Do you need something great to do with the kids this weekend? We’ve found all kinds of great free activities and events for families in Tacoma, Lacey, Gig Harbor, and beyond this week. The fair continues in Puyallup, and there are several don’t-miss, end of summer festivals, too!
Don’t forget we have an awesome list just like this every Friday, just for South Sound families, and tons of other fun ideas every other day of the week!
All Weekend
It’s fair time in Puyallup. Read this post if you need tips on how to save, what to see, where to park, or anything else!
Friday
Play all day with our friends at WiggleWorks at the South Hill Mall. Football themed crafts included with admission on blue Fridays!
Saturday
Kids can do chores the old fashioned way at the Job Carr Museum in Old Town Tacoma Saturday.
All Over
Bug In A Vacuum story time at Barnes and Noble stores. 11AM. We have found participation to be inconsistent even when stores are listed as participating, so we suggest using the link to check for a location near you and then calling to confirm.
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Craft Stores It’s a fall handprint tree from 10AM-12 2.00 per half hour session
South King County
Visit the HCC Mast Center at Redondo Touch tanks with sea critters free and open to the public Saturdays from 10AM-2
South King County Community Potluck and BBQ at Station 61 in Auburn 11:30-2:30 Meet your firefighters, tour the station, see an engine close up. Bring a dish!
Ladies and Lil Gents: Mother/Son dance event in Auburn. Get tickets in advance.
ICYMI: Be sure to check out our post on the new Hall Pass deal with our friends at Trampoline Nation. A great deal for your frequent jumpers!
Compassion Experience in Enumclaw Free, interactive tour of the developing world sponsored by Rainier Christian Church and Compassion International. Also Friday and Sunday. I don’t know anything about this-If you go, we’d love a review!
Puyallup/Sumner/Greater Pierce
It’s fair time in Puyallup. Read this post if you need tips on how to save, what to see, where to park, or anything else!
Stop by the Farmer’s Market and sign a card of appreciation for the Puyallup Police Department at the Operation Thank Our Police Booth. Donations to buy coffee cards and other thank-yous will also be accepted.
Learn about pet adoption at the Sumner Library Event says for teens/adults, but I’d think you could go with an older child if you’re considering adopting a pet. Mostly about licensing and other things to keep your beagle legal.
Tacoma/South Tacoma/ Spanaway
All About Steam Weekend at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum Learn all about steam power with kids’ activities, a steam whistle, and maybe a boat ride! We did this last year. The whistle is VERY loud. The boys enjoyed the activities, and we were able to get a boat ride, which was awesome! This is really a nice museum. It is hard to tell what kids are allowed to touch here, and we get scolded pretty much every time. Just be prepared for that and try to roll with it, and you’ll have fun! Also Sunday
Play and grow storytime at the Wheelock Library 10:30
Pioneer Days Festival at the Job Carr Cabin Museum in Old Town 12-4 Old-fashioned games, crafts, and more fun. This is a small museum-a faithful recreation of the cabin of first settler, Job Carr. This would be a really fun choice this weekend-you’ll laugh at how much fun your kids have doing chores the old fashioned way. I might buy my tween a washboard! Hmmmm…….
Fall Into Fitness at the People’s Center Health fair with demonstrations and community booths
Tour the lighthouse keeper’s cottage and museum at Brown’s Point Lighthouse Park 1-4PM Much more fun continues below! Keep reading!
Children and all ages shows at the Science Dome presentations and shows on the overhead dome at the area’s only indoor, digital planetarium. Great, low cost, indoor activity-we really recommend the children’s version! Bring cash-no cards can be accepted at the venue. 3.00 as of this writing Children’s show is Pluto today; all ages is Space Junk
Pier Peer at the Point Defiance Marina Nightime event-See what sea creatures are drawn to the dock lights. 8.00/person for ages 8 and up. You do need to register. We have done this and enjoyed it. If it’s too late or you have younger kids, you may want to be on the lookout for similar events from Harbor WildWatch in Gig Harbor, which are free and open to all ages. 7:30-9
Movie Matinee at the Tillicum Library 1PM Titles are newer, family friendly releases. Free, popcorn provided.
Block Play at the Parkland/Spanaway Library Open to all, with a special invitation to Spanish speaking families. Block play helps develop pre literacy skills.
Community Kids’ Day at Lakewold Garden Arts and crafts, learning stations, mascot appearances and more fun at beautiful Lakewold Garden. Admission is 1.00/person or free with a donation of a toiletry item to benefit area shelters. Grilled hot dog meals will be available for 5.00.
Olympia/Lacey/Beyond
Summers End Car show at Huntamer Park in Lacey car show, vendors, kids’ activities Admission is free for spectators.
Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center The center is free and open every Saturday. It’s the story of sand today, with a presentation at 2PM and sand exploration activities all day. This sounds like a fun one! Note that the link opens a lengthy pdf.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
It’s apple festival time at Lattin’s
Old McDonald at Olympia Family Theater 5.00 per person; shorter shows great for toddlers and preschoolers CASH or check only
Gig Harbor
Donkey Creek Chum Festival Booths, touch tanks, storytelling, refreshments, and more. Bring a blank t-shirt if you want to make a salmon print. at the Harbor History Museum/Austin Estuary Park
Lego and Building Madness at the Gig Harbor Library 10AM
Fine Art Mini-Camp at Apprentice Art Academy 10AM-1PM for school age children. 50.00 This would be a good way to try out their classes.
Sunday
Healthy Kids’ Back To School Day at the Auburn Farmer’s Market Free performance by Caspar Babypants and more fun!
All About Steam Weekend at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum Learn all about steam power with kids’ activities, a steam whistle, and maybe a boat ride! We did this last year. The whistle is VERY loud. The boys enjoyed the activities, and we were able to get a boat ride, which was awesome! This is really a nice museum. It is hard to tell what kids are allowed to touch here, and we get scolded pretty much every time. Just be prepared for that and try to roll with it, and you’ll have fun!
Fall Garden Festival at the Pagoda at Point Defiance
Crafts of the Past at Ft. Nisqually 1800s era crafts and trades are demonstrated each weekend. Included with fort admission. We think the fort is of most interest to school age children, but kiddos of all ages will love exploring the towers. It’s garden crafts today to compliment the garden festival at the pagoda. Free fort admission when you show your garden festival program!
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends You may want to call first; they may be doing something in conjunction with Harbor Days.
Fall Garden Festival at the Pagoda at Point Defiance
Working on your bucket list for the rest of the summer? Check out our 10 Must-Do adventures!
And……if you love using this list to plan your family’s weekend, we’d love your vote for Best Parenting Blog over at Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington. Thanks so much for that!
As always, if you know something we missed or you’d like publicity or advertising for your group, get in touch! You can email me at soundsfunmom@gmail.com or use one of the icons up top to find us on your favorite social media.