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South Sound Weekend Kids’ Calendar: Things to Do and Places to Go for Family Fun October 11th-13th!

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The South Sound is full of fun things to do with your family this weekend!

How about festivals in Tacoma, harvest events in Puyallup and Olympia, and lots more great kids’ activities all over!

For Seattle or Portland area fun you’ll want to check out the fantastic list over at ThriftyNWmom compiled by the newest member of their frugal finding team, Annaliese of Grays Harbor Deals!

Saturday

All Over

Get your pumpkin on! Here’s my list of South Sound pumpkin patches and corn mazes!

Lowe’s Build and Grow Advance registration required for these popular, free kids’ building events *I see just a few spots left*

Kids’ Club at Michael’s Stores  2.00 per child for a 30 minute session. Sessions begin on the half hour starting at 10AM  Bandana mask making today

Cra-z-Loom Bracelet making event at Toys R Us  Free bracelet make and take event  Every Saturday August 24th-October 26th 10AM-12   Always a good idea to call your local store to confirm. There is a good chance your kiddos will want to buy this bracelet making thing-which looks pretty cool!

Many Farmer’s Markets are  still open for just a few more weeks!  Find one here Get your fresh on while you can!

South King County

Cedar River Salmon Migration  Every weekend in October spot salmon returning with the help of volunteer naturalists  Various Renton area sites  More on salmon watching coming in a post next week!
Open House at Hart’s Gymnastics in Kent  free activities and performances
Barktober Fest in Auburn  Collect pledges and come walk or run with your four legged friend

Storytime with Corduroy Bear at Southcenter Barnes and Noble costumed character appearance 11AM perfect for kids 3-7  weirdly, Corduroy will hang out while the kids hear Arthur stories.

Touch tanks at HCC Mast at Redondo  Free and open to the public every Saturday from 10-2  Kids can touch a variety of sea critters

East Pierce County-Orting, Puyallup
Orting Pumpkin Fest  games, bounce house, pumpkin pals parade, and more!
Star Wars Reads Day at the Puyallup Public Library crafts, games, and trivia   costumes encouraged  11AM

Lego my Library at the Puyallup Public Library 11AM Stories followed by Lego building fun  drop-in  for kids 4-8
Fall Farm Tour in the Puyallup Valley tour of several area farms; kid friendly activities, products for sale
You can also make cider at Terry’s Berries on weekends, but sadly you can’t apple pick due to a poor crop. The cider is very pricey, but super delicious! Terry encourages you to go this weekend-lines are usually shorter on Sundays.
Captain McFinn’s March Against Bullying at the South Hill Mall Kids are invited to wear superhero costumes and take the no-bullying pledge; crafts, and Daffodil Princesses 1PM
Reptile Show at the Puyallup fairgrounds Show and sale of all things reptile  Kids 10 and under are free; adults 8.00; also on Sunday-two day pass available
Luminasia lighted lantern show continues at the Puyallup fairgrounds.  This is the last weekend, so there may be a crowd. Kids are free on Sundays. ThriftyNorthwestMom has a round-up of other available coupons and discounts. We went last weekend and enjoyed it. It was much more beautiful than I expected and definitely worth the discounted admission. The boys were over it pretty quickly. I don’t think I”d pay money to take kids, but I’m pretty cheap. 🙂
Tacoma
Sparks Event at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma  These are preschool events with tie-ins from popular PBS shows/characters. Today’s is Peg the Cat from 10-11AM. It’s free but you do need to register. Surprisingly, there are a bunch of openings
Tree Festival at Wright Park Kids can climb one of the park’s majestic trees under the supervision of an arborist. They’ll be helmeted and harnessed. Crafts   I went to this with my older son last year. He decided not to climb, but we enjoyed an autumn walk. If yours do want to climb, you need to go towards the beginning of the event as there are a limited number of slots. 10AM-1PM
Fire Department Open Houses  Tacoma fire stations host a variety of activities between 1-3PM  Great chance to meet firefighters and check out their rigs! Thanks, Fb reader Stephanie for the tip!
Family Nature Walks with Metro Parks  Naturalists lead free walks at area parks. Free but registration is required. Not recommended for kiddos under 3 and not suitable for strollers  Wapato at 10 or Tacoma Nature Center at 1pM
Green Tacoma Day volunteer at a park near you. I don’t know if you’ll still be able to do this or not, but you could call and check. I’ll try to do more on kids’ volunteer efforts in a future post. Thanks fb reader, Tricia, for the suggestion.
Fall Storytime at the Job Carr Museum Kids 3-8 and families are invited to hear 3 fall themed stories with Bonnie Beaudoin and make a craft!

Visit the Lighthouse  Museum at Browns Point Lighthouse Park   Free and open 1-4 on Saturdays through November  Small, but super friendly folks and lots for the kids to touch and try!

Star Wars Reads Day at Tacoma Public Libraries  Fun for all ages; costumes invited 10:30-12:00 at Mottet,or 11AM at South Tacoma  or 1PM at Kobetich crafts, free comics for kids, and more fun!  free, drop-in event

Mega Multiples Sale at Bates South Campus  Bargains on used baby and toddler clothing and gear at the semi annual sale from the multiples club

South Tacoma/Lakewood

Get Geeky event at the Lakewood Library Building/science events for kids 7 and up and a grown up; based on the popular Geek Dad book series  Registration required 1-3PM

Children and all ages shows at the Pierce College Science Dome/planetarium2PM children’s show on Pluto; 3:15 all ages show on black holes

Lacey/Olympia

Harvest Festival at Nature Nurture Farm in Olympia

Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center  Free and open every weekend  water art projects as part of fall art walk this weekend

It’s the Navy’s Birthday Storytime  at the Olympia Barnes and Noble A real sailor will read stories chosen to celebrate the Navy’s birthday 1PM

Harvest Festival at Evergreen State College

Visit the new South Sound Estuarium  10AM-3PM

Olympia Family Theater begins a run of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Sausage Fest at Gull Harbor Lutheran

Parent’s Night Out at the Hands-on Children’s Museum  Registration and fees required

Gig Harbor/Kitsap

Ride the trolley (opens pdf with map and schedule)

Indoor fall farmer’s market begins (old Peninsula Gardens site)

Celebrate the Navy Storytime at the Kitsap Barnes and Noble  special storytime, with a sailor at 11AM  *Call to confirm. This is still on the calendar for this store, but other locations are indicating a cancellation due to the government shutdown.

Harvest Party at Volunteer Park 6-8PM Hayride, sing along with Nancy Stewart, smores, flashlight hunt, and more!

Kitsap area readers may also like to get the free newsletter from Macaroni Kid Kitsap

Sunday

Cedar River Salmon Migration  Every weekend in October spot salmon returning with the help of volunteer naturalists  Various Renton area sites  More on salmon watching coming in a post next week!

Open Trails at the Morse Wildlife Preserve in Graham

Reptile Show continues at the Puyallup fairgrounds Show and sale of all things reptile  Kids 10 and under are free; adults 8.00

Visit the new South Sound Estuarium  10AM-3PM

Olympia Family Theater continues a run of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Luminasia lighted lantern show continues at the Puyallup fairgrounds, and kids get in free on Sundays. Last day-I think you can expect a crowd. ThriftyNorthwestMom has a round-up of available discounts.

Know something great I missed? Want publicity for your group or advertising for your family friendly business?  Just let me know! Don’t forget you can find rainy day play options up in the menu bar! You know-just in case!

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