Thurston County Summer Fun

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Seafood grains bowl from Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

Eat Your Way Through the Seasonal Bounty of Thurston County

Culinary adventures from field to fork

Thurston County has a bounty of delicious restaurants, tap rooms and other one-of-a-kind food spots to explore. Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, Grand Mound, Rochester and Bucoda offer a wide variety of locally sourced, hand-crafted culinary experiences to enjoy this summer. From fine dining to food trucks, sweet treats to seafood, cold brews to breweries, the below culinary artists offer an international trip through cuisine all in Thurston County.

Worldly cuisines aplenty

Thurston County offers culinary adventures around every turn, from Venezuelan arepas to South Indian curries to freshly caught Pacific Northwest seafood.

  • Food on the go
    • Akashic Food Trailer | South Indian-American cuisine featuring curries, wraps and salads.
    • Arepa Latin Street Food | Inspired Venezuelan cuisine including arepas.
    • Delmonico’s Heritage Butcher Shop | An artisan butcher shop that sources from local farms and growers, DelMonico’s is the perfect spot to grab charcuterie and a bottle of wine as well for the picnic basket!
    • Honeycuspe | Brunch favorites including sweet and savory waffles and coffee.
    • Olympita Food Truck | Located in Olympia’s Westside neighborhood this food truck offers Middle Eastern street food classics like shawarma, falafel and a the most luxurious humus.
  • International cuisine
    • Curry Corner | A dining experience to satisfy all aspects of fine cuisine: selection, service, ambiance, atmosphere and the diversity of India.
    • Don Juan’s Mexican Kitchen | A family operated restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine.
    • Hotstone Authentic Korean Cuisine | Authentic Korean dishes including tofu, soups and bubble tea.
    • Jerk An’ Tingz | Delicious herbs and spices served through Jamaican food.
    • Left Bank Pastry | This French patisserie bakes some of the region’s best croissants, quiche, brioche, and pastries. Come for the kouign amann, stay for the canelé.
    • Rush In Dumplings | Classic Russian comfort food such as dumplings and borscht.
  • Fresh seafood

Summertime sips around every turn

Summertime is the perfect season to enjoy a coffee, craft brew or fresh wine at one of these locally owned and sourced establishments.

  • Axis Meads | Crafts quality, small batch meads with a tasting room to enjoy a sweet and fresh brew.
  • The Cider Barrel | A reverse taphouse retail concept with over 300+ different varietals of hard cider, more than any cidery in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Ebony & Ivory Coffee | This modern coffee shop in Lacey serves fresh coffee and community connection.
  • Heritage Distilling Company | Among the top premier craft distilleries in the United States and one of the largest on the West Coast, making and offering a variety of whiskeys, vodkas, gins, aquavit and rums.
  • Talking Cedar Brewery & Distillery | Opened in 2020 by the Chehalis Tribe, this brewery and distillery is quickly becoming an invaluable partner to craft distillers throughout the nation.
  • Three Magnets Brewing Co. | This microbrewery in downtown Olympia not only produces incredible craft-beer, but they’re also brewing craft NA beer that tastes like an IPA and shipping it to 40 states.
  • Sandstone Distillery | Ready to taste some hand-crafted spirits made from Washington-grown grains and – you guessed it – quality water from local aquifers? Take a tour at the distillery or stop by their beautiful new Tasting Room in historic downtown Tenino.
  • The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House | A place to enjoy handcrafted espresso drinks or baked goods while shopping consigned items from over 100 local artisans.
  • Swing Wine Bar | Perched on a hill overlooking Capitol Lake, enjoy over 30 wines by glass and over 200 bottle selections on the outdoor patio.
  • Well 80 Brewhouse | Built on the site of one of Olympia’s famous artesian wells, this brewpub uses the delicious well water to craft their own line of tasty beers.
  • Whitewood Cider Teeny Tiny Taproom | A nano-cider producer and South Puget Sound’s first craft cidery invites you to sip a locally made brew on their patio of their teeny tiny taphouse.

Foodie tour through the Thurston Bountiful Byway

Enjoy the peak of Washington weather on this 60-mile loop tour covering rural Thurston County that offers a multitude of special stops and activities, including a variety of eateries and libation options such as:

·       Heritage Meats | This neighborhood butcher shop is partnering with local farmers and growers to provide a line of meat products like grass-fed and grass-finished beef, a robust artisan sausage selection and hand-crafted smoked meats.

·       Johnson’s Smokehouse and Country Store | This specialty grocery store located on the outskirts of Olympia specializes in smoked meats and cheeses.

·       Lady of the Lake Public House | A lakeside restaurant offering American fare.

·       Masonry Café | This local café in downtown Yelm creates handcrafted dishes focusing on freshness and flavor. With cases bursting at the seams with macaroons, cookies, pastries, and cakes, you’ll want to be sure to save room for dessert.

·       The Pacific Northwest Honey Company | Stop in to pour-your-own honey, sample one of their many flavors at the Honey Bar and watch the bees in action at the Observation Hive!

·       Pizzeria La Gitana | A Yelm based pizzeria that resembles a trip to Italy with romantic décor and high-quality ingredients.

·       Stottle Winery | Founded by Olympia natives now based in Lacey, this winery produces 13 different award-winning wines and offers cheese plates to pair on their picturesque patio.

