Looking for something to do with the kids this Weekend?
Here’s our weekly guide to South Sound area fun with activities for kids in Tacoma, Puyallup, Olympia, and Your South Sound home! We’ve also linked to all our holiday guides.
You’ll find a list just like this-just for the South Sound-every Friday morning! One note-While we strive for 100% accuracy, this time of year we do encouage you to use the links we provide to confirm event details, as we have listed literally hundreds of haps on our various guides in the last weeks.
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
Fantasy Lights at Lake Spanaway
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo
Reindeer at Watson’s Nursery, Puyallup – Ongoing! Donner and Blitzen are spending their holiday vacation at Watson’s! Free Santa visits select weekends Free!
Santa Land and Carriage Rides, Sumner at the Old Cannery Free! Santa hours this weekend: December 3 – 4 11:00 am to 4:00
North Pole at the Fair, Puyallup – November 14-December 24. Reserve a photo time with Santa and enjoy a full afternoon at the North Pole, with an entire village just for kids. You can also go play at the pole without getting photos.
Ice skating at Polar Plaza, Downtown Tacoma Visit their Facebook page for up to date info and their site for special events and advance ticket purchase.
You can also go to our complete Holiday Fun Guide for holiday shows, Nutcrackers, tree farms, free Santa photos, and much, much more! If I can help you find something, or you know a great happening (holiday themed or not!), send an email to soundsfunmom@gmail.com or pop by our Facebook page.
Friday
Tree Lighting and fun in University Place – Friday December 2 Fun begins at 5PM with tree lighting at 6. Low cost Santa photos available
Free first Friday night at the Hands On Children’s Museum
Float in movie night at the Covington Aquatic Center
Saturday
All Over
Storytime at Barnes and Noble stores Most area stores do a free, weekly storytime at 11AM; however, we do suggest calling yours to confirm first, as we have found participation to be inconsistent.
Christmas ornament making at Lowes Advance registration is now required for these popular, free kids’ building workshops
Make a Gingerbread Man candy dish at Home Depot kids’ club Registration is now requested for these popular, free kids’ building workshops
Kids’ Club at Michaels Stores 2.00 for half hour sessions; kids craft whie you shop. It’s felt, “Character,” stockings today. There is also a family gingerbread house building event
South King County
Featured Sponsor: Need a tree? You can get one and see Santa at Pfaff’s in Auburn this weekend!
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
Winter Solstice Nature Crafts at the Shadow Lake Preserve in Renton
Winterfest in Burien December 3rd carriage rides, Santa and more
Kent Winterfest Winterfest in Kent with a parade through downtown with Santa, a tree lighting at 5:30pm, and other festivities during the day Info. is at the bottom of that link at the Kent Station site. 3:30-7:30
Federal Way Jingle Bell Brunch – 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 and paid tickets required; call 253.835.6916 There is also a tree lighting the same day, and a Mrs.Claus event on the 8th. It’s all in the sidebar after you follow the link.
Tree lighting in Federal Way at Town Square Park Santa, reindeer, too!
Auburn Santa Parade and More! Saturday, December 3, 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. Great, family event with fun all day!
Greater Pierce County-Puyallup/Sumner
Victorian Country Christmas, Puyallup Fairgrounds – November 30-December 4th Enjoy a gift festival with Santa train rides, carousl, and strolling entertainers in Victorian dress. This is a ticketed event.
Fife Library 5th Birthday Celebration Fife 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Fife Library is five years old and we’re having a birthday party. Treats, crafts, photo booth and raffles.
Dance and sing to a live band—The Elevators—from 3-5 p.m.
Pancake Feed with the Firefighters in Sumner 7AM-12 3.00 per person
Santa Breakfast and Photos, Station 66, Puyallup
Enjoy breakfast with Santa and have your photo taken at Fire Station 66 on Saturday, December 3, 8:00am-11:00am. 5.00 a plate (Best deal for a Santa breakfast around)!
Milton Tree Lighting – Saturday, December 3 Santa will arrive to light the tree around 5:00pm. Photos with Santa, crafts, snacks, and other fun beginning at 3PM
Manestage Theater presents A White Christmas Ongoing
Bonney Lake Tree Lighting – Saturday, December 3, 6:00pm. Enjoy activities, music, refreshments, pictures with Santa, and the tree lightning.
Festive Fun at Sunrise Village 3-6PM Wagon rides, petting zoo, and other festive fun
Santa Parade in Sumner begins at 3PM this year and goes down Main Street
Santa at Puyallup Main Street/Santa Parade Puyallup – Saturday, December 3, 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! Note from SFM: The parade is really the main thing here. It’s sort of long and cold, but it’s always cute watching all the community groups go by.
Tacoma/South Tacoma/Parkland
Featured Sponsor: Winter Faire at Tacoma Waldorf School This year’s Winter Faire is this Saturday, December 3 from 11am til 3pm! Come enjoy holiday crafts, a seasonal puppet play, delicious goodies, music, shopping, and more! Here are a few pics from Winter Faire past to get you excited for this year’s event! Invite your friends and family! Note from SFM: This is a wonderful event open to all, and it would also be a great opportunity if you’ve been curious about a Waldorf education. Their fb page is here
Multicare Festival of Trees, Tacoma – Saturday/Sunday, December 3-4. Enjoy 60 elaborately decorated Christmas trees and holiday entertainment. There are games i the lobby, photos with Santa, and lots of holiday spirit! Tickets are $6/adults, $2/ages 13-18, FREE 12 and under.
Santa Celebration at the Tacoma Mall
19th Century Christmas at Ft. Nisqually – Saturday, December 3, 11:00am-4:00pm. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern holidays and experience a real old-fashioned Christmas at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Event admission is $5-$8, and children 4 and younger are free.
