Wow! I know I say this every weekend this time of year, but this one really is a blockbuster in terms of free and fun things to do with the kids, whether you’re looking for family fun in Auburn, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Olympia, or some other part of the South Sound. It’s truly one of those rare weekends with awesome things to do everywhere!
Don’t forget we have an awesome list just like this every Friday, just for South Sound families, and tons of other fun ideas every other day of the week! Read on for all of it! If you’re reading from the home page, this list is more than 50 entries long, so you’re going to need to do one…more….click….I promise it’s worth it!
Want to visit a pumpkin patch or a corn maze? Here’s our master list!
Friday
Family bingo night at the Puyallup Activity Center Fun for all ages!
Free first Friday night at the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia Enjoy free admission the first Friday of every month. It’s an art theme tonight.
Candlelight Tours at Ft. Nisqually-Special nightime tour with actors portraying life in the 1800s. Historic, not spooky, though you probably don’t want to take children who are afraid of the dark! Note from SFM: Very few time slots are left, so go buy yours NOW if you want in on this
All Weekend
Oktoberfest at the Puyallup fairgrounds food, entertainment, kids’ activities include pumpkin decorating and a rootbeer garden. Kids are free, though some hours are 21+ Friday and Saturday. Sunday is all ages, all day and half price admission. More also here.
Just Between Friends Sale in Issaquah Score a bargain! Runs the 4th-8th
Greek Festival in Tacoma food, church tours, dance performances. We went last year; it is primarily about eating (YUM!!), although Henry did enjoy getting to pay for things with the special coins!
Saturday
All Over
Home Depot Kids’ Workshop Make a fire truck bank! Advance registration is now required for these popular, free kids’ building workshops.
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. It’s a Poky Little Puppy event today.
Most Barnes and Noble stores are Also offering a Lego Ninjago Make and Take today at 4PM.
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Craft Stores It’s a “Character Canvas,” today from 10AM-12 2.00 per half hour session There is also a Halloween themed slime event from 1-3; all supplies, including slime, are included.
South King County
Auburn Community Players present Annie
The story of everyone’s favorite plucky orphan. Various shows and times through the 15th. Advance tickets are 13.00/16.00
Seattle Parrot Show in Auburn Yes, really.
This event is for the whole family. Speakers and presentations about parrots, free-flying parrots outside in the park, exhibitor’s hall with bird toys and supplies, clothing, and many other items for sale, children’s story room, indoor aviary where many different colorful and interesting parrots can be viewed up close.
Wild Waves Fright Fest; weekends through October 29th. There is a scare free area called, “Booville,” with crafts and fun. You do need tickets to this event. We don’t know much about it, so if you have been, feel free to leave a comment! Their season pass is also on sale now. If you go even a few times during the year it is worth considering.
Free kids’ art project at the Rusty Raven in Kent 10-1; monthly free art project. It’s pumpkin painting today; dress for mess!
S’more than you imagined in Auburn Free evening event with a bonfire, storytelling, big band, and smores! 6-8PM Game Farm Park
Salmon spotting on the Cedar River Trained naturalists will help kids spot salmon returning to spawn Every weekend in October at four locations-link takes you to a detailed post.
Nordic Fest at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Edgewood food, educational displays, entertainment 2.00; free for kids under 12. Lefse, anyone? Yes, please! 10AM-4 Note new location!
Visit the HCC Mast Center at Redondo Touch tanks with sea critters free and open to the public Saturdays from 10AM-2
Puyallup/Orting/Graham/Greater Pierce County
All Bethel Community Day at Graham Kapowsin HS food, entertainment, wagon rides, characters, and much more! Free community event
Fife Harvest Festival free admission! Hay rides, vendors, activities, and more! My memory of this is that there was lots of free fun for the kiddos but a few things with a small cost.
East Pierce Fire and Rescue Open House
Jaws of life demonstrations, safety information, vehicles, snacks, low cost life jacket and helmet sales, character appearances, and much more in Bonney Lake.
Free event parking at the Sound Transit Park-N-Ride (State Route 410 E and 184th Ave E). Ride the free shuttle to the fire station.
Salmon homecoming at the Puyallup Hatchery Free! Tours, science activities, storytelling, and more!
(pdf) Star Wars Reads at the Bonney Lake Library 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Stormtroopers and Jedis of all ages unite to unleash The Force. Members of the 501st Legion may be attending.
Lego storytime at the Puyallup Library 11AM Hear stories and build with Lego
Tacoma/South Tacoma/ Spanaway
Family friendly shorts at the Blue Mouse in ProctorMovie lovers of all ages will delight in these 13 animated and narrative short films about journeys of adventure, friendship, and life lessons. Free Top Pot donuts and Smith Brothers milk for the first 100 guests.
Ranger lead nature hike at Pt.Defiance Meet the Park Ranger at the Rhododendron Garden for an exploration of nature in Point Defiance Park. Not recommended for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up!
Greek Festival at St.Nicholas in Tacoma
food, church tours, dance performances. We went last year; it is primarily about eating (YUM!!), although Henry did enjoy getting to pay for things with the special coins! I would not try to take a stroller here.
