Need something to do with the kids on another rainy weekend? Don’t despair! Here’s your weekly guide to South Sound family fun with great, free and low cost things to do in Tacoma, Puyallup, and your South Sound home! Read on for all of it!
Friday
Sea Critter Story Time at the Highline MAST Aquarium.
Roll up your sleeves and get up close and personal with our underwater neighbors! Hear some stories, and then join the MaST Center of Highline College to learn about local Puget Sound sea stars, snails, hermit crabs, and more! Ages 3 and older with adult. 10:30
Fridays are also a big day for, “Regular,” story times. We don’t list them all due to space, but you may want to check a library near you!
Cheapskate: 5 and under Free at Sprinker Ice Arena
The perfect opportunity to introduce skating to your young ones! This discount session offers free admission to the preschool crowd.
Featured:Charles Wright Academy Admission Event
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Finding the right school is among the most important decisions you make as a family. We are committed to being your resource as you explore Charles Wright Academy. Please follow the links to the left to learn more about the admissions process, the cost and value of a Charles Wright education, and the areas we serve around the South Sound.
January 26 / Winter Visit Day / 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Register to attend
March 21 / Spring Visit Day / 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Register to attend
Our Admissions staff takes great pleasure in sharing Charles Wright’s campus with prospective families, meeting prospective students and their parents, and serving as your guides as you consider our school and community. We are available every weekday for tours of campus. For more information, please call our office at (253) 620-8373 or send us an email. You can also send us a fax at (253) 620-8357.
Roominate at the Orting Library 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Explore science, technology, engineering and math with Roominate, the building set that uses electricity. For ages 6 and up
A Festival of FREE Family Fun! 6 – 8:30 p.m. accesso ShoWare Center 625 West James Street Kent, Washington 98032
- Live music and entertainment
- Hands-on activities
- Games and contests
- Raffles
- Sport competitions
- Bounce houses
- Journey to Wellness
Featured: Parents’ Night Out at WiggleWorks Sign the kids up for a night of fun! The trained, caring WiggleWorks team will make sure your kids have a blast while you have a little grown up time! Crafts, a movie, and more! Staff has CPR and first aid training, and your littles do NOT need to be potty trained! Woot! What are you waiting for? Get your spot here. Sibling discount available.
Ongoing
Want to go sledding or play in the snow? Here’s our guide!
Saturday
All Over
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Stores 2.00/child for 30 minute sessions It’s personalized frames and slime today.
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.
South King County
Lifting Literacy at the Maple Valley Library with the Tahoma Reading Specialists 10-12 Recess Monkey, reading specialists, a book swap, and more fun!
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 Back open!
Once Upon Our World tea party at the Federal Way Library 12:30-2
Learn about raptors at the Covington Library 2PM Tweens and up invited!
Puyallup/Bonney Lake/Fife
The Sportsmen’s Show is at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Highlights for kids including the u fish pond.
Read with a Dog at the Puyallup Public Library 2-3PM Kids can drop in and practice reading with a patient canine listener!
Kids’ workshop at Bead Boppers
Tacoma/South Tacoma/Lakewood/Parkland
Featured Partner: The Broadway Center for Performing Arts presents The Velveteen Rabbit Reborn at Theater on the Square. 1 or 3PM. Don’t miss this live theater adaptation of the beloved story! Head here for tickets to either show.
Featured Partner: Parent Map Preschool Preview Fair at the STAR Center 11AM-1:30
One stop shopping for preschools plus all kinds of information on South Sound area resources, great prizes, and kids get access to the super fun TreeTops Playground for free.
Family nature walk at Oak Tree Park 10AM
Join volunteer naturalists for free walks in area parks. Free, but advance registration is now required. Not suitable for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up!
Environmental Learning Center Opening Celebration at Point Defiance 11AM-2PM
Join us in the Environmental Learning Center and throughout Point Defiance for tons of fun, free activities. Start with a short program in the ELC at 11 a.m. Then, take a tour around the building from SAMi students, see the work they’ve been creating and learn more about what Point Defiance has to offer.
The entrance to the ELC is to the left of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s main entrance. Parking is in the Zoo’s parking lot. Note from SFM: This is a free event, but it does not include zoo admission. However, it is a free day at the zoo for City of Tacoma residents (see below).
Tacoma resident free day at the Point Defiance Zoo
Kids Design Glass in the Hot Shop at the Museum of Glass 10AM-5PM
Kids Design Glass™
Created by Museum of Glass, the Kids Design Glass™ program invites children 12 and under to design a glass sculpture. Over the next few months, you can watch these works come to life with the winning child and their families on January 27, February 24, March 31, or April 28. Included with admission. Note from SFM: Regular admission to the MOG is on the spendy side. If you plan ahead, you might be able to get a pass from your library to go for free!
Olympia area
Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center and learn about Amphibians of the NW today,
There is a morning workshop for ages 12 and up that requires pre-registration. There should be amphibian themed activities available all day. The center is free.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium interactive marine discovery! Open 11-4 weekends at their new location.
Come join Baby Wearing International Olympia and friends at North Star Boutique for Story Time. As always Story Time is a free event and open to everyone.
Free tours of the Tugboat Sandman most days at Percival Landing
Gig Harbor/Kitsap
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at Paradise Theater Friday and Saturday shows through February 3rd.
STEM Saturday: Chemistry for Kids at the Key Peninsula Library Kids 5-8 are invited to explore basic principles of chemical experimentation. Advance sign up is required. Register now 22 spots as of this writing!
Did you know the Harbor History Museum is now offering free admission through 2018? It’s true! This is a really great museum, with quite a bit that kids can touch and do.
Sunday
South King County
Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic at the Showare Center in Kent three show times today!
Sunday family movie with the Auburn Library. It’s a Frozen sing along today.
Puyallup
The Sportsmen’s Show is at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Highlights for kids including the u fish pond.
Kids Yoga for Grades K-4 -Last Sunday of every month 10:30-11:30a -$10/kid; additional kids from the same family are half off -Parents can take Yoga Sculpt or sit in the lobby. Parents need to remain at the studio during their kids’ yoga class.
Tacoma
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