-friendly with 80+ vendors & artisans, plus food trucks! Get all the details here!

National Alpaca Farm Days at La Vida Alpaca

• 📅 Date: Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27
• 🕒 Time: 10 am - 4 pm
• 📍 Location: La Vida Alpaca & Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill, Yelm
• 🎟️ Tickets: Free; small charge for some activities
• 📄 Details: Meet and feed alpacas, see how their fiber is turned into finished products and enjoy family activities including crafts, face painting and rope making. The farm boutique will also have alpaca accessories, yarn, socks and other locally made goods. Organizers ask visitors to leave pets at home. Find details here!

Silent Movie: High Rise Hijinks

• 📅 Date: Sunday, September 27
• 🕒 Time: 2 pm
• 📍 Location: Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia
• 🎟️ Tickets: $18–$20, including service fees.
• 📄 Details: Take a trip back to the silent-film era with Laurel & Hardy’s Liberty and Harold Lloyd’s classic Safety Last! Nationally known organist Dennis James will accompany both films live on the Washington Center’s 1924 Andy Crow Wurlitzer organ. Buy tickets here!

Upcoming Events

Olympia Fall Arts Walk 2026

• 📅 Date & Time:
  Friday, October 2, 5 pm - 10 pm 
  Saturday, October 3, 12 pm - 6 pm
• 📍 Location: Downtown Olympia
• 🎟️ Tickets: Free
• 📄 Details: One of Olympia’s signature cultural weekends returns with art exhibitions, performances, demonstrations and activities throughout downtown.  Details here!

South Sound Clam Chowder Challenge

• 📅 Date: Saturday, October 3
• 🕒 Time: VIP entry 4:00 PM; general admission 5:00 PM; winners announced 6:30 PM
• 📍 Location: Thurston County Fairgrounds, Lacey
• 🎟️ Tickets: $30 at the door; children 12 and under free with a paid adult
• 📄 Details: Local restaurants compete for bragging rights while attendees sample chowders and vote for the People’s Choice. Admission includes one taste from each competing team plus appetizers, a beverage and dessert. The event raises money for Hawks Prairie Rotary Foundation community projects. Learn more here!

Lacey Night Market — Haunted Night Market

• 📅 Date: Friday, October 16
• 🕒 Time: 5 pm - 9 pm
• 📍 Location: The Depot, Lacey
• 🎟️ Tickets: Free
• 📄 Details: Get set for Halloween at the Lacey Night Market with local artisans and small businesses, food vendors, live entertainment and spooky themed experiences. Get all the details here!
  
  

Family Fun

Hands On Children's Museum

Downtown Olympia

🎟️ Admission: Museum admission applies - Click here for deails!
One of the best options for families with younger children. Interactive exhibits, maker spaces, outdoor play areas, and seasonal activities make it a popular weekend destination.

📣 Local Business Owners – Let’s Partner!
Want to get your brand in front of an engaged, local audience? We are actively looking for local businesses to spotlight each week in the South Sound Life newsletter.  Let's shine a light on your business or a local business you love! Let us know!

👉https://go.southsoundlifenewsletter.com/favoritelocalbiz

Olympia Farmers Market

Olympia Farmers Market Weekend

Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27

Morning through afternoon

Percival Landing & Olympia Farmers Market

🎟️ Admission: Free entry

Spend part of your weekend along Olympia’s waterfront enjoying fresh local produce, handmade crafts, live music, coffee vendors, and scenic marina views at the Olympia Farmers Market and nearby waterfront activities.  Grab details here!

Like Our Facebook Page
Join Our Facebook Group
Take The South Sound Life Business Quiz

Adopt a Pet

Weather Outlook