Olympia
Around Olympia
Photo: OceanLoop · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Washington · 302k people
Olympia
Locals say South Sound · “Oly”, “Capitol City”
Olympia · Lacey · Tumwater
Where the sound begins
Evergreen GreenPuget BlueCapitol Gold
Welcome to the South Sound, where the salt air meets the evergreen hills. Whether you're here for the oysters, the trails, or just the laid-back vibe, you'll find a community that loves its water and its coffee.
Clubs for Olympia
No clubs for Olympia yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Olympia. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Olympia. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- State Capitol campus Domed capitol building and legislative campus on Capitol Lake
- Tumwater Falls Historic falls with salmon viewing and brewery ruins
- Olympia Farmers Market Year-round market on the waterfront with local produce and crafts
- Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Tidal estuary with boardwalk trails and birdwatching
- Capitol Lake Urban lake with walking paths and views of the capitol
- Percival Landing Waterfront boardwalk and park along Budd Inlet
- Outdoors Hiking at Capitol State Forest
- Outdoors Kayaking in Budd Inlet
- With kids Hands On Children's Museum
- With kids Olympia Farmers Market
- Evenings Brewery hopping in downtown Olympia
- Evenings Live music at the Washington Center
- Locals love Farmers markets
- Locals love Craft breweries
Through the year
- Olympia Arts Walk Spring and fall Twice-yearly open studios, galleries, and street performances
- Lakefair July Summer carnival, parade, and waterfront festival at Capitol Lake
- Thurston County Fair August County fair with livestock, rides, and local exhibits
- Olympia Harbor Days September Tugboat races and maritime heritage festival on Budd Inlet
- Olympia Film Festival November Independent and local film screenings at downtown venues
Mild, rainy winters and sunny, dry summers define the South Sound. The best time to be out is from May to September. Best: Late spring through early fall is ideal—warm, dry days perfect for the water and trails.
Talk like a local
- “Oly”
- Short for Olympia
- “South Sound”
- The region's local name
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Oly Town FC USL League Two
Also rooting for Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Kraken, Seattle Storm, Washington Huskies, Washington State Cougars
Eat and drink
- Olympia oysters Native oyster species, a local delicacy
- Dungeness crab Fresh from the Sound
- Local craft beer Breweries like Fish Brewing Company
Where people go
- State Capitol campus The legislative building and grounds
- Tumwater Falls Historic waterfall and park
- Olympia Farmers Market Local produce and crafts
- Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Nearby wetlands and trails
Heritage and traditions
Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater are proud of their South Sound identity: a quirky, outdoorsy state capital where arts, oysters, and the Nisqually River shape daily life.
This time of year in Olympia
- Salmon watching at Tumwater Falls October In fall, visitors can watch spawning salmon leap up the falls.
Say it like a local: “The South Sound” — The region around the southern end of Puget Sound, including Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater.
Festivals
- Procession of the Species April A community art parade with giant puppets and costumes celebrating the natural world.
- Olympia Pet Parade May A beloved tradition where children dress up their pets and march through downtown.
- Yelm Prairie Days July A small-town celebration with a parade, carnival, and local crafts.
- Lacey Spring Fun Fair May A family festival with rides, games, and entertainment in Lacey.
- Tumwater Old Town Fall Festival September Celebrates the historic brewery district with music, food, and activities.
- Nisqually Tribal Canoe Journey Summer A gathering of Pacific Northwest tribes with canoe arrivals and cultural events.
Landmarks with a story
- Tumwater Historic District Includes the old Olympia Brewery buildings and pioneer-era homes.
- Bigelow House Museum A Victorian-era home, one of the oldest in Olympia, now a museum.
- Nisqually Tribal Center Cultural and administrative center for the Nisqually Indian Tribe.
- Olympia Brewery The historic brewery building in Tumwater, once home to the famous Olympia Beer.
Food traditions
- Oyster feed A tradition of shucking and eating Olympia oysters at community events and gatherings.
- Salmon bakes Native American tradition of cooking salmon over an open fire, often at tribal events and ceremonies.
- Geoduck digging A local clam digging tradition for the large geoduck, a Puget Sound delicacy.
- Craft beer tasting The South Sound's many breweries have made beer tasting a popular social activity.
- Farmers market produce Seasonal eating from local farms is a staple, with the Olympia Farmers Market at its heart.
Music and arts
- Indie rock and punk scene Olympia is a hub for DIY music, with many influential bands.
- K Records An influential independent record label founded in Olympia.
- Riot grrrl movement The feminist punk movement that started in Olympia in the early 1990s.
- Procession of the Species A community art parade featuring giant puppets and costumes.
A little history
- 1845 Tumwater founded as the first American settlement north of the Columbia River.
- 1853 Olympia becomes the capital of Washington Territory.
- 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty signed with the Nisqually tribe.
- 1896 Olympia Brewing Company established in Tumwater.
- 1967 The Evergreen State College opens.
Rivalries
- Huskies vs Cougars Washington vs Washington State football bragging rights
- Game day Oly Town FC home matches
- Game day Polar Bear Plunge
- Outdoors Clamming and oyster picking on the tide flats
- Outdoors Salmon fishing in the Nisqually River
- With kids Rainier Vista Park
- With kids Yelm's Prairie Park
Locals speak with a Pacific Northwest accent, characterized by the cot-caught merger and a tendency to pronounce 'bag' as 'beg'. They often say 'pop' for soda and refer to the region as the 'South Sound'.
Only here
- The only state capitol in the US with a view of a marine inlet (Budd Inlet).
- The Procession of the Species, a parade with giant puppets.
- The Olympia oyster, a tiny, distinctive oyster variety.
- The Nisqually River delta, a unique estuary.
New here? A few tips
- Bring a rain jacket – it rains often, but usually a light drizzle.
- Learn to say 'Tumwater' (Tum-wah-ter) and 'Yelm' (Yelm like elm with a Y).
- Visit the Olympia Farmers Market on weekends for local produce and crafts.
- Try Olympia oysters – they're small and briny, a local delicacy.
- Respect the Nisqually tribe's heritage and visit the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
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Part of Seattle area
Nearby
Every areaSheltonWashingtonOyster capital with a small-town soul.CentraliaWashingtonWhere the pines meet the pastBremerton–SilverdaleWashingtonSmall towns, big waterAberdeenWashingtonWhere the rainforest meets the PacificWillapa BayWashingtonWhere the river meets the sea and the oysters are always fresh.SeattleWashingtonMisty mornings, bold coffee, and mountain silhouettes.LongviewWashingtonWhere the river meets the forest.AstoriaOregonWhere the Columbia meets the Pacific, and fog keeps secrets.
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.