Wow! If you’re looking for holiday fun for families in Tacoma, Puyallup, Auburn, Gig Harbor, or just about anywhere else, boy, have we got you covered!
We’ve got dozens of holiday events near you (and some non holiday related happenings, too) no matter what part of the South Sound you call home. Have a magical weekend!
PS Don’t You’ll find a list just like this-just for the South Sound-every Friday morning, and lots of fun every other day, too!
You can say hello to the reindeer at Watson’s Nursery. Santa will also be on hand select days. Photo courtesy of Watson’s Nursery
Ongoing Holiday Events
Reindeer at Watson’s nursery, holiday events at The Old Cannery, Santa at the fairgrounds, Skating at the Polar Plaza in downtown Tacoma-See our holiday events guides for all the details.
Fantasy Lights at Lake Spanaway
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo
Saturday
All Over
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Stores 2.00 for half hour crafting sessions. 10-12; it’s clothespin characters
Gingerbread House Making at Michael’s Stores Buy the kit and the supplies are included 1-4 Saturday
Free Kids’ Workshop at Home Depot 9AM-12 it’s a holiday building block craft
Haggen Stores are doing a graham cracker gingerbread house making event. 1PM
Santa visits area fire departments
Places to get free Santa Photos
South King County
Meet reindeer and a camel at Carpinito Brothers in Kent
Holiday tea at the White River Museum in Auburn; register
Visit the HCC Mast Center at Redondo The center and its touch tanks of sea critters are free and open to the public every Saturday from 10-2
Federal Way Jingle Bell Brunch 10:00am-12:00pm. Tickets are $12/children and $15/adults. Enjoy a Santa workshop, photos with the Big Guy, cookies from Mrs. Claus, dancing in the snow with Elsa and Mr. Snowman, and more! Pre-registration required; call 253.835.6916
Tree Lighting at Piazza Renton 5:00pm-7:00pm. Enjoy Santa’s arrival and the holiday tree lightning with the community of Renton.
Winterfest at Kent Station 4:30pm-5:30pm. Winterfest in Kent with a parade through downtown with Santa and commencing with a tree lighting at 5:30pm.
Santa Parade and more in Auburn –4:30pm. A family event celebrating the season with a Santa parade, community caroling and commencing with the lighting of the Christmas tree at Auburn City Hall.
Santa in Milton 3:00pm-8:00pm. Santa will arrive to light the tree at 5:00pm, and will stay for photos with his elves from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
Renton Clam Lights – Gene Coulon Park The lights will run nightly until January 1 from 5:00pm-9:00pm
Greater Pierce County
Ongoing: Reindeer at Watson’s nursery, holiday events at The Old Cannery, Santa at the fairgrounds, Skating at the Polar Plaza in downtown Tacoma-See our holiday events guides for all the details.
Fife Breakfast with Santa – Saturday, December 5, 9:00am-11:00am. Enjoy breakfast with Santa, holiday activities, and a photo. Tickets are $5/ages 3 and up, FREE/2 and under. Must pre-register by calling 253.922.0900
Winter Snow Globes event at the Orting Library Make and take a holiday craft! Supplies included while they last.
Victorian Country Christmas, Puyallup Fairgrounds – December 2-6. Enjoy a gift festival with Santa train rides, carousel, and strolling entertainers in Victorian dress.
Breakfast with Santa at Station 66, Puyallup , 8:00am-11:00am. Enjoy breakfast with Santa and have your photo taken at Fire Station 66
Engineering for Kids workshop at the Puyallup Public Library
Santa in Milton 3:00pm-8:00pm. Santa will arrive to light the tree at 5:00pm, and will stay for photos with his elves from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
Santa Parade in Sumner at 3:30
Santa at Puyallup Main Street – 5:00pm. Santa arrives on a fire engine and lights the community tree in the park following the lighted parade. Enjoy cookies and cocoa, too! Visit the holiday market before or after the parade in the pavillion from 12-7
Bonney Lake Tree Lighting 6:00pm. Enjoy activities, music, refreshments, pictures with Santa, and the tree lightning.
Manestage Theater presents A Christmas Story Ongoing
Tacoma
Dickens Fest in Tacoma costumed actors, carriage rides, live music, and more
A 19th Century Christmas at Ft.Nisqually 5-8.00 children 4 and younger are free; old-fashioned games, actors in period dress, Father Christmas, and more.
