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.
Fantasy Lights drive thru light show around Spanaway Lake continues
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: December 17 – 18 11:00 am to 4:00 pm 2016 Carriage Ride Schedule: December 17 – 18 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Note that the lines for Santa do get long, and although his regular hours are 11:00am-4:00pm, they are often closed off by 1:00pm so Santa can make it back to his sleigh on time. Plan ahead and arrive early
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. I suspect you will need to pick a weekday time for 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
Featured Sponsor: Family Movie and Glow Play Night at WiggleWorks! tonight from 6pm-8pm. Movie starts at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to come in at any time to get in on the fun!
This month we are watching “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” staring Jim Carrey.
We will be selling popcorn for $0.75 and pizza for $2.00 per slice, as well as, giving FREE glow bracelets to every child that attends. FREE for members or with $7.00 all day admission. Ask about gift cards! Perfect for stockings!
Cocoa and caroling at the conservatory in Wright Park 6-8PM 3.00 suggested donation. The conservatory is warm and festive this time of year. Caroling will be sing-along style.
Pier Peer at the Foss Waterway Seaport for ages 8 and up Look for sea creatures by night! Warm up with drinks afterward. Registration and fees required.
Elves and Bells Around Town, Steilacoom – Friday, December 16. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and the elves parade through Steilacoom before stopping at Saltar’s Elementary School
Saturday
All Over
There are many holiday plays this weekend. See our Holiday Arts Guide for that list, as there are just too many to list individually. For Nutcrackers head here.
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.
Kids’ Club at Michaels Stores 2.00 for half hour sessions; kids craft whie you shop. It’s a clay pot elf craft today for ages 3 and up.
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
Meet reindeer and a camel at Carpinito Brothers in Kent
Renton Clam Lights – Gene Coulon Park The lights will run nightly until January 1 from 5:00pm-9:00pm
A Journey Through Time Nativity – Federal Way; FREE. Tours every 30 minutes back in time to experience the birth of Christ, walk through a market, meet the Shepherds and more!
Greater Pierce County
Gingerbread Houses at the Sumner Library 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM All ages; under 6 with an adult. Drop-in. No registration required. Event audience: Children, Tween (ages 9-12), Teen/Young Adult, Adult, Family Make and decorate your own gingerbread house. All supplies provided, while they last.
Manestage Theater presents A White Christmas Last shows at 2PM and 7PM today.
Holiday light display and canned food drive at Insurance West
Festive Fun at Sunrise Village 3-6PM Wagon rides, petting zoo, and other festive fun
Puppets Please at the Summit Library 12:00 PM All Ages Colorful marionettes perform a free, holiday-themed, in-the-round show for all ages!
Visit With Santa at the Buckley Library
Come see Santa and Mrs. Claus from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Don’t forget your camera. Then make festive snowflakes from noon to 2 p.m. Ages 6 and up, with an adult. Saturday, Dec. 17 at 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Family Film Matinee at the Eatonville Library 2:00 PM Event audience: Children, Tween (ages 9-12), Teen/Young Adult, Family Enjoy a family-friendly film and snacks.
Tacoma/South Tacoma/Parkland
Gingerbread decorating at Whole Foods Market Buy a house, and they’ll help you decorate!
Model Train Festival begins at the hisory museum
Free family flick at the Grand sponsored by Colombia Bank It’s Elf Doors open at 9:30;first come/first served; donuts for the first 50 guests. Show starts at 10
Puppets Please at the University Place Library 3:30 PM All Ages In the round marionette show
Family STEM Day at the LeMay Americas Car Museum Try out STEM toys today; included with admission
Harkness Furniture Tacoma has free Santa pictures from 12-4 today
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!!!
Puppets Please at Parkland Spanaway 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM All ages; under 6 bring a grown-up! Colorful marionettes perform a free, holiday-themed, in-the-round show for all ages!
Las Posadas: Piñata Party at the Lakewood Library 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Event audience: Children, Tween (ages 9-12), Teen/Young Adult, FamilyMake your own cardboard piñata for Las Posadas. All supplies provided. Creative fun for the whole family.
¡Crea tu propia piñata de cartón para las posadas! Familias con niños. Proveemos todos los materiales.
Lacey/Olympia
Puppets Please at DuPont Library 10:00 AM All Ages Colorful marionettes perform a free, holiday-themed, in-the-round show for all ages! No registration required.
Studio West Dance Academy, Olympia Presents The Nutcracker at South Puget Sound Community College December 9-18. Ticket prices are $16-$25. *Note that if you buy tickets online, the site has tickets for both this company and the Ballet Northwest Company above. Make sure you’re selecting the one you want, or call. There is also a Winter Wonderland party before select shows. That includes crafts and photo ops for kids and requires an additional ticket. Shows Saturday and Sunday
Olympia Family Theater presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Saturday and Sunday-last shows!
Gig Harbor
Santa is at the Farmer’s Market on Wollochet from 11AM-1PM today. Bring your own camera!
Holiday Concert at the Key Center Library 2:00 PM Enjoy live folk and gospel music with Key Peninsula musician Tammy Jacobson.
Sunday
Messiah Sing Along on Fox Island Gig Harbor 4PM
Be sure to also check, “Ongoing Holiday Events,” at the top, or just click on South Sound holiday fun in the menu bar for many more options today.
Planning your break week? Head here for 14 great ideas for winter break!
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