FOOD & DRINK

Gardening guru Marianne Binetti offers ideas for transforming pots and hanging baskets into seasonal decor.

If you missed tonight’s Olympia Light Parade in the city’s southeast area, you’ll still have a last chance to see it on Tuesday, December 10. City vehicles from the Olympia Police Department, Community Planning and Development, Public Works, Parks, Arts & Recreation and Fire Department will be lit up and decorated for the public’s viewing pleasure in the spirit of the holidays, passing by different city streets at different areas on designated days.

Here are some of the best local entertainment options for this weekend.

This article presents a tour of three unique Juice Bars & Smoothies spots in Lacey. Have you had the chance to experience any of these yet? If you have, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

In this article, we explore four outstanding Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt spots in Olympia. Have you had the chance to visit any of these places? If yes, we're eager to hear your experiences! Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

During the season of giving, help local entrepreneurs support their craft. Evergreen Valley Lavender Farm Holiday Shopping Event, Weekend, December 8 - 9, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will be TWO full shopping days this year. The Gift Shoppe will be full of fresh new products for you to get as gifts for your friends, family, coworkers, and yourselves. Come and enjoy some Holiday Cheer at The Farm! Click this link for more details.

Several holiday events are taking place across the county. Burger Claim and More is hosting a Santa photo session today from 5 to 8 p.m. at 24171 NE state Route 3 in Belfair. The event includes candy canes, hot chocolate, and local artists selling their work.

Beth Bradley's church's annual Christmas pageant takes an unexpected turn when Grace, Beth's mother, steps in as director after the usual one breaks her leg. The Herdman children, known for their unruly behavior, join the production and cause chaos. This is the plot of the holiday play 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,' performed by Connection Street Theatre at Faith Lutheran Church in Shelton. The play, directed by Michelle Whittaker, is based on Barbara Robinson's 1982 book.

The older I get, the more I realize how little I know. Sometimes it’s worrisome to discover I am so far out of the loop, and sometimes it comes as a delightful surprise. It was the latter when I discovered The Reader’s Theater Unlimited. This came about when Judy Kiehart, local author of the award-winning book Calico Lane, invited me to a rehearsal of the group’s upcoming plays.

One Net Yelm and Yelm Cinemas are partnering for a toy drive and free holiday movie screening on December 9. The event will start at 9:30 a.m. with the movie, “The Polar Express,” beginning at 10 a.m. One Net Yelm is a new nonprofit aiming to fill resource gaps in Yelm, as stated by organizer Line Roy. The organization's members have a history of community service and collaboration with local nonprofits.

In this article, we'll be exploring three delightful donut shops in Olympia. Have you had the pleasure of visiting any of these yet? If you have, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

The holidays are about giving and spending time with loved ones, but what's wrong with a little competition as well? We Love Rainier is hosting a 2023 gingerbread house contest where people can ...

The Department of Agriculture is now reporting that 16 dogs have been sickened with a mysterious respiratory illness in the state. WSDA gives an update on uknown respiratory illness in dogs. Olympia, Wash. - Recently, several veterinarians have seen an increase in unidentified canine illness across the country. Veterinarians are...

OLYMPIA, WA (KGMI.com) – As northern giant hornets went unseen for a second year in a row, the state Dept of Agriculture is reporting a variety of trends with other invasive species. Spotted lanternflies weren’t spotted at all in 2023, according to the Dept’s annual invasive pest survey....

In this article, we explore four fast food joints in Lacey. Have you had the chance to visit any of these places? If you have, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

OLYMPIA, WA (KXNET) Mackenzie and her dog Slim won Best in Specialty at a dog show in Olympia, Washington. They are our Smiles of the Day sponsored by Polished Dental.

Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago, respectively. A Look Back at This Week, 45 Years Ago • An ...

In July 1873, Mary Montgomery, the wife of railroad builder James B. Montgomery, traveled from a Northern Pacific Railroad construction camp in what is now Thurston County to Portland and back. She went to get the payroll for workers who were due to be paid on Sunday. The railroad line to Tacoma needed to be finished by December 1873. Mary Montgomery returned to the camp on Saturday evening with $60,000, allowing work to continue.

Celebrate the grand opening of the new Good Buzz Brewing taproom at 2 p.m. on Dec. 8 in Chehalis. Festivities will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Jenga tournament with prizes and gift certificates. The taproom will sell three of its meads, three local beers, and two local ciders. Food can be ordered take-out style from any local restaurant; customers also can bring in their own food. Head here for more information.