Since Line Roy has taken over as the City of Yelm’s communications and recreation coordinator, city-hosted events have increased from just two per year to over 100.
In 2025, Roy and the city’s consistency of hosting events will continue, as the coordinator highlighted a full slate of public activities planned for throughout 2025.
During the community conversations event on Wednesday, March 12, Roy first highlighted the weekly “Water Tower Tots” activity where Yelm’s youngest residents can build social and independent skills as they continue to grow. The next “Water Tower Tots” events are scheduled for Monday, March 24, and Monday, March 31. Both events will occur from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Yelm Community Center.
“One of the things we want to make sure of is that we’re hitting all of the age groups. From our tiniest little water tower babies to our oldest water tower babies, we want to make sure there’s something for everyone here,” Roy said. “It’s super fun to see the kids grow from their development in the first week to the sixth week, the eighth week. They start making little friendships, and when you see 2-year-olds making friendships — my heart bursts.”
Roy also highlighted three separate Easter egg hunts that will occur in Yelm next month, including an Easter egg hunt for teenagers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4, at Cochrane Park. The second event, a 21-plus Easter egg hunt, will occur at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at Cochrane Park.
The third and final City of Yelm Easter egg hunt will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 19, at Yelm’s Dog Park, 902 Rhoton Road.
“We can’t leave them out,” Roy said of the dogs.
The city will also host its 29th annual Arbor Day celebration at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at Yelm City Park’s Centennial Stage. Roy said the event could be moved inside to the Yelm Community Center if the weather is bad.
During the Arbor Day celebration, participants will have the opportunity to take home seeds to plant more trees on their property, observe art pieces created and submitted by Yelm Community Schools students, participate in Yelm Timberland Library’s story-trail, and more.
Yelm’s Arbor Day celebration is described as a heartfelt tribute to the vital role that trees play in sustaining life on Earth.
In May, area residents will see the return of Yelm’s Farmers Market, along with the annual celebration of Galaxy Day.
“Kicking into the summer events, summertime is my time to shine,” Roy said. “There’s something going on every weekend. We’re kicking off the Farmers Market on Saturday, May 3, and we’re also doing Galaxy Fest that day, too. Kids can come in and do space themed art, and build rocket ships. The Hands On Children’s Museum is going to come and do an activity with us. There will be lots of things to get the kiddos active, learning and involved.”
Roy added that the farmer’s market will run through the summertime. Also taking place in the summer for the first time will be “Sunny Stories.” Roy said she was inspired to bring this event to the city after seeing Yelm Police Chief Rob Carlson participating in McKenna Elementary’s “Read Across America” program on Thursday, March 6.
“It’s inspired a little by the chief here. He went to the schools to read books. The kids loved him,” Roy said. “Inspired by the chief, we’re going to do storytime in the park this summer. You’ll see us in the park, and maybe the chief will come and be a guest reader for us?”