Holiday Fest in Proctor – Saturday, December 5, 8:00am-5:00pm. Santa visits, pancake breakfast, strolling musicians, and more!
Santa Sing Along At Tacoma Musical Playhouse
Victorian Holiday Celebration at the Seymour Conservatory at Wright Park – Saturday, December 5, 10:00am-3:00pm. Professional photos with Santa, children’s stories, and staff dressed in Victorian costumes. $3 admission ages 12 & older; $15 for photos
Santa in Old Town Tacoma – Saturday, December 5, 1:00pm-3:30pm. Meet Santa and his reindeer at the birthplace of Tacoma. There will be a make and take craft for kids, live music from local holiday choirs, refreshments and photos with Santa.
University Place Winterfest – Saturday, December 5, 2:00pm-6:00pm. Santa arrives at 2:00pm for photos. Also enjoy live entertainment, crafts, food, vendors and the tree lightning at the annual Winter Fest.
Gingerbread House Making at the University Place Library! Free; tickets distributed day of
Multicare Festival of Trees, Tacoma – Saturday/Sunday, December 5-6. Enjoy 60 elaborately decorated Christmas trees and holiday entertainment. There are games in the lobby, photos with Santa, and lots of holiday spirit! Tickets are $6/adults, $2/ages 13-18, FREE 12 and under.
Santa Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops See this post and look under Tacoma/Pierce County
Visit Jozee Rooz Indoor Petting Zoo Do you still need a cute pic for your Christmas card? You could get some serious cuteness with your little animal lovers here!
Keep reading-there’s so much more!
Lacey/Olympia
Providence Christmas Forest A showcase of festive trees and wreaths created by designers from Thurston County; Saturday is kids’ day. Also Sunday
Tour the Tugboat Sandman at Percival Landing
Meet Studio West Nutcracker Dancers at the Hands-On Children’s Museum; included with admission
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
A Charlie Brown Christmas at Olympia Family Theater various show times for the next four weeks
Winter Faire at Olympia Waldorf crafts and family activities; vendors with artisan items 11AM-3
Gig Harbor
Salmon Tours with Harbor Wild Watch Spot salmon returning to spawn at Austin Estuary Park Two times
Indoor/Outdoor Farmer’s Market a the old Peninsula Gardens site on Wollochet. Santa on hand select hours on Saturdays.
Gingerbread House Making at the library. You do need to register-lots of spaces as of this writing. Free, supplies included.
Pier Into the Night with Harbor Wild Watch Watch divers bring up sea creatures at Jersich Dock
Holiday Toy Camp – Friday/Saturday, December 4/5, 7:00pm. A live theater production from PenMet Family Theater. Enjoy a story of a place where toys learn to be good toys at Holiday Toy Camp. If the toys don’t graduate, they end up at the Toy Dump.
Scrooge, The Musical – Gig Harbor Paradise Theater; November 20-December 12. Dickens’ A Christmas Carols is adapted into an entertaining musical for the whole family. There is also a dinner theater production on Saturday, December 5.
Gig Harbor Tree Lighting – Saturday, December 5. A fun, family event and tree lighting at Skansie Brothers Park.
Santa at the Fox Island Museum – Saturday, December 5, 1:00pm-4:00pm; FREE. Children can take their photos with Santa, and enjoy an art project
There are MANY MORE holiday events in the Gig Harbor area this weekend. Due to space constraints, we ask you to check our South Sound Holiday Fun Guide for the rest of them! Just scroll down to the Gig Harbor/Kitsap section!
Sunday
Be sure to check the events at the top for ongoing holiday fun!
Jozee Rooz Indoor Petting Zoo hosts Santa And Reindeer Sunday! Meet two of Santa’s reindeer, visit with Santa, take a free diy photo, or pay to have one taken for you. Pony rides also available! Tell them we sent you!
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
Princess Pizza Party at Wiggleworks! Join Elsa and Anna! Get your tickets now. Tell them we sent you!
Fircrest Tree Lighting-The Fircrest site seems to be down, but if you live in little Fircrest, this is probably on your radar. Let us know the details if you have ’em!
There are also all kinds of ongoing holiday shows and much more-Be sure to also check, “Ongoing Holiday Events,” at the top!
Know something great I missed? Want publicity for your group or advertising for your family friendly business? Just let me know! Got a great tip we missed? Let us know! Do be sure you follow Sounds Fun Mom as many ways as you can. We have more AMAZING giveaways coming your way next week!