What's happening in the last week of December?

The yuletide week is near! Let us welcome the last week of December.

Extra Shelter for Extreme Cold, December 1-23, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a forecast for below freezing nighttime weather patterns in the Puget Sound beginning December 19 until December 23, 2022. In response, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services is issuing a “Hazardous Weather” advisory to increase shelter-in-place efforts and offer extended nightly shelter beds starting on Monday, December 19, 2022. As staffing allows, this may be extended through Friday morning, December 23, 2022 nightly from 8pm through 8am. Click this link for more details.

Olympia Farmers' Market- Shopper's Delight and Coffee, December 22 to 24
Celebrate with Olympia Farmers' on Christmas! They are having a HOLIDAY SHOPPER'S DELIGHT that would include handmade gifts, stocking stuffers, local vendors, fresh seafood, baked goods, fresh produce, farm-t-table holiday foods, and fresh curated meats. A FREE 8oz hot beverage will also be served to shoppers from 10 a.m. to  3 p.m. Just visit the market to receive a drink voucher. Limited amount of coupons are available, and only one coupon is allowable per person. Choices to enjoy: Coffee, Hot Cocoa, Chai, and more.  Click this link for more details.

“FRIDAYS at the FIRST” Free Concerts, 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Join the First Christian Church in celebrating the yuletide season! On December 23, they will be having the Mud Bay Little Big Band, a swinging “big band” sound with bold and sassy vocals! Click this link for more details.

26th Annual Model Train Festival, December 16 to January 1
Take your family and friends on a magical journey through the marvelously detailed world of model railroads at the Washington State History Museum! The Model Train Festival brings railroad clubs from around Puget Sound to share their incredible, room-sized layouts in the History Museum! Take a break from the live layouts to relax and enjoy trains on the big screen in our auditorium. Step into the seasonal backdrop for free selfies. Remember to pick up your collectible train button at the Admissions desk, too!  Click this link for more details.

Work parties on December 26th- Cooper Crest, December 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This is it! This week, 7000 bare-root seedlings will be planted by the intrepid professionals. What they plant this week will largely become the future forest.  To assure its survival, each seedling must be mulched with 4-6 buckets of mulch. The site is vast! This is going to take work. Each inch of mulch reduces summer soil temperature by several degrees and helps the soil to retain moisture, helping to assure seedling survival. The WCC super crew (12 members) will be working on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday but Monday they have off. If you have Monday free, please come and help keep up with the pros. Click this link for more details.

Noon Year’s Eve Party!, December 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shine bright and ring in the new year early with special activities that sparkle, shine, glimmer and glow at the Noon Year’s Eve Party, on Dec. 31. Celebrate with a family countdown and ball drop, dance party, and parade every hour, 10 am – 4 pm! Meet a magical princess, enjoy exciting craft and science activities that glimmer and glow, and snap a keepsake photo in the photo booth. Buy your tickets online and save $2. Click this link for more details.

The Totally Rad NYE Prom Bash, December 31, from 7 p.m.
This is going to be the most opulent New Year's Eve party in the South Sound! Bring out your aqua net and fluorescent prom attire because we're going back to the 1980s! All night long, Eric Turnbow, Digital DJ, will be spinning your favorite 80's classics! Throughout the night, enjoy a selection of Hors d'oerves and sweets while dancing to live music by the band DN80'S. Use our cash bar to enjoy a wide range of beverages. While Designated Drivers enjoy free drinks all evening. Click this link for more details.