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On this page you will find information about how to request use of City properties, including streets, for
Also listed below is information about how to request use of State of Washington properties (such as Heritage and Sylvester Parks) and City of Olympia parks (such as Percival Landing Boardwalk).
Festival Events
In 2007, the Olympia City Council approved Ordinance 6474 (pdf file) requiring permits, a street closure fee, and reimbursement for some City services for multi-day community festivals on City property. An event is considered "multi-day" if it is longer than one calendar day including pre-event set-up and post-event dismantling/clean-up.
Your application to request use of City property for a multi-day festival event should be submitted no later than 90 days before the first day of event set up to allow adequate time for review, communication, and logistical planning.
For 2008, the City of Olympia is only considering requests to use City property for Festival Events sponsored by non-profit organizations registered as such with the Washington Secretary of State.
Use the same forms to request use of City streets for single day events.
Applications are only accepted for the noticed calendar year. Questions? Contact Cathie Butler at Olympia City Hall by phone (360) 753-8361 or email.
Date Restrictions. At the bottom of this page is a list of dates for 2008 festivals and community events sponsored and organized by Olympia City Government through the Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department. The City will not permit use of City property (including streets and sidewalks) in downtown Olympia for additional festivals or street closure event activities on the same days as Spring Arts Walk/Procession of Species and Fall Arts Walk, or in close location proximity on the same days at the Ethnic Celebration and Percival Play Day.
Liability Insurance Requirements. Please note that the City of Olympia now requires sponsors of community festivals held on City property to obtain event liability insurance in a minimum amount of $1 million dollars per occurance and $2 million aggregate, with the City named as an additional insured party. The dollar amount requested by the City may be higher, depending on the nature of event activities and recommendation by the City's risk manager.
Alcohol Sales. The City of Olympia does not allow the sale or serving of alcohol on City property for festival events.
Notifications. When a street closure is requested for a festival, the event sponsor is required to provide advance notice to adjacent businesses in writing of their request, the proposed event dates and times, nature of activities planned for the street, and the contact name and phone number for the event sponsor.
Street Use Fee. Beginning in 2008, sponsors of multi-day festivals must pay a street usage fee of $50 per block per day of event operation.
Community Event License. The sponsor of a community event in Olympia, whether or not it is held on City property, must obtain a community event license per Title 5.17 of the Olympia Municipal Code. There is a $50 fee. The City's regular business license form may be used to apply for a community event license.
In OMC Title 5.17, community event is defined as: "Any festival, celebration, fair or other similar event held in the city with local participation and sponsorship, which event is open to the public and does not exceed seven days in duration during any calendar year."
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One Day Community or Festival Events that Require Street Closure
If you wish to request use a City street for all of part of a community or festival event that is in a fixed location (not a walk-a-thon, run-a-thon, etc) for one calendar day or less (including pre-event set-up and post-event dismantling/clean-up), please fill out and submit the following form:
For 2008, the City of Olympia is only considering requests to use City property for Festival Events sponsored by non-profit organizations registered as such with the Washington Secretary of State.
If permission for use of City property is granted, the event must be free and open to the public. The information posted above for multi-day events regarding date restrictions, alcohol sales, and notifications applies to single-day events.
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State Capital Campus, Heritage Park, Marathon Park, Sylvester Park
The Capitol Campus, Heritage Park/Capitol Lake, Marathon Park, Sylvester Park, and Deschutes Parkway in downtown Olympia are owned by the State of Washington and maintained by the State Department of General Administration. Also owned and managed by the State is the portion of Washington Street in downtown Olympia that is between Legion Way and 7th Avenue (between Sylvester Park and the Superintendent of Public Instruction Building).
Please make contact directly with the State Department of General Administration to request use of those facilities or locations for events.
If an event sponsor requests use of City streets adjacent to State-owned parks as part of the event venue, City permission - if granted - will be conditioned on the State Department of General Administration issuing a permit for use of the State property for the event's primary activities, including stages and entertainment, and the ability of emergency vehicles to navigate the streets if needed.
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Events, other than Festival Events, at Olympia City Parks, including Percival Landing and The Olympia Center
If you wish to reserve space in a City of Olympia park, at Percival Landing, or at The Olympia Center for an event or activity other than a community or festival event, please contact the Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, (360) 753-8380. Do not fill out the festival events application posted on this page.
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Parades, Marches, Demonstrations and Free Speech Activities
Street Use: Contact the Olympia Police Department Traffic Division by phone at (360) 753-8419 to make arrangements for parades, marches, demonstrations and free speech activities on City of Olympia streets. Do not fill out the festival events application posted on this page.
City Park Use: Contact Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department about use of City park property for demonstrations and free speech activities, (360) 753-8300. See the above note about requests to use State property such as Sylvester and Heritage Parks. Do not fill out the festival events application posted on this page.
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Run/Walk-A-Thons, Marathons
Contact the Olympia Police Department Traffic Division by phone at (360) 753-8419 to request street closure or to make arrangements. Do not fill out the festival events application posted on this page.
Depending on the requested use, the City may require liability insurance as determined by the City's Risk Manager.
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Neighborhood Block Parties
Contact the Olympia Police Department Traffic Division by phone at (360) 753-8419 to request street closure for a neighborhood block party. Do not fill out the festival events application on this page.
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List of 2008 Events Sponsored and Organized by Olympia City Government
- Saturday, January 26 - Ethnic Celebration; Location - The Washington Center and on Washington Street.
- Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 - Spring Arts Walk, including the Procession of the Species; Location - multiple streets and venues in downtown Olympia.
- Saturday, September 13 - Percival Play Day; Location - Percival Landing and Columbia Street.
- Friday, October 3 - Fall Arts Walk; Location - multiple streets and venues in downtown Olympia.
Learn more about these City of Olympia sponsored events.
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