Just Need to Keep Cool?
There is a list of fun things to do today under “Sunday,” but if you just want some ways to keep cool today, you might want to head straight to my South Sound Beat the Heat List! Be safe and keep cool!
Things To Do With Kids Around the South Sound This Weekend
The summer just keeps on zooming by, and the weekend calendar is getting fuller and fuller! This weekend you can choose from some really cool library programs, huge FREE festivals, and so much more. If you’re looking for things to do with the kids in Tacoma, Auburn, Puyallup, or anywhere around the South Sound, you have come to the right place!
There are more than 60 family events this weekend (not kidding!) so if you’re reading this from the home page, you’ll need to do one more click. I promise it’s worth it!
Friday
Friday Daytime
Summer story time at the Job Carr Cabin Museum
Tiptoe through the tide pools with Metro Parks TacomaFree tide pooling event at Titlow Beach 11AM
Harbor WildWatch is hosting a low tide walk today.
There are also Low tide events at South King County beaches with Seattle Aquarium naturalists
There are a bunch of cool library programs today. We’ve included the highlights below.
Friday Evening
Friday Family Fun and Movie at Skansie Brothers in Gig Harbor
Activities with Harbor WildWatch begin at 7:30;movie is at dusk. It’s Top Gun tonight, which I think is PG.
Auburn Community Junior Players present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in Auburn 10.00 tickets/also Saturday and Sunday
Movie in the park with Pierce County Parks at Meridian Habitat Park-South Hill See a free movie under the stars! It’s Rock Dog tonight, and you are invited to bring your well behaved, non aggressive dogs!
Summer Bash and movie at Stewart Heights Entertainment; vendors; movie at dusk!
Family movie and Glow Play Night at WiggleWorks
Youth yard sale and book exchange in Fife-plus music and a Recess Monkey concert 5-8:30 Bring down your old, unwanted books and trade them in for new (to you) books at the Book Exchange tent; shop for treasures from enterprising kids! Vendor booths and food truck will be open from 5-8:30 p.m. with live music from Gansango at 5:00 p.m. and Recess Monkey at 6:30 p.m.
All Weekend
Kent Cornucopia DaysJuly 13-15. South King county’s largest family festival features a street fair, parade, entertainment, and more.
Pacific Days – Friday-Sunday, July 13-15. 4-9PM Friday; 11-9 Saturday; 11-4 Sunday Music, parade, food trucks, vendors, and more family fun.
Capital Lakefair, Lacey– Wednesday-Sunday, July 11-15. Enjoy a parade, fireworks, and rides.
Saturday
All Over
Story time at Barnes and Noble It’s The Princess and the Pit Stop at most stores at 11AM. We do suggest calling to confirm, as participation in these is inconsistent.
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Stores Low cost kids’ craft events. “Camp,” theme today. There is also a tie dye shirt event for the family at 1PM.
South King County
Low tide events at South King County beaches with Seattle Aquarium naturalists
Meet Cat Boy at Learning Express Toys in Renton
Kent Cornucopia DaysJuly 13-15. South King county’s largest family festival features a street fair, parade, entertainment, and more.
Pacific Days – Friday-Sunday, July 13-15. 4-9PM Friday; 11-9 Saturday; 11-4 Sunday Music, parade, food trucks, vendors, and more family fun.
Kids Festival at Lake Wilderness Park
Come out to Lake Wilderness Park and join in the FREE FAMILY FUN at the City of Maple Valley’s Annual Kids’ Festival! Make crafts, play games, slide, jump, swim, and get your face painted!
Free tickets available 30 minutes before performance time at the Information Desk on the day of the program.
Presented by Gansango Dance Company. Get ready to get your beat on with this program! Shake, rattle and roll with two exceptional African arts teaching artists, who will demonstrate the wide variety of drums found across Africa, and how to play basic rhythms using shakers, bells, drums and clapping.
Visit the Mary Olson Farm in Auburn Tour the farm house, meet the animals! Nice, low-key, unplugged outing
Free and open to the public on summer Saturdays and Sundays (donations are suggested). June 23 – August 26, Noon – 5pm.
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 Ask about their weekday evening open times during the summer! Free
Auburn Community Junior Players present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in Auburn 10.00 tickets/also Sunday
Puyallup/Sumner
Bubble Run at the fairgrounds in Puyallup Running! In bubbles! Registration and fees required. Have you done this before? I’d love to know how it was if you did!
Pacific NW Reptile and Exotic Animal show at the fairgrounds Also Sunday
Free, family fun of all kinds for the community sponsored by Graham Emmanuel Baptist Church
Ice skating at the South Hill Mall
This event is FREE! Skates are provided, please bring your own pair of socks. Also Sunday
Tacoma/South Tacoma/University Place/Lakewood
Sharks! at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Special themed activities included with admission. The zoo does get spendy quickly. SFM recommends investing in an annual pass unless you can take advantage of free days for City of Tacoma residents.
2nd Saturday story time at the Tacoma Art Museum.PS Hot tip alert! Kids under 18 now get free admission to the TAM every Saturday.They have a great space to make your own art on the first floor.
Craft Saturday at the Job Carr Cabin Museum
PBS Playdate at the Children’s Museum It’s Odd Squad!
The Venardos Circus is at the STAR Center select dates through the 22nd. The ticket site is here or check Goldstar. Three showtimes Saturday and two Sunday.
Knights of Veritas at the Main Branch of the Tacoma Public Library10AM Learn about chivalry, historical combat, and more; also at Wheelock Library at 2PM Note from SFM: This is totally fine for children, although they will likely be sword fighting for the rest of the weekend. My boys always loved it, though.
