Looking for fun things to do with the kids this weekend? You’ve come to the right place, especially if you like Free things to do in Tacoma! No matter what part of the South Sound you call home, we’ve got something great you can do with the kids!
All Weekend
Pierce County Fair, Graham – Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12 This small fair has lots of animals on display and is an annual celebration of rural life.
Saturday
All Over
Blueberry picking Many area u-pick farms are now open for blueberry picking. Link takes you to a list of ALL of them; you’ll need to use the links to check on openings. Thanks for doing that.
Story time at Barnes and Noble Story time and activities featuring A is for Astronaut & A Place for Pluto. Celebrate science and the planets in this special space-themed story time. 11AM We do encourage you to call first to confirm participation.
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Stores Kids craft sessions from 10-12 2.00 or 5.00 for 30 minute sessions. It’s unicorn themed back-to-school crafts today. There is also a, “Shimmering Slime,” event from 1-3PM. That one is free, including slime.
South King County
Beach naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium will be on hand at South King County area beaches for low tide. Free but you will need a Discover WA Pass for state park locations.
Covington Kids Fest10 a.m.-2 p.m. – located in the Kohl’s Parking Lot
It’s all for the kids! This fun event is full of hands on activities, crafts, inflatables, and much more.
Raptor Life at the Renton Library
Learn about all about raptors! 2PM
AuburnFest, Auburn 11:00am-8:00pm
Held at Les Gove park, there will be live entertainment, a car show, literary fair, plus lots of free kid’s activities. Great event!
Hello Kitty Truck The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is coming to Westfield Southcenter Visit the truck located near the Main South Entrance of the center.
At The Ridge Theater presents The Little Mermaid at Kentridge High School Last shows today!
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.
Puyallup/South Hill/Orting/Bonney Lake/Sumner/Greater Pierce County
Cubs and Classics plane and car show at Thun Field in Graham vendors, free admission
FourSquare Cares Event 10AM-1PM
Free school supplies for families in need and other fun at both Puyallup locations today.
Pierce County Fair, Graham – Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12 This small fair has lots of animals on display and is an annual celebration of rural life.
Frederickson Community Festival The annual Freddie Fest features a car show, chili cook-off, and local vendors. New this year: Freddie Fest hosts the Go Green Games with inflatables and tons more fun for kids. This should be a great event!
Renaissance Faire, Bonney Lake – 11-12, 18-19. Take a trip back to Medieval times at the Faire! Experience pirates, faeries, and a royal masquerade, all with live entertainment! Look for discounts on their fb page.
Four Elements Farm is offering horse drawn wagon rides out to their u pick blueberry fields
Movie in the Park at Allan Yorke Park 7pm | Allan Yorke Park
Bring your blankets and low-back chairs, get ready for a relaxing evening filled with fun, food, family and friends! It’s Sherlock Gnomes.
Tacoma/University Place
Entertainment, kids rides, games, arts and crafts, food booths, live entertainment and a Saturday night fireworks show. Fircrest Fun Day
Craft Saturday at the Job Carr Cabin Museum
Drop by Job Carr Cabin Museum for our monthly Craft Saturday event. Activities are designed for children ages 3-9 and their families. Chalk art today! Chalk and chalkboards provided, while supplies last. Admission to the Museum and all events are “pay as you can.”
PBS PlayDate at the Children’s Museum It’s Wild Kratts today! Mostly tie in with PBS show. 10-11:30 The museum is always pay as you will
Add a Little Fancy Event at the Tacoma Mall
Ooh-la-la! Join us for spectacular family fun and creative activities based on the new Disney Junior series.Craft, snacks, story, and other fun 1-2:30
Free walking tours at Point Defiance Park
Free drop-in walking tours at the park every weekend through September 3rd. No registration needed
- 11-11:30 am – Walking History Tour; Meet at the Point Defiance Visitors Center
- 1-2 pm – Ranger-led Nature Walk; Meet at the Rhododendron Garden Pavilion
- 2:30-3 pm – Urban Wildlife Walk; Meet at the Point Defiance Visitors Center
Ranger lead nature walk at Point Defiance
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. 1-2PM Not suitable for strollers; perfect for ages 3 and up.
Libraries ROCK! So come to your library and paint a rock. Your session will be a half hour and have lots of paint to design a perfectly artistic rock. This is a ticketed event, and may choose from one of three available sessions. Pick-up your free ticket at the branch the day of the event for one of the three available sessions. 1:30, 2:15, or 3:15 PM today.
Music and Art in Wright Park 12-7 music, art, food trucks, and other fun
Shell painting at the Mottett Library 3-4:30PM
Have a rocking good time and try something new! Paint a sea shell!
Free! Take what you need; share what you don’t. This event is about a spirit of community. Please do RSVP if you’re going to go and offer to help clean up if you can!
Brigade Encampment at Fort Nisqually
Travel back to 1855 during one of the largest museum events of the year as living historians set up dozens of tents at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Also Sunday 10.00-15.00; free for kids 3 and under
In the Spirit Northwest Native Festival 12-7
The History Museum and Tacoma Art Museum present IN THE SPIRIT Northwest Native Festival. Experience this indoor/outdoor celebration of Native cultures! Dancing, drumming, singing, shopping at the arts market, and a Native designer runway fashion show will take place in and around both museums. Free festival; the TAM and the WSHM are also free all day today.
Saturday morning cartoons at Fern Hill Library 10AM
Play and Grow storytime at Wheelock 10:30 Wheelock also has a book sale going on.
