Zoo Boo is one of Dozens of fun seasonal happenings this weekend!
Friday
Celebrate fall at the Center at Norpoint! Admission is FREE. Enjoy hands-on arts and crafts, carnival-style games, pumpkin fun, and live entertainment. 5:30-7
Haunted Hall at the Center at Norpoint
Bring the family for a frightfully fun walk through the Haunted Hall at the Center at Norpoint! Spirits will take over Cascade Hall for two nights only – Friday, October 12 & Saturday, October 13 from 6 – 8 pm. Children 5 & under are free. Children 7 & under must be accompanied by an adult. $5 per person at the door
Karaoke Monster Bash at WiggleWorks
Join us, Friday Oct. 12th 2018, 6pm-8pm for a Karaoke Monster Bash!
Dress up, come in to play, and sing some karaoke with us! The lights will be dimmed for SPOOKY FUN! One FREE glow bracelet per child – Event free with paid admission! $7.50 all day or $19.99 for the entire month of October!
Olympia Family Theater presents Corduroy Various dates and times through 10/21
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. It’s I Lost My Tooth! today.
Kids’ Club at Michael’s Craft Stores It’s bat themed today from 10AM-12 2.00 or 5.00 per half hour session, depending on the project. There is also a slime making event from 1-3.
South King County
Auburn Community Players present The Adams Family
Schedule: October 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13 at 7pm October 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2pm Tickets: $17/$14 (pre-sale only) $22/19 (door sale only). Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043 or order online for print-at-home tickets. All tickets subject to $1.00 processing fee.
Luminarias de Papel Art Workshop at the Muckleshoot Library @ 11:00 am – 12:00 Ages 5 to adult. Learn about Luminarias significance and make your own. Space limited to 20 participants. Please pick up a free ticket at the Information Desk starting 30 minutes before the program. More info here.
Meet the Spider-Verse at Learning Express Toys in RentonJoin Spider-Man and Spider-Girl as they host at the toy store! Bring out your superhero and join the Spider-Verse with an epic photo!
Charms: Make Your Own Origami Patronus at the Black Diamond Library 1-2PM Kids 11 and up are invited to learn how to use origami folds to create fantastic animals.
Fright Fest at Wild WavesFright Fest includes 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. Note from SFM: Readers are mixed on whether this event is worth the cost for young children, with some thinking not. Let us know what you think if you go.
Dates: Weekends through October 28.
Salmon spotting on the Cedar River Trained naturalists will help kids spot salmon returning to spawn Every weekend in October at four locations
Visit the HCC Mast Center at Redondo Touch tanks with sea critters free and open to the public Saturdays from 10AM-2
The Seattle Parrot Expo is in Auburn
Puyallup/Orting/Graham/Greater Pierce County
The Music Man is at the ManeStage theater in Sumner
Meeker Mansion hosts their annual Cider Squeeze on Saturday, October 13th, 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.
Games, a bouncy house, activities for kids, Act 1 Theatre productions, Point Defiance pirates, and a kids’ parade. 10AM-5PM
Movie Matinee at the Fife Library 2-4PM Family movie! Call the help desk for the title.
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.
Beyond
Ride the Peanuts Great Pumpkin Patch Express
Passengers will ride the train and read the book It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on their journey to the Pumpkin Patch. Every child gets to choose their very own pumpkin to take home, play PEANUTS™ themed games and activities, and meet Charlie Brown and Snoopy. These are spendy tickets, but it’s a super fun ride for a train fan. Check out the website for the various times over the weekends in October. Also the 14th, 20th, and 21st.
Tacoma/ South Tacoma/Lakewood
Spooky slime making at Artist and Craftsman Supply
The Tacoma Arts Commission invites you inside the working studios of 70 local artists to lean about the artistic process, ask questions, and purchase one-of-a-kind creations. All studios will feature demonstrations or will have hands-on activities for visitors. It’s family friendly and free! Get your Tacoma Studio Tour Passport and more info online. Free! 47 Locations Across Tacoma October 13th-14 (not all locations open both days-check to get an idea of which are kid friendly before you make your plan).
