Thursday, Aug. 10
Family Storytime
Join the Yelm Timberland Library from 10:30 to 11 a.m. every Thursday for family storytime. The event includes music, movement, books and activities for the whole family. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult. The library is at 210 Prairie Park St. NE in Yelm.
Rainier Elementary Registration
The registration period for kindergartners for the 2023-24 school year at Rainier Elementary School is open. Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2023. Parents and guardians can pre-register their future kindergartner online at www.rainier.wednet.edu/domain/60. Click on the registration link to complete the form. Staff from the school’s office will contact parents to confirm interest in the elementary program and review the registration process and paperwork. For more information, contact Rainier Elementary School at 360-446-4020.
Friday, Aug. 11
Family Game Night
The City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreations department is hosting Family Game Night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11 at the Yelm Community Center. Bring the family out for what the department describes as a fun night of board games, interactive games, yard-style games and more. Admission is free, and dinner will be available for purchase from an onsite food vendor. Children under the age of 16 will need a parent or guardian present.
Saturday, Aug. 12
Tenino Farmers Market
The Tenino Farmers Market, situated in Tenino’s downtown historic district on Olympia Street South, will host its annual Saturday market on Aug. 12. The farmers market features flowers, baskets, vegetable starts, baked goods, farm-fresh produce, USDA meats and more. The market takes place every Saturday through Sept. 30. On Aug. 19 will be garlic day. Sept. 30 will conclude the season during pumpkin day.
Yelm Farmers Market
The Yelm Farmers Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at a new location: in front of the Yelm Police Station on McKenzie Street. The markets are scheduled every Saturday until Sept. 30.
Movies in the Park
The annual Yelm summer tradition returns to Longmire Park as Movies in the Park is set for Saturday, Aug. 12. The family-friendly event will show the Pixar film “Up” at the park, with the film beginning at sunset. Vendors will arrive at the park at 5 p.m., and available concessions include hot dogs and hamburgers.
Sunday, Aug. 13
Bigelow House Museum Tour
The Bigelow House Museum offers regular escorted tours on the first and second Sunday of the month at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Entrance fees are $5 per adult, $4 for seniors and students, and $2 for children. The museum is located at 918 Glass Ave. NE in Olympia.
Tuesday, Aug. 15
#CityHallSelfie Day Sticker Stop
As part of the City of Yelm Parks and Recreation Department’s sticker stop program, #CityHallSelfie Day can be used for parks passport participants to receive a sticker for their collection. The event will last from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the city asks participants to take a selfie in front of Yelm City Hall and post it online using #CityHallSelfie. After taking a photo, head into City Hall to receive a special sticker.
Sunday, Aug. 20
Skate for Collin at Yelm Skatepark
The second annual Skate for Collin event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20 at the Yelm Skatepark, 203 First St. NE. The event is in honor of Collin McLaren, a former Yelm High School student who lost his life from fentanyl poisoning. The event aims to inspire, motivate and educate everyone about the seriousness of fentanyl poisoning. There will be a best-trick competition for skaters, as McLaren was an avid skateboarder himself. There will also be live music performances throughout the day.
Thursday, Aug. 24
Prairie Point Quilters Guild Meeting
The Prairie Point Quilters Guild hosts its meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The meeting takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Rainier Senior Center, 108 Michigan St. S. Anyone who is interested is welcome to join the group for its meetings.
Friday, Aug. 25
Rainier Bluegrass Festival
The 29th annual Rainier Bluegrass Festival is set for Aug. 24-27 at Wilkowski Park in Rainier. On Friday, Aug. 24, the events will feature pickin’ and jamming, a 3 p.m. open mic session, and more. On Saturday, Aug. 25, there will be an 11 a.m. Roundup Days Parade and two separate bluegrass shows from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26
Movies in the Park
The annual Yelm summer tradition returns to Longmire Park as Movies in the Park is set for Saturday, Aug. 26. The family-friendly event will be showing the Pixar film “Ratatouille” at the park, with the film beginning at sunset. Vendors will arrive at the park at 5 p.m., and available concessions include hot dogs and hamburgers.
Rainier Round-Up Days
Rainier Roundup Days will take place from Thursday, Aug. 24- Saturday, Aug. 26. The annual Rainier Round-Up Days Parade is set for Saturday, Aug. 26, beginning at 11 a.m. According to the City of Rainier’s website, the parade will span from Binghampton Street to Myers Street.
Rainier Corn Hole Tournament
Rainier High School’s athletics booster club will host its first ever Cornhole tournament. The tournament will be a fundraiser to support the high school athletic department. Registration is $15 per person, and the tournament will accommodate up to 40 people. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the tournament will be located at Rainier City Hall. The tournament itself is blind draw, round-robin style and single elimination.
Saturday, Sept. 9
Norse West Viking Festival
The annual Norse West Viking Festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 9 at Cochrane Park in Yelm. The event will feature local food vendors and a beer garden for “Vikings who are hungry and thirsty from plundering and pillaging.” There will also be dancing, tradesmen to teach different trades and local vendors.
Tuesday, Oct. 17
Spooky Cookies Decorating Workshop
The City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreations Department will host its Spooky Cookies Decorating Workshop from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Yelm Community Center, 301 Second St. SE. The class is for beginners or those who are curious about what decorating cookies is all about. Register for the class at https://lf.yelmwa.gov/Forms/CookieDC?fbclid=IwAR0MMCljwfpLjv3qtv9JNhlJTlI0GLe5DfkQAelOe17MHvmS3A_yMsOy4JI.
