The Olympia Genealogical Society will be on hand to answer questions and assist people researching their family history during the Genealogy Cafe. The cafe is held the third Thursday of the month; 1 p.m. Thursday; Olympia Timberland Regional Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia; free; trl.org.
The Capital Bicycle Club will lead this ride that puts emphasis on fun and meeting other cyclists. Pace will be 14-16 mph and the ride will be 15-30 miles. Be ready to go at 6 p.m. Thursday and meet at Marathon Park, Deschutes Parkway, Olympia; free; capitalbicycleclub.org.
The ninth annual Donkey Creek Chum Festival celebrates the chum salmon, Gig Harbor's fishing heritage and the environment; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; Donkey Creek Park, 8714 N. Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor; free; gigharborguide.com.
Learn why sand looks and feels the way it does. Participants can look at sand from around the world through microscopes and hand lenses. Presentation at 2 p.m. with activities all day Saturday; LOTT's WET Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia; free; 360-664-2333.
That will be the topic of the presentation by Ken Slavens at the next public night program held by the Tacoma Astronomical Society. There will be night sky viewing after the program, weather permitting; 9 p.m.-midnight Saturday; Rainier Building, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Campus, Lakewood; free; tas-online.org.