It’s a great weekend for family fun around the South Sound. The list this weekend is full of outdoor adventures and things to do with the kids in Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Olympia, and just about everywhere else around the South Sound. Lots of them are Free, too!
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! She’s found some good ones this week!
Friday
It’s Kids’ Day in Auburn Inflatables, booths, entertainment, and more! Free! We’ve done this and had lots of fun, though the lines for the inflatables are Immense. If you can talk your kids out of those, you’ll be in business!
Seussical the Musical in Auburn Also Saturday
Meeker Days begins in Puyallup
Recess Monkey Concert at Charles Wright Academy 6PM FREE concert open to the public with the popular kindie rockers!
U Pick strawberries at Picha in Puyallup I have a post here with details on doing u pick at Picha.
Saturday
All Over
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Michael’s offers 30 minute craft sessions for kids for 2.00 from 10-11:30. It’s a How to Train Your Dragon Perler key chain today. I would not do this with young children as the little beads are small and a bit tricky for small hands. You may also want to read about their Passport to Imagination summer program-open for registration now.
More than two dozen events around the South Sound continue below the fold. Just click, “Continue Reading.”
South King County
Waterland Festival in Des Moines Children’s carnival, pony rides, wooden boat show, and more! Whoops-not until July! My mistake! They do have a very cool, waterfront Farmer’s Market.
Seussical the Musical in Auburn Best loved Seuss stories brought to life. Last show
Touch tanks at HCC Mast at Redondo Free and open to the public every Saturday from 10-2
Nordic Fest in Auburn Food, children’s activities
The Frog Prince by Heavier Than Air theater at Green River
Open hours at Mary Olson Farm in Auburn
The sprayground at Les Gove in Auburn is on, and readers report the surface has been improved and seems less slick. Yay! Leave a report if you go!
Greater Pierce County- Puyallup/Sumner/Orting/Graham
Meeker Days! Three day festival with live entertainment, kids’ activities, inflatables, booths, and more If you aren’t going, be aware that this is right downtown, so plan a detour.
Summer Reading Kick-Off Party at the Puyallup Library with Rhubarb from the Tacoma Rainiers! 11AM craft and photo op
Lego Building Madness at the Bonney Lake Library 11AM-3 Drop in and build with the library’s Legos and other materials.
Welcome Summer! at the Sumner Library sign up for summer reading, make a craft, enjoy a treat, and get a balloon animal! 10AM-4
Tacoma
Visit the Job Carr Cabin Museum in Old Town Open 1-4 Wednesdays-Saturdays Small, cabin replica A quick outing, but fun for children and free (donations welcome).
What’s Cooking at Fort Nisqually Old fashioned cooking contests with chefs using skillets over wood fires; Included with admission. I don’t know whether most kids would be interested in this, but the Fort is always fun to explore.
The Curt Show at Tacoma Public Libraries Yo-Yo tricks, tennis racket juggling, and other amazing fun. 11AM at Wheelock or 3PM at Moore Free, drop-in event for all ages
The Lego Movie at the Main Library 1PM in the Olympic room Free, drop-in Kids need a grown-up along.
Children’s and all ages show at the science dome at Ft.Steilacoom Low cost astronomy shows in an indoor planetarium cash only at the door, or buy online. Children’s show at 12:30 or 2 is on Pluto; all ages at 3:15 is Secret Life of Stars
Hot Dog Jump Rope at the Parkland/Spanaway Library 12:30 jump rope performance with audience participation There is also Block Play at this library from 10AM-11:30 today.
Free outdoor movie at the LeMay Museum Bring a blanket, or watch from your car! It’s Cars tonight. Movie is free; food is available for purchase. Museum admission is Not included. This is the one by the Tacoma Dome. Parking begins around 4:30; showtime at dusk around 9. If you’ve done this before, I’d love some input!
Beyond
Slug Fest at Northwest Trek weekend of all things slug, including slug races, slug tattoos, a slug photo booth, and more. Included with admission. Also Sunday. Trek is a fun adventure, but admission is spendy. Consider a membership if you’d go two or more times. One can be added to an existing zoo membership.
Visit the new South Sound Estuarium 10AM-3PM Free admission the last two weeks at this location before they move!
Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center The center is free and open to the public every weekend. 1PM slide show followed by treatment plant tour for ages 10 and up-wear closed toe shoes. All ages crafts on food chains and wetlands available in the center all day.
Gig Harbor Area
Summer Reading Kick-Off Party at the Gig Harbor Library 10AM-3 Sign up for summer reading, make a button, play miniature golf in the library!
Shrek the Musical at Paradise Theater
The trolley is back! .50, free for kids 5 and under.
Gig Harbor Farmer’s Market is now open! Kids music is on the calendar for 9AM, though there aren’t any other details on that.
Water’s Xtreme Journey Exhibit continues at the Harbor History Museum
Craft at Michaels The Gig Harbor store does a craft for children every weekend. Call for details.
Kitsap readers may also enjoy Macaroni Kid Kitsap
Sunday
U Pick strawberries at Picha in Puyallup I have a post here with details on doing u pick at Picha.
Slug Fest at Northwest Trek weekend of all things slug, including slug races, slug tattoos, a slug photo booth, and more. Included with admission. Also Sunday. Trek is a fun adventure, but admission is spendy. Consider a membership if you’d go two or more times. One can be added to an existing zoo membership.
Half-Off Admission to Wild Waves with a donation of new clothing for Foster Kids. Each member of your party needs a donation for the discount. Another option is to buy discounted tickets online for 14.99 through June. The current regular admission price is 19.99. One note for thrill seekers-some slides have been removed while they make room for new ones (scheduled to open in July).
Water’s Extreme Weekend at the Harbor History Museum 1-4PM Free admission for kids 17 and under and special run related to the current, “Water’s Extreme Journey,” exhibit
Meeker Days continues in Puyallup
Crafts From the Past at Fort Nisqually Local artisans demonstrate different crafts each weekend through September 3rd. Included with admission. I think demos. will probably only interest older children, but kids of most ages enjoy exploring the fort. Sunday only this weekend, due to the cooking event on Saturday. It’s plant pressing today. Included with admission
Gig Harbor Sunday Farmer’s Market at Skansie Brothers Park Take a Trolly? The STAR Center in S Tacoma also has their Sunday market now (it’s next to the new playground and sprayground).
Historic Fort Steilacoom is now open for Sunday tours 1-4PM through Labor Day Talk on the fort during the Civil War at 2PM today
Visit the new South Sound Estuarium in Olympia 10AM-3PM
If you’ve been super busy like we have, you might have missed the roll out of this year’s great, big South Sound Summer Guide! It’s all your favorite things for summer with the kids in one, great place!
I also have a great list of summer camps in the menu bar, a round up of savings on family fun on the deal page, and much, much more! It’s a lot to take in-you might want to become a subscriber and tackle a little bit a day. We have lots of ways to subscribe via those cute buttons at the top, but I recommend the daily emails!
Photo via North Charleston on Flickr used under a creative commons license
Great list, but the Des Moines Festival website says it’s not until July?
Whoops! Thanks Moira. I got June and July mixed up.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1514837642072899/
Go skate Tacoma is on today from 10 am to 11 pm with open skateboarding and demonstrations. Also competitions and information for those that love skateboarding. Local artists with perform at the end. Tollefson Plaza, Tacoma