2025 Holiday Shopping and Activity Guide

If you're looking for festive activities, holiday happenings, or great shopping ideas, you've come to the right place. Browse our guide of holiday experiences and see how Thurston County celebrates the season.

Events
Shopping
Accommodations

Winter Events

Kick off the holidays with the LoveOly Winter Fest!

On November 30th, the LoveOly Winter Fest celebrates the season with live music, festive lights and refreshments for all ages. There will also be horse-drawn carriages, holiday storytelling, and performances at the Washington Center.

Revel in tradition with The Nutcracker at the Washington Center

Join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince for the epic battle between the mice and the soldiers, journey through the Kingdom of the Snow and celebrate with the Sugarplum Fairy in the Land of the Sweets when Ballet Northwest returns to the Washington Center for the 37th-year. Shows run December 12-14, 2025. Tickets can be purchased here.

Oly on Ice

Glide into the holidays at Oly on Ice

The popular pop-up rink in downtown Olympia is back, offering affordable, family-friendly ice skating daily from November 21, 2025 through January 19, 2026. Tickets can be purchased in advance here.

Learn More

Holiday Shopping

Plan ahead at Tenino Holiday Market

Stroll through the beautiful Kodiak Room in downtown Tenino where more than 30 local artisans will have gifts, decor and treats for three days only – Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30, 2025. Learn more here.

Stock up at the Olympia Farmers Market Holiday Market

Washington’s second-largest farmers market is open for the holiday season every Saturday and Sunday through December 24, 2025. Find local produce to complete holiday meals, artisanal goods, handcrafted gifts, seasonal wreaths and much more.

Pictured: Pictured: Riverbend Ranch

Find quirky holiday gifts along the Thurston Bountiful Byway

With 91% of its businesses having 10 or fewer employees, Thurston County is the place to buy small-batch, locally made goods for the holidays.

  • Pick out a Christmas tree at Riverbend Ranch, Hunter Family Farm, or Schilter Family Farm. Bring the whole family to make lasting memories as you wander through twinkling tree lots and the fresh scent of evergreens while finding your perfect tree.
  • Pick up a selection of small-batch spirits from Heritage Distillery and Sandstone Distillery, and create the perfect holiday cocktail with their hand-crafted organic liqueurs and spirits made from locally sourced ingredients.
  • Source a gently used book from A Novel Bookstore. This family-owned shop offers a wide range of fiction and nonfiction titles for both adults and children.
  • Enjoy locally made sweet treats from Aunt Kate’s Chocolates.
Thurston Bountiful Byway
Pictured: Peacock Vintage

Find a gift that keeps on giving at these Vintage and Second-hand Shops

Downtown:

  • Fifth Avenue Flea Market - Offers an assortment of vintage goods, ranging from clothing and furniture to artwork and eclectic memorabilia.
  • Hot Toddy - This boutique specializes in curated fashion items, including retro dresses and graphic t-shirts.
  • Peacock Vintage - Mid-century decorations and Victorian furniture are just some of the staples at this shop.
  • Rainy Day Records - Along with a vast collection of vinyl records, this store sells cassettes and audio equipment.
  • Psychic Sister - Features an array of vintage clothes tarot cards, and more.

Along the Byway:

  • DC Treasures - This thrift store boasts extensive aisles of furnishings clothes, and kitchenware.
  • The Iron Works Boutique - Showcases a variety of antique items and clothing in a cozy space.
  • Tenino Antique Mall - With a variety of decorations, jewelry, and books, this store is an organized treasure chest of items.
  • The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House - This local cafe features mouthwatering doughnuts, outdoor seating, and assorted home goods.

Thrift Shopping

Accommodations

The Marie Bed & Breakfast

Check into these cozy B&Bs abound in Olympia & Beyond

From restored historic buildings to cottages in the forest, the B&Bs of Olympia offer warm and cozy accommodations for a Thurston County holiday getaway.

  • Swantown Inn & Spa is an 1887 Queen Anne/Eastlake Victorian mansion listed on both the city and state historical registers. Located in a quiet neighborhood in the heart of Olympia, the inn can be a headquarters for exploring the Puget Sound region, or a refuge to escape from it all.

  • The Eld House is two private cottages on the shores of Eld Inlet, the southernmost on Puget Sound. Enjoy a tranquil oasis in the forest with continental breakfast served early or late.

  • The Marie Bed and Breakfast, built in 1892, was recently restored and is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne–style architecture in West Olympia.

More to Explore

Top Winter Activities In Thurston County Learn More
Best Outdoor Adventures Along the Thurston Bountiful Byway Learn More
Thrift Shopping for Vintage and Antique Items in Olympia and Beyond Learn More

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