If you need something to do with the kids in Puyallup this weekend, boy have we got you covered! Don’t worry-We also found plenty to do for families in Tacoma, Olympia, Auburn, and every other part of the South Sound.
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!
Want to visit a pumpkin patch or a corn maze? Here’s our master list!
Zoo Boo is one of Dozens of fun seasonal happenings this weekend!
Friday
Harvest Fest at Norpoint 5:30-7 pumpkin decorating, crafts, bounce houses, and more! All FREE; there will be food vendors onsite if you want to purchase food.
Saturday
All Over
Lego event at Toys R Us stores
Imaginary Fred Story Time at Barnes and Noble stores. Stories and crafts around the children’s book. Some stores are also offering extra discounts to educators through the 18th. There is a Lego event, but it’s for ages 14 and up.
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Craft Stores It’s a Halloween Tic Tac Toe Board 10AM-12 2.00 per half hour session *Those little beads that you melt together. Cute for school age kids-too small for anyone who still sticks stuff in his/her mouth!
Fun Family Craft Time at Michael’s Stores 1-4pM 7.00 Use Duck Tape to create a Halloween T-shirt. Supplies included, although I’m not sure if you get more than one shirt per family. It is cute!
South King County
Model Train show in Maple Valley Shelby sent this one in. Looks super fun for your train lovers.
Fright Fest at Wild Waves Rides,haunted houses, scare free area for kids under 12 and live entertainment.
Salmon spotting on the Cedar River Trained naturalists will help kids spot salmon returning to spawn Every weekend in October at four locations-link takes you to a detailed post.
Visit the HCC Mast Center at Redondo Touch tanks with sea critters free and open to the public Saturdays from 10AM-2
Eatonville Salmon Fest at Mill Pond Park 10AM-3PM tours, vendors, food for sale, entertainment bring a t shirt for salmon printing!
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!
Puyallup/Orting/Graham/Greater Pierce County
Milotte Wildlife Film Festival See Bear or Bear Country at the Midtown Grill in Bonney Lake It’s family friendly and free, or pay 5.00 for reserved seating.
Creatures of the Night at the Bonney Lake Library Learn how nocturnal creatures use their sense! A fun and free Halloween library happening for ages 5-12. No registration required. 11AM Also in Buckley at 2:30
Lego storytime at the Puyallup Library 11AM Free, drop in program. Hear a short stories and enjoy building time.
Music of WWII at the Puyallup Public Library Sing along with music from the forties and meet local veterans. Open to all, though I would probably take older children, or those with an appreciation for music of the era. 1-2PM
Read with a dog at the Puyallup Public Library Kids can drop in and practice reading to Dalmatian, Clover, today. Come by for a short session anytime between 3-4PM.
Doggie Costume Contest at Watson’s Nursery
Tacoma
Zoo Boo at the Point Defiance Zoo Wear your costume and get 2.00 off admission. Animals will be enjoying special themed treats. Also Sunday
Arctic Ambitions opens at the Washington State History Museum special activities include a scavenger hunt and hands-on activity stations
Haunted Theater at Tacoma Ballet Backstage tour and short, themed dances. Magical not spooky! Ongoing event with various dates and times, but tickets go fast.
Tacoma Studio Tour Self-guided tour of 57 artists and studios. Meet artists, see behind the scenes, purchase art. Free and open to all ages, though I would take older children, or those with an interest. Also Sunday
Play and Grow Storytime at Wheelock Ongoing event
Kidz Code Club at the main branch of the Tacoma Public Library Kids 7-17 are invited to learn how to code, develop websites, and more. Programs include Scratch, Minecraft, and others. Kids should bring their own laptops (Call the library in advance if you need to borrow one). Kids must be accompanied by an adult. 9:30AM self paced, free Ongoing event
Family nature walks with Metro Parks Tacoma Join volunteer naturalists on a free nature walk at the Tacoma Nature Center. Not suitable for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up. 1PM
Alice in Wonderland at Tacoma Musical Playhouse
Night Walk at the Tacoma Nature Center Take a walk in the night and listen and look for nocturnal creatures. Enjoy cookies and warm drinks after. 6.00; registration required. For ages 7 and up. Note from SFM: We’ve done this before. As luck would have it, it was sopping rain, so we didn’t see any creatures, and it was too dark to see them. But, the boys thought it was great fun walking through the woods in the dark, and they enjoyed their cocoa. I’m not sure why 7 is listed as the age. I think preschoolers would be fine unless they’re afraid of the dark or would be up too late, but I would call the nature center to check before you sign up.