Proctober Fest: Special fall fun at the Proctor Farmer’s Market
Nature at Night at the Tacoma Nature Center Discover who goes bump in the night at the Tacoma Nature Center. Walk the trails after dark and learn about the nocturnal residents in the park. Warm up afterwards with hot cocoa and cookies. Pre-registration required. Sign up online suitable for Ages 7 and up, $7/participant, $6.30/TNC Members
Coloring and Cookies at the Swasey Library Drop in and color! Free, library event 10AM
Candlelight Tours at Ft. Nisqually-Special nightime tour with actors portraying life in the 1800s. Historic, not spooky, though you probably don’t want to take children who are afraid of the dark! Note from SFM: Very few time slots are left, so go buy yours NOW if you want in on this.
Friends of the Parkland/Spanaway Library Used Book Sale used book sale 10AM-4PM with the bag sale between 2-4 Score a bargain on some books! Proceeds support library programs.
Bilingual Story Time at the Tillicum Library 30 minutes. Stories, art activities, rhymes, singing, and finger plays for families with young children 12. Open to all; stories in English/Spanish today.
Children and all ages shows at the Science Dome presentations and shows on the overhead dome at the area’s only indoor, digital planetarium. Great, low cost, indoor activity-we really recommend the children’s version!
Lacey/Olympia
Olympia Fire Department Open House 10-1; Meet your firefighters and see some trucks!
Fall Arts Walk in Olympia Locations around downtown offer everything from open houses to hands on activities. We think your best bet is to download the map to find places of interest and make a plan!
Children’s Day in Lacey Head to Huntamer Park for a day of FREE fun just for kids! Games, activities, crafts, a giant slide, and much more! Bring some money for food and vendors, but there will be tons to do for FREE. Kids are invited to wear superhero dress this year.
Olympia Family Theater presents The Cat in the Hat 2PM; also Sunday. They are also producing a short version of Rapunzel A shorter, Let’s Play production. These short, daytime performances are perfect for children 0-5. Tickets are 5.00 10 AM
Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center The center is free and hosts special activities every Saturday. This weekend there are projects Friday and Saturday in conjunction with Arts Walk.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
It’s apple festival time at Lattin’s Free admission; 5.00 parking No apples to pick, but lot of treats to buy and farm fun. Readers have enjoyed it.
Gig Harbor
PenMet Parks Scarecrow Festival Gig Harbor
Saturday, October 7th 10AM–4PM Hay rides, pumpkin launcher, and more family fun at Sehmel Park. Admission is free; there are some activities with a small fee. The biggest event of the season for Gig Harbor area friends!
Saturday, October 7th, 10:00am-4:00pm
Free, self guided tour of area farms. Meet animals, take farm tours, enjoy farm fresh goodies for sale, and more. This is free, but it is nice to spend a little money at the farms if you can. Tip from SFM: Wear boots or shoes you’re comfortable getting mucky.
Pier into the night with Harbor WildWatch
Learn more about the animals who live in our local waters. This program will let you explore under the dock, without ever getting wet!
Specially trained SCUBA divers will swim beneath the dock with an underwater camera, and you can watch on a screen from the surface!
This is a FREE program, but there is a suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family. No RSVP is needed, just show up at Jerisich Dock. Get there 10 minutes early to park and find a good spot. Dress for the weather.
Sunday
All Over
MAKEbreak Great Pumpkin Event at Michael’s Stores 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Cost: Buy a 9″ Ashland craft pumpkin for $7, and the supplies to decorate it are free.
Lego event at Toys R Us Raceway theme today. You do now need to register for a spot at these free events. I do NOT know if this one includes a free make it and take it, so don’t overpromise here. Let us know if you go!
South King County
Seattle Parrot Show in Auburn Yes, really.
This event is for the whole family. Speakers and presentations about parrots, free-flying parrots outside in the park, exhibitor’s hall with bird toys and supplies, clothing, and many other items for sale, children’s story room, indoor aviary where many different colorful and interesting parrots can be viewed up close.
Just Between Friends Sale in Issaquah Score a bargain! Runs the 4th-8th
Salmon spotting on the Cedar River Trained naturalists will help kids spot salmon returning to spawn Every weekend in October at four locations-link takes you to a detailed post.
Puyallup/Graham/Greater Pierce County
Oktoberfest at the Puyallup fairgrounds food, entertainment, kids’ activities include pumpkin decorating and a rootbeer garden. Kids are free, though some hours are 21+ Friday and Saturday. Sunday is all ages, all day and half price admission. More also here.
2nd Sundays at the Morse Wildlife Preserve This special preserve is open to the public 2nd Sundays. This is the Last One until the spring. Quiet, unplugged outing-the kids will like the boardwalks and bird watching towers. Parking is tight; arrive by 3.
Tacoma
The tinkerspace will be transformed this afternoon to an all out Dragon Lair. Tinker designers have the chance to design their ultimate brood of dragons! Whether you want to make your own dragon figurines, puppets or costume pieces, the Tinkerspace will have loads of inspiration and examples to inspire your Dragon Whisperer within. (Special Note… Game of Throne Fans, this will be an awesome way to pay homage to this Season’s finale!) Register at darcy@tinkertopia.com $10.00/dragon creator
Greek Festival at St.Nicholas in Tacoma
food, church tours, dance performances. We went last year; it is primarily about eating (YUM!!), although Henry did enjoy getting to pay for things with the special coins! I would not try to take a stroller here.
Olympia
Olympia Family Theater presents The Cat in the Hat
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
It’s apple festival time at Lattin’s Free admission; 5.00 parking No apples to pick, but lot of treats to buy and farm fun. Readers have enjoyed it.
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