Registration for Fall Arts Walk 2026 Closes July 31!
Join us on October 2 and 3 for Arts Walk-a vibrant celebration of community, culture, and the arts! Don't miss this chance to amplify Olympia's creative energy!
Don't wait-register online at artswalkoly.com and join the celebration that makes Olympia a hub for creativity and the arts!
Percival Plinth Project 2026 Closes July 31!
Have you voted yet? Come down to Percival Landing July 1-31 to check out this year's sculptures and add your voice to the choice!
Can't make it in July? No problem! The sculptures will remain on view for a full year, so you'll have plenty of time to experience the incredible work of this year's artists: Ben Dye, Jill Drllevich, Hank Nelson, Shawn Johnson, KayC, Kannan Krishnan, Steven Nagode, Kyle Ocean, Travis Pond, Chris Rench, Christine Rose, Karen Sixkiller, Ken Turner, and Lloyd Whannell.
Learn more & vote
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Young Love Gets Put to the Test in Barefoot in the Park
Harlequin Productions presents Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon, August 21 - September 6, 2026 at the State Theater in downtown Olympia. Karen Lund will direct and Aaron Lamb will associate direct.
Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word: he's a strait-laced lawyer; she's a free spirit chasing her next thrill. As Paul's pragmatism clashes with Corie's spontaneity, only a barefoot sprint through Washington Square can save their marriage. Smart, snappy, and full of heart, Tony Award-winning Barefoot in the Park opened on Broadway in 1963 and ran for 1,530 performances, becoming Neil Simon's first smash hit and one of the ten longest running plays in Broadway history. Today, Simon's landmark comedy remains an American stage treasure, its sparkling wit and heartfelt charm as irresistible as ever.
Harlequin's production of Barefoot in the Park is a co-production, or "co-pro," with Taproot Theatre Company, which staged the show with the same direction and design elements May 13 - June 20, 2026 on their Jewell Mainstage, with a Seattle-based cast. In a co-pro, two theaters share a single production concept - direction, scenic design, costumes, and staging - allowing audiences in multiple cities to experience the same artistic vision while giving each company the opportunity to bring its own unique qualities to the piece. Olympia audiences are in for a treat with a star-studded cast of well-known local actors: Kate Anders and Christian Bolduc, who understudied the roles of Corie and Paul Bratter at Taproot, step into the leads for Harlequin's production. Real-life acting couple Russ and Kim Holm bring their chemistry to the stage as Victor Velasco and Corie's mother, Ethel Banks, and veteran Andy Gordon rounds out the cast as the Telephone Repair Man. Key members of the artistic team who designed the original Taproot production will bring their talents to Harlequin as well, adapting their designs for the new cast and location. From Taproot Theatre, Mark Lund returns as Scenic and Sound Designer, Nanette Acosta returns as Costume Designer, and Joyce Degenfelder provides Wig Design. Harlequin veteran Mark Thomason rounds out the artistic team with Lighting Design.
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WHAT: Harlequin Productions presents Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon, a co-production with Taproot Theatre Company. Directed by Karen Lund; Associate Directed by Aaron Lamb.
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WHEN: August 21 - September 6, 2026
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WHERE: State Theater, 202 4th Ave East, Olympia, WA 98501
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TICKETS: Available online at harlequinproductions.org, by phone at 360-786-0151, or in person 12-5:30 pm, Tuesday-Saturday at the State Theater Box Office.
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LEARN MORE
SPECIAL DATES FOR THE AUDIENCE:
Opening Night: Friday, August 21 at 7:30 pm
Pay-What-You-Choose: 3 performances TBA prior to Opening
Community Talkback: Sunday, August 23
Closed Captioning: Sunday, August 30
Closing: Sunday, September 6 at 2:00 pm
Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington
Explore under-the-radar experiences, travel tips, and firsthand stories to enrich your summer adventures.
Stories in the Park, Stories in the Dark
An Olympia tradition returns this summer as the South Sound Story Guild presents Stories in the Park, Stories in the Dark, a free evening of storytelling under the trees at Squaxin Park. The setting-East Grove Shelter, just behind the Rose Garden-creates the perfect woodland backdrop for tales that stir the imagination.
This event celebrates the ancient art of oral storytelling, with a lineup that begins lighthearted and ends with a spooky twist after the sun goes down. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, flashlights, snacks, and friends. Follow the hot pink signs once you arrive at Squaxin Park.
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Saturday, August 8 from 7 to 9 pm
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2600 East Bay Drive NE. Admission is free, and donations are welcome to support the storytellers who keep this tradition alive.
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South Sound Story guild members tell stories every month at Traditions Cafe on the first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm.
GRuB Carnival
GRuB is throwing a Carnival on July 30th to celebrate 25 years of growing gardens (and community!) together! We'll have a performance, carnival games, face painting, a dunk tank, scavenger hunt, art activities, and of course farm-fresh food and root beer floats! This year, we will also have a resource garden that you can meander to connect with other local organizations that can support you and your family. We can't wait to see you at the farm!
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Thursday, July 30th from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
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GRuB - 2016 Elliott Ave NW, Olympia, WA
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$5/person or $20 for the family - no one turned away for lack of funds.
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Pre-register at the link, or grab your tickets at the door! Get tickets here!
Newsletter Roundup
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The ARCH Digest is a summary of Arts, Culture and History happenings in the greater Olympia area, submitted by the community. Please turn in ArCH Digest listings to [email protected].
Deadline Monday morning, 8 a.m.
If you know of anyone who would like to receive the City of Olympia Arts & Culture news, which includes a weekly ArCH Digest, direct them here and have them mark the Arts & Culture box.
Disclaimer: Information in the Arts Digest is not vetted through the City, nor is it endorsed by the City. The reader is solely responsible for checking background on any opportunity listed above.
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Contact
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
360.709.2678
[email protected]
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