Craft Saturdays at the Job Carr Cabin Museum 1-4pm Drop by the Cabin for fun arts and crafts activities designed for children ages 3-9 and their families. Woven arts today. More here.
Community Play Day at the new Galbraith Tennis Center
Family Nature Walk at Swan Creek Park
Volunteer naturalists lead free walks in area parks. You are now asked to register. Not suitable for strollers. Perfect for ages 3 and up. Also more here. 10AM
PBS Play Date at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma 10-11:30am Monthly tie in with a popular PBS show. Also more here. It’s Curious George today.
Kidical Mass Tacoma Arts Month ride
Give and Grow, a parent/child volunteer group is doing a storytime at Tacoma Lutheran Home If this feels a little too spontaneous for today, do connect with this group! It’s great!
Join us for Tacoma’s FREE comic book convention that celebrates comics, reading, and geek culture. This event is recommended for Kids, Teens, Adults and Families. A full day of fun and activities for all ages.
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 $2 off general admission if you come in costume.Dates: Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 10:00am-4:00pm
Haunted Hall at the Center at Norpoint
Bring the family for a frightfully fun walk through the Haunted Hall at the Center at Norpoint! Spirits will take over Cascade Hall for two nights only Saturday, October 13 from 6 – 8 pm.
Children 5 & under are free. Children 7 & under must be accompanied by an adult. $5 per person at the door.
Green Tacoma Day volunteer at projects around Tacoma
Yoga Story Time at the University Place Library 11am-12pm
Yoga movements, books and songs for preschoolers! Registration required; 11 spots left as of this writing.
The 12th 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.
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! Show schedule here
Olympia/Lacey/Beyond
The South Sound Reading Foundation is hosting their first used book sale in Lacey Friday and Saturday Educators who shop Saturday will save 50 percent off on all titles and may pick up free teaching materials.
All proceeds will be used to purchase children’s books for South Sound low-income families.
Olympia Family Theater presents Corduroy Various dates and times through 10/21
Tumwater Marching Band Festival Inspire your young musician!
Visit the LOTT Wet Science Center The center is free and hosts special activities every Saturday. “All about apples,” is the theme today.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
Gig Harbor
Looks like you’ll have to head over the bridge for organized kid fun this weekend (let us know if we missed something), but there are lots of make-your-own options. We’ve listed some below!
Any weekend fun: Visit 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
South King County
Auburn Community Players present The Adams Family
Schedule: October 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13 at 7pm October 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2pm Tickets: $17/$14 (pre-sale only) $22/19 (door sale only). Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043 or order online for print-at-home tickets. All tickets subject to $1.00 processing fee.
The Seattle Parrot Expo is in Auburn
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
Tacoma
The Tacoma Arts Commission invited you inside the working studios of 70 local artists to lean about the artistic process, ask questions, and purchase one-of-a-kind creations. All studios will feature demonstrations or will have hands-on activities for visitors. It’s family friendly and free! Get your Tacoma Studio Tour Passport and more info online. Free! 47 Locations Across Tacoma October 13th-14 (not all locations open both days-check to get an idea of which are kid friendly before you make your plan).
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 $2 off general admission if you come in costume.Dates: Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 10:00am-4:00pm
Film Focus: Hocus Pocus Destiny City Film Festival, Broadway Center for the Performing Arts 3 PM – 4:30 PM | $7
You’re in for a devil of a time when three outlandishly wild witches return from 17th-century Salem after they’re accidentally conjured up by some unsuspecting pranksters!
Kids Day Workshop at Soap and Clay
Make a bath bomb! Registration and fees required.
Olympia
Olympia Family Theater presents Corduroy Various dates and times through 10/21
See the original Wizard of Oz on the big screen. A fundraiser for Marshall Middle School.
Visit the South Sound Estuarium open 11-4 weekends
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.
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