Lakefair Week is the annual event held over the third weekend in July at Heritage Park along Capitol Lake. Opening day for the 2026 season is on Wednesday, July 15 and continues through Sunday, July 19.

The festival opens daily at Noon and closes at 11p Wednesday-Saturday, closing later on Sunday at Midnight to accommodate the grand finale fireworks over Capitol Lake.

Fun for kids (and adults) during the day. A truly strange experience at night. We used to call it LakeScare but the normies have quieted since the beer garden was banned.

Walk around the market, grab brunch, listen to a band play, and avoid all of your exes convened in one central open air location just a block from the boardwalk.

Take a 2 minute drive from downtown to Tumwater Falls Park for an easy, accessible outdoor walk in a peaceful setting. It's waterfalls! It's where Olympia beer was originally brewed! It's a paved, even, and beautiful walk with tons of trees and honestly its too beautiful to be ignored. There's a kids' playground but it's from the 70's so it requires imagination and band-aids. Kid and knee-replacement friendly walking trails. Restrooms are nice and clean.

The Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, Washington is an interactive children’s museum with 150 exhibits, outdoor play areas, camps, and educational programs for kids.

You will want to put your child on a leash but don't do it! You'll find them eventually. It's safe, they are contained.

There is only one thing that you MUST do with toddlers and little kids in Olympia, and it's taking them to this place. Veer away from the gift shop when you enter. There is a kid and adult-friendly cafe right inside as well, affordable and full of pb&j's and apple slices. There's a wading pool outside that looks like a creek.

It's a 10 minute drive from downtown. A place you can dip your toes in the bay. A rose garden. A big playground and lots of picnic space and clean restrooms.

At the heart of this 314-acre regional nature park is one mile of saltwater shoreline. For the intrepid hiker or someone who needs alone time, Ellis Cove is tucked away inside the park and the Ellis Cove Trail further enhances access to more parkland and the views of downtown Olympia and State Capitol buildings.

Get the best ice cream in town at Sweetlee's. Get the only French dining in town at Bar C’est L’eau (also it's incredibly good and has good vibes in the bar and patio seating). Try out a local beer, wine, or cider from one of several restaurants and pubs in this market. There's communal seating outside, too.