South Sound Weekend Kids’ Calendar: Family Fun and Things to Do October 13th, 14th, and 15th!

Multiple Days

Just Between Friends Sale at the fairgrounds in Puyallup. This is the BIG one! Be sure to use the link to get your free admission pass!

Friday

Friday is a big day for storytimes. We don’t list them all due to space, but check your library if you need something to do today.

Harvest Fest at Norpoint

Celebrate fall at the Center at Norpoint! Admission is FREE.  Enjoy hands-on arts and crafts, carnival-style games, pumpkin fun, and live entertainment. 5:30pm-7:00pm-festivities end with a trunk or treat from 7-7:30 (weather permitting).

Movie Night at Portland Avenue Community Center Free showing of Beauty and the Beast! Popcorn provided!

Owl Prowl at the Shadow Lake Nature Preserve * Late night event!* Learn about owls and then try to entice one to call back to you!

Featured Sponsor: It’s Family Movie and Glow Play Night at WiggleWorks Family Movie and Glow Play Night is Friday, October 13th, 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 “The Emoji Movie”!

We will be selling pizza for $2.00 per slice and giving FREE glow bracelets to every child that attends. FREE for members or with $7.50 all day admission. SFM tip: Older siblings too big for the playground are welcome to come along for free!

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. Story is After the Fall today.

Kids’ Club at Michael’s Craft Stores  It’s a tie-in to the Disney movie, Vampirina today. Looks like a mobile.  10AM-12  2.00 per half hour session; there is also a family craft from 1-4; this one is t-shirt decorating, and supplies are provided when you purchase the t-shirt.

South King County

Fright Fest at Wild Waves. Includes 20+ amusement park rides, two haunted houses, a scare free area for kids under 12, and live entertainment. Be sure to check the website for the varying times. Weekends from September 29-October 29

Auburn Community Players present Annie 2 or 7 today; tickets start at 13.00

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.

Visit the HCC Mast Center at Redondo   Touch tanks with sea critters free and open to the public Saturdays from 10AM-2

Meet Mickey Mouse at Learning Express Toys in Renton!  12-4; Free character photo op! Yes, these usually have a crowd.

Puyallup/Orting/Graham/Greater Pierce County

Reptile and Exotic Animal Show at the fairgrounds in Puyallup  Sat, 10am – 5pm, Sun, 10am – 4pm Admission: Adults – $10.00 (one day), Two-Day Pass – $15.00, Kids 10 & under – FREE All kinds of scaly and exotic creatures for sale plus vendors and information. Gold gate

Dare2BeExceptional Walk with Exceptional Families Network and Special Families of Puget Sound at the South Hill Mall
Fundraiser walk to raise awareness about the problem of bullying. I believe anyone can show up to check out the resource fair and activities.

Featured Sponsor: SmileFest at Molen Orthodontics in Sumner  

Celebrate their new offices with the Sumner drum line, Seahawks’ mascot Blitz, a magic show, and much more, AND Sierra Lauren will be performing her Billboard hit single Nightmares! Check the link for times. Do be sure to tour the new building and ask about a special offer for new patients! Disclosure: Molen is a lovely site sponsor. I will be there for at least part of the fun, and I’d love to meet you and talk to you about how much our family loves Molen!

It’s Cider Squeeze Time at the Meeker Mansion 10:00am-4:00pm. Squeeze apples for some fresh cider, pick out a carving pumpkin, visit a favorite vendor, or munch on apple treats from the snack shack.

Orting Pumpkin Fest Games, a bouncy house, activities for kids, Act 1 Theatre productions, Point Defiance pirates, and a free bus tour of local farms. There will also be a Little Pumpkin Pals parade for kiddos in pumpkin themed costumes. 10:00AM-5:00PM

Read with Clover the Dog at the Puyallup Public Library 2PM; Kids can drop in and practice reading to Clover. She’s a good listener!

Lego storytime at the Puyallup Library 11AM Free, drop in program. Hear  short stories and enjoy building time.

Pumpkin Jubilee at Watson’s Nursery  Giant pumpkin will be carved; photo ops  There is also a doggie costume contest, but you need to register for that! I think this is a really fun nursery to browse. Do be aware there are a lot of delicate gift items on display, somewhat close together as well.

Tacoma/ South Tacoma/Lakewood

Tacoma artists’ studio tours. Free tours of the working studios of 70 local artists! Demonstrations or activities at each spot; opportunities to purchase original art. Saturday and Sunday 11AM-5PM

Bag sale at Blooming Kids 10-2; Head to Proctor and fill a bag for 10.00!