Free nature walk at Wapato Park
volunteer naturalists lead these free walks in Tacoma parks. Advance registration now required; not suitable for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up. 10AM
Meet the Park Ranger at the Rhododendron Garden Pavilion for an exploration of the plants and animals in the special old-growth forest of Point Defiance Park. 1-2 Free! Not suitable for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up.
Saturday morning cartoons at Fern Hill Library
Play and Grow storytime at Wheelock 10:30
Preschool story time at Moore at 10:30
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is at the TMP
Various times Fridays-Sundays through the 29th. If you have trouble ordering online or see that tickets are limited, call their box office. This should be a Great show with super cute photo ops.
Color in Motion 5K at Swan Creek Park in Tacoma
Family friendly race; run around and get splashed with color! I’ve never done one of these before. If you have input, let us know! It looks a little spendy to me, but I’m sure it’s fun?
South Tacoma/Lakewood/Parkland-Spanaway
SummerFest in Lakewood– Saturday, July 14, 11:00am-11:00pm. FREE all day festival with activities, food, entertainment, car show, Kids’ Zone and more! Free outdoor movie in the evening, too! This is a LOT of fun for free!
Free family activities at Bass Pro Shops
Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through July 22nd beginning at noon. Try out games, make a craft, and enjoy more fun.
Nature Rocks – World of Wolves at the Parkland/Spanaway Library 11AM-12 Learn about wolves: biology, history, current status and recovery, as well as Wolf Haven’s role in the wildlife community. Presented by Wolf Haven.
Children’s shows at the Pierce College Planetarium
Great, low cost shows at the area’s only indoor planetarium. Definitely go at least once this summer!
Open House Event at Historic Ft. Steilacoom
Lacey/Olympia
Capital Lakefair, Lacey – Wednesday-Sunday, July 11-15. Big, multi day festival with rides, entertainment, and more!
Enjoy a concert at 7:00pm followed by a movie at dusk at Lacey in Tune Movies at Dusk. Bring your own chairs and snacks. Concessions will also be available. Today is Lovey James-Pop/Today’s Hits followed by ET PG
Meet the Beach! Low tide events with the South Sound Estuary Association
Treatment Plant Tour and Art at the WET Science Center
Stop by anytime to make art inspired by Puget Sound and its creatures. At 1 pm, attend a program about water in our lives and what happens to the dirty water you send down the drain. Discover how LOTT cleans up wastewater at the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant and the steps taken to protect Puget Sound. Then take a tour of the treatment plant! Tour participants must be 10 or older and wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes.
OFS Kids Club Free movie for kids 12 and underIt’s Lu Over the Wall today, an anime.
“Family Camp” event at Cabela’s Also Sunday- games, crafts, and other fun. Same event as offered at Bass Pro.
Gig Harbor
Harbor WildWatch is hosting Science Saturday and low tide walks today. So fun! Check out sea creatures!
Macaroni Kid is hosting a carnival style event. I believe it’s free but you need to sign up for tickets.
Sunday
South King County
Low tide events at South King County beaches with Seattle Aquarium naturalists
Mary Olson Farm Open Hours Tour the restored farmhouse and grounds on the Green River; summer weekends Nice, unplugged outing. They do now request a donation of 5.00/adults and 2.00 kids Also Sunday
Auburn Community Junior Players present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in Auburn 10.00 tickets
Mele Storytelling & Malasadas at the Outlet Collection
Mele Storytelling with Huraiti Mana. Listen to a story while eating a Malasada (Hawaiian donut). Please RSVP. Hawaiian storytelling includes chants, song, hula and verse. Storytelling in the Hawaiian culture has a number of unique aspects. Location: Court by Coach / Nike Entrance
Time: 11:15am
Puyallup
Pacific NW Reptile and Exotic Animal show at the fairgrounds
Ice skating at the South Hill Mall
This event is FREE! Skates are provided, please bring your own pair of socks.
Tacoma
Give and Grow Beach Clean-up Event at Narrows Beach Park This is a group of parents who organize volunteer activities to do with their children.
Sharks! at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Special themed activities included with admission. The zoo does get spendy quickly. SFM recommends investing in an annual pass unless you can take advantage of free days for City of Tacoma residents.
The Venardos Circus is at the STAR Center select dates through the 22nd. The ticket site is here . You can get discount tickets on Goldstar if you’re willing to go next week.
Free walking tours at Point Defiance Park
Join park staff every weekend for free drop-in walking tours. Explore areas of the park and get a new perspective on Tacoma’s crown jewel. No registration necessary. Tours held every weekend through September 3
- 11-11:30 am – Urban Wildlife Walk; Meet at the Point Defiance Visitors Center
- 1-2 pm – Ranger-led Nature Walk; Meet at the Rhododendron Garden Pavilion
- 2:30-3 pm – Garden Tour; Meet at the Point Defiance Visitors Center
Historic Fort Steilacoom is now open for Sunday tours 1-4PM I believe this is a free; donations welcome type thing. Summer Sundays until Labor Day
Free family activities at Bass Pro Shops
Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through July 22nd beginning at noon. Try out games, make a craft, and enjoy more fun.
Gig Harbor
Harbor WildWatch is hosting a low tide walk at Sunrise Beach
Olympia/Lacey area
Capital Lakefair, Lacey – Wednesday-Sunday, July 11-15. Big, multi day festival with rides, entertainment, and more!
Meet the Beach! Low tide events with the South Sound Estuary Association
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 or use one of the icons up top to find us on your favorite social media. Need still more ideas? The summer guide has links to the sprayground list, sandy beaches, and everything else you need!
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