One sign of a vibrant community is an action-packed calendar of events, and Thurston County is no exception! As the seasons change gears, so will the fun. From pumpkin spice and everything nice, to spooktacular haunted houses and Halloween-themed fun, here’s our list of everything happening around Thurston County this fall.
Washington State Fair
Now through September 22
Puyallup Fairgrounds
Puyallup, WA
Washington State definitely has its healthy shares of county fairs, and while they’re all great fun, the Washington State Fair is in a league of its own. Formerly known as the Puyallup Fair, the Washington State Fair unfolds on 169 acres in the town of Puyallup, making it one of the largest fairs in the country. With stunning views of Mount Rainier in the background, people floc, from all over to enjoy the countless rides, animals, shows, concerts, and fair food. You might not know where to start when you walk in, but you are guaranteed to have a fantastically fun time.
Girlfriends Fall Market
September 13 & 14
Thurston County Fairgrounds
Lacey, WA
Call up your friends and head on over to browse the unique display of offerings at the Girlfriends Fall Market. From 10 AM to 4 PM for two days only, shop from one-of-a-kind vendors, who will be on hand with vintage, antique, midcentury, refurbished, industrial, and farmhouse finds along with lots of specially crafted items. There will also be a coffee truck and wood fired pizza serving delicious treats while you’re there!
Oktoberfest
September 21
Elks Lodge #186
Olympia, WA
What better way to welcome fall than at a Munich-style Oktoberfest celebration with German Biers, brats, entertainment, games & more! The chair of the event, Audrey Pastore, was raised in Germany, so you can be sure Oktoberfest in Olympia will be done right! The Bavarian menu is serving up everything from bratwursts and schnitzel to hamhocks and rouladen. There will also be a balloon artist for the kids, an arm-wrestling contest, Bier Krug Stemmen and authentic Black Forest cake. Zum Wohl! (That means “bottoms up!” In German, and you might want to remember it!)
Rutledge Corn Maze
September 21 – November 15
Rutledge Family Farm
Olympia, WA
The Rutledge family has been farming in Thurston County since the 1800’s. They have owned their current farm and been putting on the spectacularly spooky and fantastically fun Corn Maze since 1992. It’s certainly a don’t miss every season. Each year, the maze is uniquely and professionally designed with a different theme. This year, visitors will be using their detective skills to figure out what happened to Farmer Joe. Try not to get lost!
Beyond their famous corn maze, activities at the farm include a giant swing set, punchin’ pumpkins, a cow train ride, horse shoe pit, ladder ball, corn hole, corn cannon, wagon rides, a zip swing, and much more.
Wolf Haven International’s Wolves & Wine Fundraiser
September 28
Saint Martin’s University
Lacey, WA
The ‘children of the moon’ over at Wolf Haven need our help! Wolves & Wine is a fundraiser which offers guests and supporters an opportunity to share their passion for wolves at an evening filled with both silent and live auctions, beer and wine tasting, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to mingle with likeminded people. Wolf Haven has a strong mission to conserve and protect wolves and their habitat, and this evening is a chance to be a part of just that.
Sip, Savor, Stroll
September 28
Various Locations
Downtown Olympia, WA
It’s no secret that Olympia’s culinary reputation has been growing as of late. Take the opportunity to truly savor the culinary joys we have here and enjoy a leisurely “Sip, Savor, Stroll” through downtown Olympia with family and friends on September 28. Start off at The Olympia Ballroom. Then join a guild at four delicious restaurants where you will sip and savor from local plates around downtown. Participants will finish up with dessert at Rhythm & Rye, where a raffle winner will be drawn! This is an exciting opportunity to meet local chefs, brewers and restaurant owners as you discover why we’ve been named “the next great culinary capital.”
Nisqually Watershed Festival
September 28
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Olympia, WA
The 30th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival celebrates how incredible nature is through a day filled with science, art, discovery, music and family fun. This year’s festival will include hands-on activities with local conservation and nature organizations, exciting performances with live animals and music, storytelling, walking tours, the Insect Extravaganza, a salmon barbecue and other great food and beverage options. You can even bring your own t-shirt (or buy one there) and paint a Nisqually salmon to print on the shirt! For the complete list of all the exciting fun happening, check out their event page!
Hunter Family Farm Pumpkin Patch
September 28 – October 30
Hunter Family Farm
Olympia, WA
Hunter Family Farm’s Pumpkin Patch has been a fun-loving tradition for families from all over since 1993. Their month-long Pumpkin Patch festival of sorts offers a plethora of exciting, family friendly activities for all.
Their daily activities include wagon rides through the pumpkin patches, hay mazes with a giant slide, a massive corn maze you’ll have to solve your way through, as well as a junior corn maze for those who love to test their sleuthing skills in a shorter period of time. On the weekends, they offer a pillow jump, a kiddie train, an ATV adventure that takes you through the giant corn maze, a super fun game called Great Pumpkin Sling Shot, a whimsical hand-carved carousel, pony rides, ducky races, and a European super slide!
Lattin’s Apple Festival & Pumpkin Patch
September 28 – October 30
Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm
Olympia, WA
Each year we look forward to the Lattin’s Country Mill & Farm’s celebration of Washington’s apple harvest with their treasured Apple Festival. Every weekend in October, they invite guests to come and enjoy a day with them in the countryside. Guests can look forward to picking their own pumpkins, sampling freshly picked crunchy apples, enjoying the gentle sounds of their Bluegrass music, and visiting with the farm animals.
Needless to say, the Farm provides an abundance of fun fall-themed options to choose from. The kids can enjoy the animal train, face painting, various games and bobbing for apples, while everyone can enjoy their National Award Winning Cider and all the goodies they have to eat— bbq, apple crisp, caramel apples, apple pie, hot and cold cider, berry cider, cider donuts, apple cake, and the famous Apple Fritters!
Fall Harvest Festival
Sept 28 – Oct 31
Schilter’s Family Farm
Olympia, WA
The Schilter Family Farm is a third-generation farm that’s been operating since 1930, and each October, their farm comes to life for their Fall Harvest Festival. The Schilter
You and your family will love to wander around the Pumpkin Patch, take an old-fashioned hayride and explore its 5-acre corn maze.
Each year the maze is designed around a particular cause or theme, and this year’s corn maze is “The House That Love Built” in support of raising funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House of Washington and Alaska. Each visit to the maze helps to raise funds to support the incredible work that the RMH does.
Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular
October 1 – 31
Various Locations
Bucoda, WA
For the entire month of October, the small, charming town of Bucoda transforms itself into a fall spectacular of Halloween and autumn-related activities. This is the month where the town truly comes alive (or undead, rather!).
Every Friday and Saturday night throughout the month, Boo-Coda hosts one of Washington State’s most thrilling and chilling haunted houses, Scary Nights. They host pancake breakfasts every Saturday and even offer trick-or-treating every evening in October. There is a hearse procession and viewing on the 13th, pumpkin carving, ghost storytelling, and even coloring contests.
Check out their calendar for the full schedule of events!
Olympia Fall Arts Walk
October 4-5
Various Locations
Downtown Olympia
Olympia Arts Walk is a semi-annual community event celebrating the arts. Thousands gather in downtown Olympia in both the Spring and Fall for a festive arts experience that uses creativity to connect, and come together to appreciate and celebrate local art of all types, from visual and performance arts and everything in between.
