Updated for 2018
Looking for some mid winter break ideas or fun things to do with kids around Tacoma and the greater South Sound this President’s Day? We’ve got a round up of free family fun for Tacoma, Puyallup, Olympia, and Your part of the South Sound. Know something good we missed? Just let us know! Read on for more than two dozen fun ways to fill your week!
Ongoing
The Hands-on Children’s Museum in Olympia has special, President’s themed activities.
Coco is playing at the funky, cool Blue Mouse in Tacoma Tickets and concessions are reasonably priced here. Also save the date for Saturday the 23rd when you can see free family shorts here as part of the Destiny City Film Festival.
The AMC Gateway 8 always has bargain movies Ferdinand, Coco, and The Greatest Showman are among the kid friendly titles I see now. Tickets start at 3.99, depending on show times.
Indoor Playgrounds with open play times
Bounce House Places With Pop in Play
*We do suggest calling to confirm times during holiday and break periods.
We didn’t do a mid winter break camp round up, but check the usual places if you need one-parks departments, karate schools, roller skating places, Discovery Village, Y’s, and so on……
Monday
Last day for kids n critters at Northwest Trek. Kids 12 and under get it in FREE with a full paying adult
Special public opening at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma
Special President’s Day winter Monday opening at the Point Defiance Zoo
Last day to participate in the Great Backyard Bird count. This is a simple citizen scientist activity you can do in your own backyard!
Glow bowling at Chalet Bowl in Proctor. Prepayment required
Tuesday
Winter Break Movie at the UP Library 1PM
Enjoy a newly-released movie with other children.
Explore Your World: Makey Makey and Button Making at the Fife Library 3:30PM
Create musical instruments from water, control a game with a pencil drawing and more using the Makey Makey! The button making machine will be available for your artistic use.
Read to a Dog at the Fife Library 4PM
Share a book with a furry friend while improving your reading skills. No registration required.
Technology Petting Zoo at the Auburn Library
Two identical programs, 1:00PM and 3:30PM Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way South Auburn WA 98002
Experiment with technology designed for young engineers. Program a busy Bee-bot, customize a Cubelet robot, or explore electronics with kits made for curious kids.
Space is limited. Please pick up a free ticket for each participating child at the Information Desk starting at noon on the day of the program.
This program is every Tuesday from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
In partnership with A Step Ahead Pierce County, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma provides Inclusive Play to Learn for children with special needs and their typically developing peers. Thematic curriculum invites individual play, fun group activities, songs, and a whole group circle time for children and adults to enjoy together! This 90-minute program is held once a week September – May. Families demonstrating financial need will be given priority acceptance.
2.00 Skate at Tiffany’s Skate Inn
$2 Tuesday all day skate. Open to all.
Admission $2
Regular quad $3
Premium quad $5
Blades $5
No outside food or drink. Must have reserved party package to bring in any party items.
Wednesday
Milton Builders at the Milton Edgewood Library 4PM
Use the library’s LEGOS, Straws & Connectors, blocks and more to construct fabulous contraptions. Creative fun for the whole family.
Light Bending, Lasers and Mirrors at the Steilacoom Library 3-5PM
A science activity that uses the nature of photons to make a game of bouncing light from one place to another. For kids ages 9 and up.
Thursday
Building Madness at the South Hill Library 6:30-8
Use LEGOs, Straws and Connectors, blocks and more to construct fabulous contraptions. Creative fun for the whole family! DUPLOs and other blocks available for the little ones.
Tacoma Resident free day at the zoo
Technology Petting Zoo at the Algona Library 1:00PM – 2:30PM
Experiment with technology designed for young engineers. Program a busy Bee-bot, customize a Cubelet robot, or explore electronics with kits made for curious kids. For ages 5 and up
Sponsored by the Friends of the Auburn, Algona-Pacific and Muckleshoot Libraries, and the KCLS Foundation.
National Engineers Week at the Puyallup Public Library 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Create and build your own balloon-powered car with LEGO bricks! Race your invention against other builders and test your skills. Recommended for children 6 and up. No registration is required.
Friday
Block Play at the Fife Library 11AM
Building with blocks is not only fun, it develops early math and science skills. All you need is imagination!
Family Game Day at the Orting Library 2:30
Spend a cold winter day at the library playing board games, card games, dice games and more: Giant Jenga, indoor snowballs, Mad Libs and miniature golf.
Building Madness at the Graham Library 4:30
Use LEGOs, Straws and Connectors, blocks and more to construct fabulous contraptions. Creative fun for the whole family! DUPLOs and other blocks available for the little ones.
Building Madness at the Sumner Library 4:30
Use LEGOs, Straws and Connectors, blocks and more to construct fabulous contraptions. Creative fun for the whole family! DUPLOs and other blocks available for the little ones.
As always, I’ll have a huge list of ideas for the weekend up Friday morning!
If you’re new here, I hope you’ll be back. We have new ideas every day, and an awesome weekend events list that goes up every Friday. Come say, “Hi,” on our Facebook page, or find us on Twitter or Instagram. You may also like our weekly email. It comes out on Thursday with a sneak peek at weekend highlights to help you plan ahead!
I believe the Chick-fil-A event is Tuesday, not Monday 🙂
Thanks, Stephanie! We made that correction!