This community events calendar is the place to find fun activities and things to do throughout Lewis County, including Centralia, Chehalis and beyond.
Seminary Hill to host Autumn Work Party and two tree-planting events
Three public events at the Seminary Hill Natural Area over the coming two months will give community-minded volunteers plenty of opportunities to serve — with free cookies and refreshments for the workers.
The Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area will host their annual Autumn Work Party at Centralia’s hillside forest this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
All are invited to attend. Free coffee, cookies and sandwiches will be available for workers.
Attendees are urged to wear sturdy footwear and thick gloves. The Friends group will have some tools and gloves available, but volunteers are invited to bring their own tools as well, particularly loppers, shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows.
A variety of guided projects will be available for workers of all ages, skills and energy levels. These will include removing invasive English ivy, trail maintenance, trash removal, blackberry clipping and more.
In October, two tree-planting events will help continue a years-long effort to bring native vegetation back to a gully that is still only partially recovered and revegetated from an October 1991 mudslide.
The two tree-planting events will be on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, starting at 9 a.m. Again, there will be work for all skill levels, experience and abilities, from hauling soil to the actual tree-planting itself.
“It’s so rewarding to do good work alongside good folks and have a good time doing it,” said Brian Mittge, president of the Friends of the Seminary Hill Natural Area. “All three of these work events are a great opportunity to do something that matters and meet other quality people in one of the most beautiful spots in our region.”
The events will take place rain or shine.
Learn more at www.facebook.com/SeminaryHill, www.instagram.com/goseminaryhill and www.seminaryhillnaturalarea.org.
Food preservation series! Wednesdays at 6pm at Beacon of Hope.
Upcoming schedule:
September 16th TOMORROW!: Salsa making
September 23rd: Jelly & Jam making
September 30th: TBA
To register: Call 360-791-7355
Bring 4 wide-mouth canning jars or $15 to cover materials.
Discover Lewis County will host the 2026 Discover Lewis County Tourism Summit & Leadership Awards on Friday, September 18, 2026, at The Mason Jar in Onalaska.
The countywide event will bring together tourism partners, businesses, community leaders, elected officials, organizations, and destination stakeholders for an evening focused on connection, collaboration, and the future of tourism in Lewis County.
This year’s Summit will feature presentations from Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer, Lisa Smith with the Washington State Microenterprise Association, and Matthew Ozuna with State of Washington Tourism. The program will include local and statewide perspectives on tourism, small business, economic development, and the role of partnerships in strengthening communities.
The evening will also include networking, dinner, a State of Tourism update, and the introduction of Discover Lewis County’s 2027 marketing direction: Discover Volcano Country. The new visitor-facing strategy is designed to help promote Lewis County’s unique location between Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams while supporting destination development across the county.
A highlight of the evening will be the 2026 Tourism Leadership Awards, recognizing the individuals, businesses, organizations, events, and volunteers helping strengthen tourism across Lewis County. Award categories honor leadership, visitor experience, collaboration, stewardship, community impact, and volunteer service.
Tickets for the Tourism Summit & Leadership Awards are $45 and include admission, networking reception, dinner, the 2027 marketing plan introduction, and the Tourism Leadership Awards program.
For event information and tickets, visit DiscoverLewisCounty.com.
Calling all pet parents! Join us for Paws & Crafts Night, a special evening to paint your pet and create a pet-inspired piece at the Charm Bar.
Your Ticket Includes:
Custom pre-sketched portrait of your pet
All paint and painting supplies
Guided painting with our guest artist
One necklace or bracelet chain
Non-alcoholic drinks
Event: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Chehalis Chapter 3rd Annual 21 & over Ladies Event
When: Saturday, 9-19-26
Location: Jester Auto Museum
The 26th Annual Tour of Homes
Sat and Sun, September 19th and 20th
10:00am-4:00pm daily
FREE ADMISSION (scattered site event)
The Tour of Homes is a free community event that showcases the finest craftsmanship throughout our region. Step inside stunning homes, experience the latest in design, and connect with the expert builders and remodelers who bring it all to life.
The week of the event, we will release our “Tour of Homes Guide”, complete with project addresses and directions, details of each home, and a map to help guide you along the way. The Tour Guide will be available online, and we will also have printed copies available to pick up at our Main and Silver sponsor locations.
Visit omb.org for more information.
The 26th Annual Tour of Homes
Sat and Sun, September 19th and 20th
10:00am-4:00pm daily
FREE ADMISSION (scattered site event)
The Tour of Homes is a free community event that showcases the finest craftsmanship throughout our region. Step inside stunning homes, experience the latest in design, and connect with the expert builders and remodelers who bring it all to life.
The week of the event, we will release our “Tour of Homes Guide”, complete with project addresses and directions, details of each home, and a map to help guide you along the way. The Tour Guide will be available online, and we will also have printed copies available to pick up at our Main and Silver sponsor locations.
Visit omb.org for more information.
Join for a fun evening of BINGO, prizes, community and support local children’s literacy and inspire a love of reading in East Lewis County!
The Haki Farmers Collective is proud to announce the second annual Sorghum Festival taking place on September 25 – 27 on our collective farm just 20 minutes south of Olympia. Join us for a vibrant weekend filled with music, aerial arts, vendors, kids activities, and sorghum education with a community harvest!
What is Sorghum? Sorghum is an African indigenous cereal grain that holds rich food traditions for Black and Brown communities across the world. The communal hand harvest of sorghum is a time-honored tradition throughout the African continent, where sorghum is a staple grain that predates corn and wheat. While sorghum is native to North Africa, its cultural and culinary impact spans the world, holding a significant place in the foodways of peoples from South East Asia, the Middle East, the American South, the Caribbean, and beyond! Sorghum is high in nutritional value as a milled grain as well as its unique sugar-filled stalks, which we press and boil into sorghum molasses.
This festival will be a celebration of this indigenous African grain that the Haki growers have been learning to cultivate. Growing sorghum gives us the opportunity to keep this legacy alive, while reconnecting the wider public to regenerative grain cultivation that is inherent in traditional African foodways.
Live music by:
Oh Rose
Generifus
The Goodle Days
The Beehees
Sunflower Season
Mixya
Mazigazi
Fed Soul
Desejo
A Painting of Mountains
4ust Collective
More artists to be announced!
Vendors:
Enjoy local food, arts, crafts, education, and seed swapping from our vendor market! Cash is highly encouraged as service can be spotty on the property. Interested in become a vendor? Email us!
Seeking volunteers:
Want to help the Sorghum Festival run smoothly? Send us an email us to join our volunteer team!
Learn more about our work at Hakifarmers.org/sorghumfest
Tickets:
– Day Pass: $30
– Weekend Pass: $50
– Youth 13 – 18: Half Off
– Kids 12 & under FREE
– Group ticket discounts and equity scholarship tickets available, email haki@hakifarmers.org for details.