Black Cat Fun Run at 5 Mile Drive at Point Defiance Park Nightime fun run for all ages; 2.5 or 5 mile course Costumes encouraged; glow sticks provided, but feel free to bring more. It will be dark! Registration and fees required. Not cheap, but a fun choice if you want to do a fun run with the kids, or need more chance to wear your costumes!
South Tacoma/ Spanaway/Lakewood/Steilacoom/Tillicum
Lego and building madness at the Steilacoom Library Drop in and build with Lego and other materials 11AM
Community Block Party at the Parkland/Spanaway Library 10AM Young children and families are invited to come build with blocks and other fun tools.
Family movie matinee at the Tillicum Library 1PM Titles are family friendly, newer to DVD releases
Insect Safari at the Lakewood Library 2PM Stop in for free tickets half an hour before the event; see more than 2,000 specimens from around the world!
Truck and Tractor Day in Lakewood FREE community event-hayrides, pumpkins, and lots of big rigs to climb in and explore.
Keep reading-there’s so much more!
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
Olympia/Lacey/Beyond
Brighter Futures Fun Run Starts at the Hands-On Children’s Museum Family friendly fun run with costumes, prizes, and more!
Tour the Tugboat Sandman at Percival Landing
Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center The center is free and open every Saturday. 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
A salute to Disney at the Washington Center for Performing Arts Benefit for the no fee dental clinic
Gig Harbor
Lego and building madness at the Gig Harbor Library Drop in and build! 10AM
Our Town: Family program at the Harbor History Museum. 1-3PM Hear native songs on carved wooden flutes; musical craft for kids follows. 3.00 members; 5.00 non members. Note from SFM: This is really a nice little museum with lots of interest to kids. You can also explore the waterfront after if the weather is decent. Harbor WildWatch has touch tanks in the Skansie Visitor’s Center, and Crescent Creek Park is very nice.
The Gig Harbor film festival is in town. I don’t see much kid friendly, but you can check it out here. Their kids’ event is Sunday (See below).
You may also want to check the Kitsap Macaroni Kid.
Sunday
Salmon spotting on the Cedar River Trained naturalists will help kids spot salmon returning to spawn Every weekend in October at four locations-link takes you to a detailed post.
Tacoma Studio Tour Self-guided tour of 57 artists and studios. Meet artists, see behind the scenes, purchase art. Free and open to all ages, though I would take older children, or those with an interest.
Alice in Wonderland at Tacoma Musical Playhouse-check for showtimes
Haunted Theater at Tacoma Ballet Backstage tour and short, themed dances. Magical not spooky! Ongoing event with various dates and times, but tickets go fast.
Zoo Boo at the Point Defiance Zoo Wear your costume and get 2.00 off admission. Animals will be enjoying special themed treats.
It’s Just Between Friends sale time at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Half-off most items and free admission today. 8AM-2PM Here’s their fb page. Fyi, I went yesterday night, and I thought there was lots of good stuff left.
There is a kids’ event at the Gig Harbor Film Festival today. If you go to the digital program you can click through the pages to find info. Sorry I don’t have better scoop for you. This one is really frustrating in terms of finding info.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
It’s apple festival time at Lattin’s
Want to visit a pumpkin patch or a corn maze? Here’s our master list!
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!
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