Preschool story time at Moore at 10:30
Drive-in Movies at America’s Car Museum, Tacoma
Grab dinner at our picnic concessions and watch in your car or from a blanket or chair, either option will give you a great view of the 40-foot outdoor screen! Parking for the show starts at 4:30pm, with showtime at dusk (around 9pm). Drive-In movies are FREE to the public, but does not include Museum admission. Star Wars: The Last Jedi tonight
Lakewood/Parkland-Spanaway
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!
Spanaway Island Fest at Sprinker Rec Center Food and entertainment The “Junk in the Trunk event is also at Sprinker today if you want to bargain hunt! We don’t know about Island Fest personally. If you go, let us know how kid friendly it is!
Lacey/Olympia
Paws at the Park in Dupont A pet friendly thank you celebration from the Dupont Veterinary Clinic. I’m not sure how much there will be for your human kids, but it’s advertised as family friendly.
The Fisherman and His Wife at Olympia Family Theater. Shorter, Let’s Play show perfect for young audiences. 5.00 cash or check at the door; no late seating, so plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the showtime. Also Sunday 10AM
Free Youth Craft at Arbutus Folk School
Join the Arbutus Folk School for our FREE Youth Open House!
We will be teaming up with our neighbor, the Olympia Family Theater, to offer free crafts and fun after their daytime showing of The Fisherman and His Wife! From 10:30 am – 2:30 pm Arbutus will be throwing open its doors to invite kids to try their hands at various crafts, make sea-themed projects, and much more!
Airbound Arts monthly variety show. Airbound Arts is home to Olympia’s only monthly variety show, and we are proud to welcome artists from all over the region to our stage! Come see aerials, acrobats, and other fine folk show off their stuff! Different acts every month, so there is always something new and unique!
The show starts at 7 pm, all ages, smoke-free environment! Some seating, and lots of mat space available. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
Special events continue at the Hands On Children’s Museum including Riveropolis, plus a traveling hot shop from the Museum of Glass, and more. Included with admission
Shark talk at the South Sound Estuarium
Family Storytime at the Olympia Library 11AM
Join the Bio Blitz at the WET Science Center
A BioBlitz is an opportunity for community members to partner with experts to identify and count as many species as possible in a specific area, while learning how to conserve and protect these animals. This BioBlitz focuses on invertebrates (like sea stars, shellfish, worms, etc.) living in various habitats. Visit http://pacshell.org/bioblitz.asp to sign up for a 10 am – 12 pm beach survey to help biologists sort, identify, and take pictures (be prepared to get muddy). And/or visit the WET Center to see live animals, look under the microscope, and work with taxonomists to ID organisms.
Gig Harbor
Low tide walks with Harbor WildWatch Explore low tide with naturalists today at Olalla or Fox Island
Harbor History Museum Vintage Fair
food, booths, 1901 “School,” sessions taught by costumed actors, “Rooster,” races for the kids and other fun.
Science Saturday with Harbor WildWatch
Join Harbor WildWatch for a fun Science Saturday activity at the Skansie Visitor and Interpretive Center.
We will walk over to Jerisich Dock to learn about the unique creatures that call Gig Harbor home, and conduct a plankton tow off the dock. After the plankton tow, we will bring a sample inside to look at under the microscopes where kids (and adults!) can expect to see diatoms, plankton, and sometimes worms or other cool creatures. Suitable for kids of all ages.
Sunday
South King County
Beach naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium will be on hand at South King County area beaches for low tide. Free but you will need a Discover WA Pass for state park locations.
Meet Peppa Pig at Learning Express Toys in Renton
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.
Pierce County/Tacoma
Pierce County Fair, Graham – Thursday-Sunday, August 9-12 This small fair has lots of animals on display and is an annual celebration of rural life.
Monthly family walk at Channing Baby
Meet at their downtown store for a walk over to Anthem
Open trails day at the Morse Wildlife Preserve
Brigade Encampment at Fort Nisqually
Travel back to 1855 during one of the largest museum events of the year as living historians set up dozens of tents at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Also Sunday 10.00-15.00; free for kids 3 and under
Tiptoe through the tide pools at Titlow Beach 11AM-2 Explore low tide with volunteer naturalists. Free event
Renaissance Faire, Bonney Lake – Saturdays/Sundays, 11-12, 18-19. Take a trip back to Medieval times at the Faire! Experience pirates, faeries, and a royal masquerade, all with live entertainment! Look on their fb page for a ticket discount.
Free walking tours at Point Defiance Park
Join us 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
Low tide walk at JoEmma Beach 12-1:30
Get to know the unique animals that inhabit the intertidal zone with biologists and volunteer naturalists! You will need a Discover WA Pass
There is also a Low tide beach walk at Penrose Point State Park
Noon Explore one of the last low tides of the summer with volunteer naturalists from Harbor WildWatch
Olympia/Lacey area
The Fisherman and His Wife at Olympia Family Theater. Shorter, Let’s Play show perfect for young audiences. 5.00 cash or check at the door; no late seating, so plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the showtime.
Riveropolis is at the HOCM 30 ft. waterway with lots of room for water play and tinkering. Included with admission.
Need still more ideas?
Check out our complete summer guide! There is still plenty of time to do something great this summer.
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PS Thank you for mentioning Sounds Fun Mom to the places and businesses you visit!
A couple of my friends went to the spanaway island fest ad they all said it’s kid friendly there
Great! We’ll be sure to include it again next year. Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know!