Arts and Activities

Nestled in the prairie just beyond the foothills of Mount Rainier, the greater Yelm community is enriched by thriving Arts and Activities for all ages and interests. Yelm’s perfect climate and location are ideal for a host of activities. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, have a passion for golf, fishing, gardening, casinos, looking for interactive community events, or just want to idle in a beautiful countryside, this is the place to be. The exceptional recreational venues and attractions make this a great area to live or as a perfect getaway for the day or weekend. The emerging art community has developed an increasingly vibrant art scene among local art studios, arts and crafts shops, community theaters, and schools. The Timberland Regional Library in Yelm regularly hosts many programs for public participation. In addition, area restaurants are showcasing local artists, karaoke nights, and classes, all of which are contributing to a vibrant and sustainable art scene, now established as a core value of the community.

Casinos

Red Wind Casino
12819 Yelm Highway Southeast
Olympia, WA 98513
(360) 412-5000
 

Community Theater

Standing Room Only Theater Company
Wolf Building/Triad Theater, Corner of First St. & Yelm Ave.
Yelm, Wa. 98597
(360) 446-2188
Read more about two shows presented in May, 2012.  

The Triad Theater
Wolf Building, Corner of First St. & Yelm Ave.
Yelm, Wa. 98597
(360) 458-3140

Festivals and Events

March -- Rainier Dollars for Scholars Auction
March -- Yelm Dollars for Scholars Auction
April -- Arbor Day celebration, last Friday in April
April -- Nisqually Valley Home, Garden Trade Show, last weekend in April
May -- Harmonic Riding's Health & Wellness Fair for Pets and People
May -- Bike month in Yelm
May - October Yelm Farmer's Market
June -- Roy Rodeo, Roy
June -- Prairie Days Parade, sponsored by the Yelm Chamber
June -- Prairie Days Carnival, sponsored by the Yelm Lions Club
June -- Prairie Days Golf Tournament, sponsored by Chamber Foundation
July -- American Cancer Society Relay for Life
July -- Rotary Club of Yelm, Prairie Stampede 5K
July -- Yelm Police Dept. Survivor Summer Camp
August -- Cuffs & Trucks Golf Tournament, Yelm's Tahoma Golf & Country Club,
August -- The Rainier Roundup, Rainier
September -- Roy Rodeo, Roy
November -- Boot Scootin Boogie, Yelm
November -- Christmas in the Park Parade & Celebration, Yelm City Park

Clearwood Lake
Located in the Bald Hills, lakeside residential community nestled in 900 forested acres.

Deschutes River
50-mile-long river empties into Puget Sound, popular for summer tubing.

Lake Lawrence
Spring-fed residential and fishing lake and a tributary of the Dechutes River.

Nisqually River
A 78-mile link between the summit of Mt. Rainier to the delta at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in Puget Sound.

Gardening

Gordon's Garden Center
308 East Yelm Avenue, Yelm - (360) 458-2481

Jason's Greenhouse Inc
1337 Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm - (360) 458-2412

Canal Road Nursery
16638 Canal Road SE, Yelm - (360) 400-1776

Mom's Green Thumb Nursery
4237 Bald Hill Road SE, Yelm - (360) 894-4731

Golf

Tahoma Valley Golf Course
15425 Mosman Ave SE, Yelm - (360)-458-3332

Health and Fitness

Anytime Fitness
1304 Yelm Ave. E., Yelm - (360) 400-3880

Fit Stop 24
16910 SR 507, Yelm - (360) 400-4000

15 Minute Total Fitness
715 Yelm Ave. E. # 1, Yelm - (360) 960-8361

Medicine Rivier Center
211 Yelm Ave. W., Yelm - (360) 567-6679

Prairie Soccer Club
P.O. Box 1901, Yelm - (360) 250-1809

Yelm Gymnastics Center
307 Creek St. SE # C, Yelm - (360) 400-1988

Yelm Kempo Karate
201 Yelm Ave. E., Yelm - (360) 400-5425

Movie Theatres

Yelm Cinemas
201 Prairie Park St., Yelm
360-400-3456
Since 2000, 8-screen cineplex offering first-run features & independent films.

Museums

Yelm Historical Museum
Corner of 3rd &: McKenzie Streets, Yelm
Close ties to Mt. Rainier highlight this history-filled repository.

Parks

Yelm City Park
Donated by Chuck and Wilma Demich in 1950, this park hosts annual, special events.

Yelm Skatepark
Yelm teens in the early-1990's raised funds for this then-landmark facility.

Cochrane Memorial Park
Land donated in 1983 by Lou and Mae E. Cochrane, recognized for unique reclaimed wastewater reuse.

Longmire Community Park
3 baseball fields, modern concesison/toilet building, walking trails, & playground.

Trails

Yelm-Tenino Trail
A 14.5 mile pedistrian/non-motorized bike trail connecting the communities of Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino, intersecting the 22-mile Chehalis Western Trail linking to Tumwater, Lacey, Olympia, and Woodard Bay Puget Sound.

Other Area Attractions

Mount Rainier National Park
Standing 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A. and spawns 6 major rivers. The park's entrance is 45 miles from Yelm.

Millersylvania State Park
Created in 1935, an 842-acre camping park with gorgeous shoreline on Deep Lake.

Art /Activities/Interests

Timberland Library
210 Prairie Park St SE, Yelm, WA, 98597
(360) 458-3374

Spiral Café/Community Center
201 E Yelm Ave, Yelm, WA, 98597
(360) 400-2233