What’s happening on the first weekend of March — arts, music and nature events

Welcome the month of March with some creative happenings in Thurston County for children and adults.

 Native Plant Festival and Sale, Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
This is your annual opportunity to purchase affordable native trees, shrubs and ground covers from Thurston Conservation District's Native Plant Festival and Sale. There will be food trucks, live music, local vendors and plenty of information on how to install your new native plants successfully. Click this link for more details.

Dutch oven cooking demonstration, Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Steeped in history, Dutch oven cooking is an exciting way of cooking for the entire family. Join the free class at 10 a.m. and enjoy the results at 2 p.m. If you are a Dutch oven cook and want to participate, please come cook or bring your dish to add to the feast at 2 p.m. Click this link for more details.

Wildlife Tracking at WET Science Center, Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
In March, LOTT educators will inform the community about wildlife tracking, volcanos, watersheds, wastewater and mosses. While we don’t always see wildlife, we can often see the tracks and traces they leave behind, like scratch marks on a tree, footprints in the mud or even scat! Click this link for more details.

Olympia Mountaineers Banff Film Festival, Saturday, March 1, 7-9 p.m.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is back to bring the best action, environment and adventure films to Olympia. Visit the Capitol Theater to experience these films on the big screen. The playlists are different each night. Doors open at 6 p.m. Click this link for more details.

21st century PoP Emerging Curator Exhibition, Feb. 24-March 28
In this exhibition, guest emerging curator and Olympia resident, China Faith Star, highlights regional artists working in the context of 21st century pop art. Each artist’s work is curated based on both its distinctive theoretical relevancy to 21st century pop art and the visual cohesion of the overall exhibit. Click this link for more details. 

SOGO Winter Concert, Sunday, March 2, from 4 p.m.
Immerse yourself in an afternoon of orchestral splendor at SOGO’s March concert, where vibrant melodies and dazzling performances take center stage. This concert, which will also feature the Brass Choir and Academy and Philharmonic orchestras, promises to be a thrilling showcase of over 160 talented young musicians from across the South Sound region. Click this link for more details.