Holiday Fest in Proctor 8:00am-5:00pm. Santa visits, pancake breakfast, strolling musicians, and more!
Santa at the Job Carr Museum in Old Town Tacoma – Saturday, December 3, 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.
Festival of the Nativity in Tacoma nativities on display, live nativity, crafts Free and open to the public; food donations accepted More here
Santa visits the Conservatory at Wright Park refreshments, crafts, photo for 15.00
Coloring and cookies at the Swasey Library 10AM
Gingerbread house making at the UP Library free; all supplies provided. No registration required; tickets given out at the start of the event 10AM-2
South Tacoma
Pictures with Santa at the STAR Center 5.00 for a pic with Santa, free admission, and free access to the TreeTops Playground.
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop Tacoma – November 14-December 24 {Tacoma} Gather the family and come to experience the joy of a classic Christmas. Stay for FREE games, crafts and activities that celebrate the season. And, don’t miss the FREE photo with Santa!!!
Gingerbread house making at the Tillicum Library free; all supplies provided. Stop in or call to register-required. 2PM
Lacey/Olympia
Santa Breakfast in Dupont-Go to City Hall for tickets; none at the door
Providence Christmas Forest – Olympia, Wednesday-Sunday, November 30-December 4. A showcase of festive trees and wreaths created by designers from Thurston County. Check for public viewing hours, as there are some special closures for private events
Santa will be at the Lacey Farrelli’s tonight
East Olympia Fire Distrtict #6 Santa Runs From December 1 – 9, 2016, 6:00pm-9:00opm, Santa and his elves will be making their rounds to the neighborhoods of East Olympia FD. They will collecting food and monetary donations for adopted Christmas families. Link opens pdf with neighborhood locations/times
Gig Harbor
Breakfast with Santa – Key Center Fire Department; Saturday, December 3, 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am. Enjoy crafts, breakfast and special time with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Tickets are $5/advance $10/at the door.
Gig Harbor Pen Met Parks Breakfast with Santa – 9:00am-11:00am. Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Santa, holiday crafts, entertainment, and more! Tickets are $8/person. Pre-register online
South Kitsap Fire and Rescue Santa Breakfast Link also has info on Sana runs in neighborhoods
Santa will be at the Gig Harbor Farmer’s Market from 11AM-1 today.
Gig Harbor Tree Lighting – Santa arrives and the tree is lit. 5-8PM at Donkey Creek You can start the event with the Pier Into The Night event with Harbor WildWatch
Santa at the Fox Island Museum 1:00pm-4:00pm; FREE. Children can take their photos with Santa, and enjoy an art project for $5.
Port Orchard Festival of Chimes and Lights 11:00am-7:30pm. Enjoy decorated boats in the harbor,hay rides, Santa, and much more.
A Christmas Story at Paradise Theater various times through the 10th
Living Nativity – Discovery Baptist Church, Gig Harbor; Saturday/Sunday, December 3/4, 5:00pm-8:00pm; FREE. Mingle with over 200 characters and real animals in this living nativity that takes you back in time to Bethlehem. Also Sunday
TideFest – Gig Harbor High School; Saturday/Sunday, December 3-4. Fine arts and gifts festival. Admission is $5
Pictures with Santa at the Log Cabin Museum – Port Orchard; December 3/4 and 10/11, 10:00am-4:00pm. Have your photo taken with Santa and the vintage Christmas tree at the Log Cabin. Donations accepted.
Sunday
Be sure to also check the top of the post under, “Ongoing events.”
Tacoma
Multicare Festival of Trees, Tacoma – Saturday/Sunday, December 3-4. Enjoy 60 elaborately decorated Christmas trees and holiday entertainment. There are games i the lobby, photos with Santa, and lots of holiday spirit! Tickets are $6/adults, $2/ages 13-18, FREE 12 and under.
Victorian Country Christmas, Puyallup Fairgrounds – November 30-December 4th Enjoy a gift festival with Santa train rides, carousl, and strolling entertainers in Victorian dress. This is a ticketed event.
Gig Harbor/Kitsap
Tree Lighting on Fox Island – Sunday, December 4. Enjoy a holiday concert and Christmas tree lightning.
Living Nativity – Discovery Baptist Church, Gig Harbor; Saturday/Sunday, December 3/4, 5:00pm-8:00pm; FREE. Mingle with over 200 characters and real animals in this living nativity that takes you back in time to Bethlehem.
TideFest – Gig Harbor High School; Saturday/Sunday, December 3-4. Fine arts and gifts festival. Admission is $5
Pictures with Santa at the Log Cabin Museum – Port Orchard; December 3/4 and 10/11, 10:00am-4:00pm. Have your photo taken with Santa and the vintage Christmas tree at the Log Cabin. Donations accepted.
Olympia
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
East Olympia Fire Distrtict #6 Santa Runs From December 1 – 9, 2016, 6:00pm-9:00opm, Santa and his elves will be making their rounds to the neighborhoods of East Olympia FD. They will collecting food and monetary donations for adopted Christmas families. Link opens pdf with neighborhood locations/times
Olympia Family Theater presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2PM today
Providence Christmas Forest – Olympia, Wednesday-Sunday, November 30-December 4. A showcase of festive trees and wreaths created by designers from Thurston County. Check for public viewing hours, as there are some special closures for private events
Be sure to also check, “Ongoing Holiday Events,” at the top, or just click on South Sound holiday funn in the menu bar.
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!
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I didn’t see this and might have missed it. But if not, just FYI – Sumner Santa Parade – Saturday, December 3 – Begins at 3:00 and continues to Puyallup for the 5:30 parade.
Thanks, Sandy!