Community Calendar

Featured Singer: Storm Large
Drawing musical inspiration from around the world, the self-described “little orchestra,” Pink Martini performs cosmopolitan musical covers spanning from jazz to classical to retro pop in over 25 languages! Experience the live show JazzTimes describes as “baroque and zany” and Britain’s The Guardian hails as “an international phenomenon…mixing glamour and [sophistication].”

MAJOR is a dance theater project that explores the history and physicality of majorette dance, with six Black femmes embodying the movement of their girlhood to answer the questions of their present, as they pursue the intimate journey of returning to bodies they thought lost. Through investigations of physical memory, sexuality, and sensuality, MAJOR preserves and proliferates the creative practices and stories of the folks who taught us how to be proudly Black and proudly femme.

Multi-platinum-selling WAR, the original street band, has been sharing its timeless music and message of brotherhood and harmony for over 5 decades before millions across the globe.The long list of hits includes “Low Rider,” “The World Is A Ghetto,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “The Cisco Kid,” and many more. The phenomenal group has been honored twice by its hometown of Los Angeles for making positive contributions to the betterment of the community with its powerful music and has been honored by President Obama as “All Day Music” was placed on his official playlist of the Summer.

With 12 Billboard Top 40 Hits, 7 top 10 ten hits, over 50 million records sold to date, and countless samples and nods by artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Flo-Rida, Janet Jackson, Dave Matthews, Korn, and countless others, WAR has not only sealed their status as a household name, but has also proven that their music and message continues to be as relevant as ever today as they have always been.

Sponsored by KNKX. The 3rd Annual Olympia Funk Festival returns January 30–February 1, 2026, bringing three days of electrifying performances to Washington’s capital city. This year’s festival features funk powerhouses Tank and the Bangas, MonoNeon, and George Porter, Jr., alongside an all-star lineup of regional and national artists. With over 100 performers across 22 bands, the event continues to grow as a major cultural celebration in the Pacific Northwest.

KNKX returns as a proud media sponsor, supporting the festival’s mission to create an inclusive, joyful, and family-friendly experience that keeps live funk music thriving. The festival's venues include The Historic Capitol Theater, Olympia Ballroom, Olympia Center, and Ilk Brewing. Ilk Brewing will host free, all-ages programming including funk DJs and the Passing the Torch youth stage, while The Olympia Center will be home to free, educational masterclasses for aspiring musicians.

Beyond the stage, Olympia Funk Festival prioritizes affordability and access. Children 15 and under attend free, and tickets remain among the lowest priced for a multi-day music festival of this caliber — all to ensure that families and fans from across the country can experience the magic without breaking the bank.

KNKX is proud to support Olympia Funk Festival 2026 as it continues to cultivate the next generation of funk lovers and musicians through education, cultural exchange, and pure dance floor joy.

We are protesting project 2025. TacomaRama marching band will join us for the next 4 years. We will meet each month on the Saturday closest to the 18th each month. Always 10am, always Reconciliation park.
Feel loved and supported.

The period from the 1870s to the 1900s, known as the Gilded Age, saw the rise of the railroad, textile industry, and production. It also saw a rise in migration to US cities, providing workers to fill low paying jobs producing many of the fashions of the era. This era marked a turning point in fashion as new technologies and changing cultural norms transformed the ways in which people dressed.

Explore this history and enjoy the rare chance to see clothing, notions, and artifacts of the period from the Washington State Historical Society collections.

Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.

Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.

This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.

Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.

This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:
We are of the land and waters
With knowledge comes responsibility
Sovereignty protects people, lands, and waters

These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.

Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.

Stories are shaped by the ways we tell them. In Shaping the Story: Designs for the Theatre by Carey Wong, go behind the scenes to see how theatre sets bring stories to life. During a career spanning over 50 years, Carey Wong has designed sets and costumes for more than 300 productions, including operas, plays, musicals, and ballets.

This exhibition features scale models of his designs in addition to costumes, set pieces, and stories of Washington’s rich entertainment history. From sketches of an idea to fully realized sets, explore how a designer’s decisions craft the world of a story.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum proudly presents The Birth of the American Supercar, a groundbreaking exhibition guest curated by renowned automotive innovator Steve Saleen. This one-of-a-kind display invites guests on an exhilarating journey through the evolution of American supercars. From early speed pioneers to cutting-edge modern marvels, visitors will experience a stunning lineup of vehicles that have redefined engineering, speed, and style, built by a wide range of American automotive manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Saleen himself, and even some more obscure ones like Vector, Cunningham, and Hennessey. From roaring V8s to sleek carbon-fiber bodies, discover how American automakers pushed boundaries, challenged European rivals, and redefined what a supercar could be. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the most thrilling and historically significant American-made performance vehicles ever built—all under one roof.