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!
Don’t forget to take in Fantasy Lights this season. The drive thru light show at Spanaway Lake is open nightly.
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
See our Holiday Arts Guide for plays, Nutcrackers, concerts, and other holiday performances.
Santa visits area fire departments
Places to get free Santa Photos
Continue reading for the complete list of this weekend’s events!
Saturday
All Over
Sensory Friendly Film: The Good Dinosaur at AMC theaters. 10AM The lights are up and the sound is down at sensory friendly showings. Kids are welcome to move about as needed. Kent, Southcenter, and Lakewood l
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Stores 2.00 for half hour crafting sessions. 10-12; it’s a Perler Bead Santa coaster. Cute but not suitable for very young children; Perler beads are those tiny plastic beads you melt together.
South King County
Auburn Santa Breakfast – Two separate seatings at 8:30am and 11:00am. Little ones can tell Santa what they want for Christmas, enjoy a pancake breakfast, and entertainment. Tickets are $5-$8 Check for availability before you go. We have a list of other Santa breakfasts around the area under Holiday Fun in the menu bar.
The family pet can get a photo with Santa Paws in Auburn
Festivals of Light Workshop at the Covington Library 2PM Learn about St. Lucia’s Day, Diwali, and more! For ages 3 and up. Presented by theater/storytelling group, Live Paint. Note from SFM: Live Paint is excellent. If you’re in the Covington area, I think this will be great.
Meet reindeer and a camel at Carpinito Brothers in Kent
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
Renton Clam Lights – Gene Coulon Park The lights will run nightly until January 1 from 5:00pm-9:00pm
Papercrafting at the Enumclaw Library 11AM Come make a holiday craft. Supplies included!
Winter Celebration at the Buckley Library 11:30 Make a snow globe craft. Bring your camera for a free photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus (12-1). Open to all ages; crafts while supplies last; children under six should bring a grown-up.
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.
Manestage Theater presents A Christmas Story Ongoing
Breakfast with Santa at Pioneer Park – Puyallup; Saturday, December 12, 9:30am-11:00am. Enjoy a warm breakfast buffet, holiday crafts, face painting and games, and of course a chance to tell Santa what you want for Christmas. Tickets are $15/13 and up, $8/3-12 years old, FREE for 2 and under. All must register to attend; space limited to 300. Call 253.841.5457
Puppets Please: Colorful, marionette show at Bonney Lake, Milton/Edgewood, Sumner, and South Hill Libraries today. FREE, holiday themed event; no registration required. Note from SFM: This is great!
Santa Fly-In at Thun Field Santa arrives via airplane! Free photo ops and fun.
Gingerbread Houses at the Graham Library 10-12; All supplies included! No registration required at this location! Note from SFM: Most other nearby libraries require registration for this event and are full. If you’re wanting to do this one, this is a good option!
6-7-8 Kids night at the Korum YMCA Y members and community members are invited to a FREE drop in for middle-school aged kids on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Dodge ball, cardio, basketball, X-box, and more. Lead by youth leadership staff.
Tacoma
Salmon Saturday at Swan Creek Park Look for salmon returning to spawn. Take short hikes; children’s activities. Note from SFM: Parking is tight here. Try to carpool.
Children’s Christmas Party 3:00pm-6:00pm. The Pythian Sisters of Tacoma are hosting a free Christmas party for kiddos with Santa, snacks, crafts, games, singalongs and more!
Christmas at Fort Steilacoom – Saturday, December 12, 4:00pm-7:30pm. A period candle-light Christmas will be reenacted in the officers’ quarters. Tickets are $5/adults, $3/children, or $10/family.
Family Day at the Museum of Glass It’s a luminary craft. Included with admission.
Santa at the LeMay Car Musuem – Saturday/Sunday, December 12-13, 19-20 11:00am-3:00pm. Take a photo with Santa in a 1906 Cadillac. Photos included with admission to the museum as a digital download.
Tea and Greeting Card Party at the main branch of the Tacoma Public Library 10-12; Drop in and make a card for a veteran or senior in an assisted living facility. Refreshments and coloring.
Let It Snow! At the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park 6PM The conservatory is transformed into a glittering snow globe! 3.00 suggested donation
Winter storytime and craft at the Fern Hill Branch of the Tacoma Public Library 1PM
Santa Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops See this post and look under Tacoma/Pierce County
Star Wars event at the Lakewood Library 1-4PM games, art, and a Star Wars movie
Family movie matinee at the Tillicum Library 1PM Titles are newer, family releases. Snacks provided!
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
Gingerbread Houses at the Dupont Library 10-12; All supplies included! No registration required at this location!
Evergreen Native LongHouse Arts Fair 11-5 Photos with Native American Santa from 1-4
Tour the Tugboat Sandman at Percival Landing
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
Gig Harbor
Gingerbread Houses at the Key Center Library 11-1; All supplies included. Link takes you to required registration.
Light Up the Night – Harbor History Museum 4:30pm-6:30pm. The harbor will be serenaded by Lucia as the museum celebrates St Lucia Day. There will holiday crafts, Scandinavian treats, and games. $3/members and $5/non-members.
Lighted Boat Parade – Gig Harbor; Saturday, December 12, 5:00pm. A parade of lighted boats from Arabella’s to the public dock.
Candlelit Christmas in Gig Harbor Hayrides with Santa; snowfalls and more fun downtown. Also Saturday 4:30-7:30
Salmon Tours with Harbor Wild Watch Spot salmon returning to spawn at Austin Estuary Park Two times
Indoor/Outdoor Farmer’s Market at the old Peninsula Gardens site on Wollochet. Santa on hand select hours on Saturdays.
Holiday Toy Camp – 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. Shows Saturday and Sunday; tickets 3.00.
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.
Sunday
Be sure to check the events at the top for ongoing holiday fun!
Capital Mall Breakfast with Santa – Sunday, December 13, 8:00am-10:00am at Applebee’s. Enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, OJ, milk or coffee. This is a charity event that supports the Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County. Tickets are $10/adult (cash only), and free for children 10 and under with a paying adult.
Holiday Toy Camp – A live theater production from PenMet Family Theater in Gig Harbor. 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. Shows Saturday and Sunday; tickets 3.00.
Hark the Harbor in downtown Gig Harbor Community caroling and the arrival of the Argosy Christmas Ship See this post for a complete round up of community Christmas ship events.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
There are also all kinds of ongoing holiday shows and much more-Be sure to also check, “Ongoing Holiday Events,” at the top, or use the Holiday Fun tab in the menu bar for drop-down listings of just about everything!
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