PBS Playdate at the CMOT. Monthly playdate with a PBS show theme. It’s Curious George today. These are first come; first served. Included with your pay-as-you-will admission

Zoo Boo at the Point Defiance Zoo

Watch the animals enjoy special Halloween and pumpkin themed enrichment activities. Free with admission (Zoo admission is spendy; SFM recommends investing in an annual pass.) Get $3 off general admission if you come in costume.Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, 10:00am-4:00pm

Storytime at Wheelock or Swasey

Families with young children can head to their neighborhood library for stories and fun. 10:30 at both branches; it’s Play and Grow at Wheelock and PlayBlocks at Swasey.

Family nature walks with Metro Parks Tacoma  Join volunteer naturalists on a free nature walk Not suitable for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up. It’s Swan Creek Park at 1PM today. You are now required to pre-register for these programs.

Green Tacoma Day

Volunteer at one of more than a dozen urban green spaces around the area. This would be a good option if you have a tween or teen who needs service hours, and a nice way to discover some of these hidden gems with others.

Gravel Pit Trail Grand Opening

In conjunction with Green Tacoma Day (see above), families are invited to the grand opening of this new 1/2 mile trail around the 80th street stormwater pond. Cocoa, donuts, rock painting, and Scoopy Doo! They would like you to RSVP. *Scoopy is a mascot who encourages dog owners to pick up after their dogs! Love it!

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!

Truck & Tractor Day, Lakewood

The 11th Annual Truck and Tractor Day in Lakewood at Fort Steilacoom Park is not to be missed! Free hard hats and free pumpkins (while supplies last!) As if that wasn’t enough, you also get to climb on dozens of trucks and tractors! FREE admission! You can save time in line by filling out waivers in advance-links in the pdf here. 12:00PM-3:00PM

Olympia/Lacey/Beyond

Tumwater Marching Band Festival Inspire your young musician!

Olympia Family Theater  presents The Cat in the Hat at 2PM today and Sunday. We’ve heard this is especially cute for younger audiences!

Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center  The center is free and hosts special activities every Saturday.  Art inspired by the Puget Sound today; treatment plant tour at 1PM for participants 10 and up-closed toe shoes required.

Visit the South Sound Estuarium   open 11-4 weekends

It’s apple festival time at Lattin’s

Gig Harbor 

Second Saturday: Pumpkin Decorating at the Key Center Library  2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Decorate your very own pumpkin to take home. Small pumpkin and decorations provided. * This event requires registration.

Any weekend fun: Visit the Farmer’s Market or the Harbor History Museum; walk your waterfront; check out what’s happening at Discovery Village or the YMCA; see the touch tanks at the Skansie Visitor’s Center; find a new park or trail…..

Sunday

All Over

Lego Bricktober Build and Play Event at Toys R Us

It’s a superhero theme, and you do need to register for these free events now. I’m not sure if this includes a make it and take it; if you find out, let us know! 1PM

South King County

Fright Fest at Wild Waves. Includes 20+ amusement park rides, two haunted houses, a scare free area for kids under 12, and live entertainment.  Booville is a scare-FREE zone for kids under 12  that includes a giant inflatable slide,  an inflatable obstacle course and other fun. Be sure to check the website for the varying times. Weekends from September 29-October 29

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/Sumner

Reptile and Exotic Animal Show at the fairgrounds in Puyallup  Sat, 10am – 5pm, Sun, 10am – 4pm Admission: Adults – $10.00 (one day), Two-Day Pass – $15.00, Kids 10 & under – FREE All kinds of scaly and exotic creatures for sale plus vendors and information. Gold gate

Kids pumpkin painting at Urban Timber in Sumner

11-1 Please join us for some ghoulish pumpkin painting, freaky fun & frightenly fabulous treats. Hope your little boys & ghouls will come dressed in their #Halloween costumes… for this SPOOK-tacular affair!
We invite children 12 & under to paint pumpkins (don’t worry, we’ll provide all the art supplies, brushes & pumpkins.) Space is limited, so we do suggest you arrive early!

Want to visit a pumpkin patch or a corn maze? Here’s our master list! 

As always, if you know something we missed or you’d like publicity or advertising for your group, get in touch! You can email me at soundsfunmom@gmail.com.

We do depend on the support of local businesses. We appreciate you thanking our sponsors and telling any of the places and businesses you visit about our site. It’s our favorite way to get new advertisers, and it helps us keep bringing you all the awesome!

Want to head out to a corn maze or pumpkin patch today? Go here for that guide!

Want to plan ahead a bit? Check out our, “Monster List,” of family friendly Halloween events and alternatives!