Nancy Conner, ABR - Olympia/Thurston County WA

Olympia's 9th annual Sand in the City event is this weekend! Teams sculpt absolutely amazing creations out of sand, all ready to view in the Port Plaza along Budd Inlet. If you enjoyed building sand castles as a child, you will wonder how in the world these elaborate sand sculptures are done!

On Saturday (8/22) from 10 AM til 7 PM you can tour the sculptures and vote for your favorite. There will also be live music, activities and crafts galore for kids including giant sandboxes for them to play in! Then on Sunday from 10 AM til 4 PM it is grandparents day - so if you've got grandkids, here's that special outing you can share with them!

The event is free although there is a suggested donation amount of $5.00 per family (how's that for a bargain for some cool entertainment!!) The event benefits Hands on Children's Museum www.hocm.org. You can also park for free at event parking lots located east of Farmer's Market along Marine Drive and then ride the DASH bus to the event (I know for my grandaughter, riding a bus is as much fun as going to the event itself!).

If you love to see cute pets, cute kids and creative costumes on both, as well as decorated bikes, trikes and wagons - you will LOVE Olympia's annual pet parade happening this coming Saturday! And if you have a cute kid (with or without a cute pet), it is not too late to plan to participate in the parade.

This is the 80th Pet Parade and it is a very cool community event, now sponsored by The Olympian newspaper. Participants don't need to pre-register but should gather in Heritage Park downtown by Capitol Lake for judging between 8:30 and 9:45 before the parade begins at 10 AM. There are lots of categories for kids and their pets to have a chance to win prizes, and the parade itself is a kick to watch or walk along in! Parents are welcome to accompany smaller kids in the parade as it makes its way from Heritage Park to Sylvester Park - and then there is ice cream for all the entrants!

Come see animals from pigs, sheep, chickens, horses and cows to dogs, cats, rabbits - & oh yes, alpacas! 4-H kids will have their animals on display and there is a petting farm too. And the fair is not just animals - take in exhibits of photography or quilts or the very best homemade pies!

Thurston County Fair has been coming around each year since 1871 - and this year it will be running from July 29-August 2nd. Hours are 10-10 Wed - Sat. and 10-8 on Sunday. The fairgrounds are at 3054 Carpenter Rd SE and if you don't want to try to park there, you can also catch a free shuttle from either the North Thurston Bus Barn or Woodland Elementary School.

Admission is $7 for adults; $ 6 for seniors over 60; $5 for youth 5-14 and 5 and under are free. There is also a family pass for $18 and several special days like "1 Buck Wednesday" where you can get in for just $1 plus a donation to the Food Bank.

In addition to the exhibits, there will be music, carnival rides and lots of food booths - so plan to come spend the day (or several days)!

For more info, www.co.thurston.wa.us/fair.

See you at the fair!!!