Details at a Glance

Donor Reception

6:15–7:45 PM

Overhill Events at Underhill Plants (715 4th Ave E, Olympia)

Live music by Arden Gonta and Christy Neal

Drinks | Donor recognition | Invitations for monthly giving

Jellyfish Jam

Doors at 6:30 PM Music start at 6:45 PM.

The Olympia Center (222 Columbia St NW, Olympia)

Live Music by Nikko and the Night Shift! | Drag Show hosted by the Burley Barnacles! | Estuary Celebration

Tickets $25 | 21+

Beer Wine and light snacks!

Jellyfish Jam!

On Saturday, September 27th, the Puget Sound Estuarium invites the community to dive deep into the rhythm of the Sound at its most dazzling event of the year: Jellyfish Jam—a high-energy celebration of estuarine life, creative expression, and collective joy.

The evening kicks off at 6:15 PM with a pre-Jam Donor Reception at Overhill Events, located inside the lush and vibrant Underhill Plants building. Guests will enjoy live music by local artists Arden Gonta and Christy Neal. Sip drinks with locally-inspired bites in an intimate setting surrounded by greenery and estuarine gratitude. This reception honors Estuarium Wayfinders (donors and supporters) who help keep our programs flowing all year long.

If you are a Wayfinder, look out for a donor thank you invitation email and code, or buy a benefactor ticket to unlock the code through our ticket link!

At 6:30 PM, the party drifts downtown to The Olympia Center for the main event: Jellyfish Jam, a full-blown celebration featuring live music by Nikko and the Night Shift, a jaw-dropping drag show hosted by the Burley Barnacles, and enough sparkle and movement to rival a moon jelly bloom.

Costumes, dancing, and Sound-themed flair are highly encouraged!

   “This event brings the soul of the Sound into the heart of Olympia,” said Hap Clemons, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Estuarium. “Jellyfish Jam is about community, joy, queerness, science, and the untapped beauty of community connections. It’s a celebration of our estuarine ecosystem—fluid, radiant, and resilient.”

Jellyfish Jam is a fundraiser for the Puget Sound Estuarium’s education and field lab programs, supporting place-based science learning, community storytelling, and environmental stewardship across the South Sound.

For press inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or to RSVP for the donor reception, contact hap@pugetsoundestuarium.org.

Let’s light up the night—#jelly-style