Fresh farm fare, straight from the source

For a more hands-on experience with food in Thurston County, check out the plentiful family farms to pick your own produce or buy directly from the farmers, such as:

  • Carr’s Organic Blueberry Farms | Stop in to stock up on organic blueberries at this u-pick farm outside Olympia.
  • Helsing Junction Farms | This Rochester farms specializes in farm-fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs and visitors can pick their own strawberries in June.
  • Kingfisher Organic Farms | Sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture box and show support for small, family-owned farms.
  • Lattin’s Cider Mill and Farm | A small, family-owned farm that works year-round to produce quality fruits and vegetables, as well as jams, cakes, and pies. Visit Thursday through Saturday mornings for their apple fritters, stay for the cutest petting zoo ever.

Events and Summer Happenings in Thurston County

In addition to the incredible array of food and beverage offerings, Thurston County has events and activities for the whole family, all summer long.

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Notable Events

Head to South Puget Sound’s beloved performing arts facility to enjoy exceptional entertainment and live music.

Washington State Senior Games

Founded in 1997, this is the largest Olympic-style multi-sport event in Washington, bringing seniors from across the county to the South Puget Sound to compete in a variety of events, open to in-state and out-of-state participants.

Miss Washington 2023 Events

Olympia is the host city for Miss Washington 2023.  Below are upcoming events:

Oly Town Artesian Games

United Soccer League matches played right in Thurston County stadiums. Below are upcoming events:

Lacey Spring Fun Fair (May 20) – Since 1988, this fair has provided free activities and entertainment to the local community offering wild rides, live performances, vendors and delicious food concessions.

WIAA High School State Golf Championships (May 23) – High school golfers will travel from all over Washington State to compete at Tumwater Valley Golf Club.

Sundays in the Park – Lacey Food Truck Depot (May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27) – This family friendly and pet friendly event features live music, food trucks, activities and local small business owners from around the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy shopping with over 40 vendors, balloon art, face painting, games and more.

3rd Annual Lacey Poly Fest Luau! (June 24) – Wear your Polynesian shirts, Hawaiian skirts, come hula and hang out at the Lacey Poly Fest Luau. Enjoy an evening of scrumptious food, live entertainment and great company.

Father’s Day Festival (June 17) – Play games, make award ribbons and celebrate dad with a handmade card at this carnival hosted by WET Science Center.

Strawberry Festival (June 17) – This annual festival has been an annual tradition at the South Bay Grange since 1936 and features delicious locally grown Spooner Berry Farms strawberries, Wagner’s Bakery biscuits, family friendly activities, 30+ local vendors and entertainment by local musicians all day.

Rochester Swede Days Mid-Sommer Festival (June 16-17) – Join in celebrating Scandinavian heritage. Activities include pony rides, a parade with the royal Swede Court, a traditional Swedish lunch and more.

41st Annual Juneteenth Celebration (June 18) – Enjoy a free BBQ lunch, games, entertainment, a presentation and time to connect with the community to celebrate Juneteenth.

LoveOLY Summerfest 2023 (June 23 – 25) – Explore this three-day event featuring live music, art installations, activities for families, a biergarten, drag brunch, pop-up food vendors and more with participating local artists, entertainers and small businesses.

Capital City Pride Festival (July 1) – Come for the music, entertainment, booths and family fun! During the evening, there will be events happening throughout the city including live music and drag.

Lacey Fireworks Spectacular (July 3) – For over 50 years, Lacey has celebrated the Fourth of July holiday a day early with fireworks, food, music and family friendly fun.

South Sound BBQ Festival (July 8) – Welcome one and all to the mouthwatering world of BBQ at the South Sound BBQ Festival in Lacey, WA! There will be live entertainment, free kids activities, chicken wing eating contest and more!

Lacey in Tune (July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1, August 8, August 15) –  Starting July 11 & running through August 15, Tuesdays will be full of entertainment the entire family will love. Shows start at 6:30pm, giving you plenty of time to grab some blankets or chairs and head to Huntamer Park.

Lakefair Week (July 12 – 16) – Thurston County’s largest annual 5-day summer festival offers family-friendly activities and events including rides, games, food, entertainment and vendors as well as opportunities for scholarships for the area’s students.

Kick In The Grass (July 14 – 16) – The KITG tournament is hosted by the Tumwater Soccer Club. Teams from all over SW Washington and Northern Oregon have participated in KITG events.

Oregon Trail Days (July 21 – 23) – Join in for Tenino’s Oregon Trail Days. The event offers a parade on July 23, a rock and gem show, black powder shoots, vendors of all kinds, and lots of food. Enjoy the family fun and learn a bit of local history.

Nisqually BBQ Rally (July 22) – An annual event filled with a whole lot of barbecue and a ton of family friendly activities.

Thurston County Fair (July 26 – 30) – A community celebration that educates, promotes and showcases the agricultural, business, industry and home life of Thurston County citizens of all ages.

Tumwater Artesian Brewfest (August 19) – A unique outdoor experience, in the shadow of the former Olympia Brewery, for you to sip craft beers from 40+ Northwest breweries along with cider, wine and spirits. Savor food from local vendors and restaurants and play super-sized beer pong and putt putt golf or enter stein holding competitions, and more. A 21 and over event.

South Sound Block Party 2023 (August 25 – 26) – A two-day music festival with more than 15 live bands, local vendors and food and drink offerings aiming to restore, preserve and contribute to the historic and legendary Olympia-area music scene for years to come.

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