Yes! Kids Bowl Free is back around Tacoma, Puyallup, and the rest of the South Sound for the Summer of 2021.

Are you looking for bowling alleys participating in Kids Bowl Free in Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, or elsewhere in the South Sound? We’ve got your list!

If you’re looking for free or cheap summer fun with the kids, don’t miss this great activity.

 

If you’re not familiar with this program, it’s way cool! Kids get TWO free games of bowling every day, all summer long.  You will have to pay the nominal shoe rental fee, but that’s usually just a couple bucks! Another option is to buy them some shoes if you plan on going every day.

There really is no catch to this program! When you register your kiddos, you’ll also be given the option to purchase a family pass for about $25. If you’d like to bowl along with the kids, this really is an excellent deal, but you’re in no way obligated to get the family pass in order for your kids to bowl for free. Just click the “No Thanks” button if you don’t want it.

South Sound Locations:

NOTE: We are only listing those locations currently active on the Kids Bowl Free site. Many others participated in 2019. If others join up this year, well let you know!

Daffodil Bowl, Puyallup: May 24-September 6
Paradise Bowl, Tacoma: May 1st-September 15th
Tower Lanes, Tacoma: May 15-September 15
Prairie Lanes, Yelm: May 1-October 15
Aztec Lanes, Olympia: June 14-August 31

How To Sign Up:

To bowl free, you’ll need to register your family. Go to Kids Bowl Free and select the bowling alley nearest you to register. You’ll receive coupons emailed to you for free bowling! Easy peasy!

Pro tip: If the kids are throwing all gutter balls, have the attendant put up the bumpers/rails!

We know lots of you do this program every summer. Be sure to pass it on to friends who might not know about it yet. We’d also love to read any tips you might have, and we’d love to hear about which alleys are your favorites.

Need more to do? We’re rolling out our whole summer guide this week! Stay tuned!

Have you taken the kids on a Squirrely Summer Scavenger Hunt yet?

Just a reminder that this super fun exploration of Auburn’s great parks and trails  has started, and the list of locations is out!

This is a free, fun, Covid safe outdoor adventure that the whole family will love!

As you explore Auburn’s parks and trails, keep track of the squirrels you find, and you can enter for a chance at some great prizes!

Head here for more details and all the locations! 

or check out the Facebook event page! 

It’s free and open to all! A perfect summer adventure!

The event runs July 1st-July 11th, so make plans to meet up with some pals and add it to your summer bucket list!

 

 

It’s another Fun and Free Family event in Auburn!

Search Auburn for the Nutty Squirrel July 1st-11th, for a chance to win!

I’m excited to share another free and fun event for the whole family from our friends at Auburn Parks and Recreation! Auburn has SO many great parks and trails to explore, and when you get out with the fam and find the Nutty Squirrel between July 1st-11th, you might win one of a bunch of really cool prizes!

This is the kind of free fun I just love to share with readers! Perfect for those of you who live in Auburn, Kent, and Sumner, and worth the trip for adventurous readers from anywhere. Kids LOVE to explore parks and trails when there is the bonus of something fun to find! Read on for all the details!

When

Find the nutty squirrel July 1st-July 11th *Please do leave him once you’ve spotted him, so others can get in on the fun!

Where

Nutty Squirrel will be at parks and trails all around Auburn. Locations will be announced June 30th at 8PM.

The list of locations will be posted to:

• City of Auburn Website at: auburnwa.gov/events
• Facebook: Auburn Arts & Events and Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Facebook pages and within Auburn’s Squirrely Summer Scavenger Hunt Facebook event
• Eblast subscribers: Released via e-blast to Auburn at Play e-mail subscribers

How

Before you start your search, you’ll want to print a ‘Nutty Scorecard’ or bring something on your search to track your squirrels such as a notepad and pen, a phone or tablet. Scorecards are available at www.auburnwa.gov/events and area businesses.

Each squirrel will have a unique number. When you find a squirrel, write the corresponding number on your scorecard or tracking device. You’ll need to find at least ten (10) squirrels. Printed scorecards are for tracking purposes only. Scorecards do not need to be e-mailed. Complete the On-line Nutty Scorecard Submission Form, which will become available on July 1.

Find the On-line Nutty Scorecard Submission Form at www.auburnwa.gov/events. Complete and submit your scorecard (one per person, please) by 11:59 PM on Sunday, July 11 to be entered into the random drawing for prizes. Sorry, no late entries; no e-mailed entries. Winners will be selected at random and emailed by July 14.

What can you win?? You can see the whole list of prizes at the link below, but there are some great ones, including gift cards for area groceries, restaurants, and more!

You absolutely don’t need to live in Auburn to participate. You just need to be a family looking for a great summer adventure for your whole bunch! That’s you, right?

More information, rules, and anything else you’d need here! or here at the Fb event page! 

 

LEGO themed building day camps near Tacoma and around the South Sound for 2021

Yes! There are summer camps happening this year. In fact, we have a whole guide to them that will be up this week, but I know you’ll want to know now that there are open spots in some of our favorite Tacoma area day camps for kids from Bricks 4 Kidz.

If you have a kid who can’t get enough of Lego or other building toys, they will LOVE these high quality camps that provide real instruction and plenty of building time around cool themes.

Choose from a wide range of new and favorite LEGO building camps inspired by Disney’s Jungle Cruise, sports, video game characters, Star Wars, and Minecraft, or computer-based camps including stop motion animation movie making, robotics, coding, and video game design!  Camps are available for children ages 6-12 or Junior Builders age 4-6.

My own children have done Bricks 4 Kidz camps, and I was super impressed every time. The instructors are awesome, and my kids had a blast. They even learned some things (you don’t have to tell your kids that part if you don’t want to)!

Bricks 4 Kidz partners with various parks and recreation organizations to hold camps in community centers across the South Sound including locations in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Poulsbo, Puyallup, Lakewood, Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, so I can almost guarantee there is a camp near you!

All camps are Monday through Friday half days 9am to noon or 1pm to 4 pm. Full day options are offered at most locations either all day with Bricks 4 Kidz or extended with the parks and rec host’s day camp.

Now, summer camps are filling REALLY fast this year, so if you want in on one I do suggest you register ASAP. They’re also super fun for kids to do with pals.

Head here for summer camp with Bricks 4 Kidz Tacoma and Pierce County 

Head here for summer camp with Bricks 4 Kidz serving Lacey and Thurston County

Head here for summer camp with Bricks for Kidz Kitsap! 

Btw, If you’re one of my teacher readers or a PTA peep, it’s not too soon to be thinking about programming for next year! Head to their home page or drop by their Fb or Instagram for more scoop on all their awesome year round programs!

All the area Bricks 4 Kidz are run by Tim and Kristi Walker, and I can’t say enough about their heart for bringing high quality programs and camps to kids in our community!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The opinions are my own. Photos were provide by the client. Please do let them know you saw them on Sounds Fun Mom!

It’s time to hit the trail to spot Peter Cotton Tail, and maybe win one of  a bunch of really, great prizes for your bunny finding skills!

I’ve been telling you about this awesome, safe event for a while because your kids are going to love it! If you missed those posts, don’t worry. All the info. is below, and it’s as easy as printing out your scorecard and putting on your shoes!

This is a real, DIY style event (not virtual!) You and all your favorite peeps get to hunt for bunnies at Auburn area parks and trails (We’ve got the list of parks below). The photo above shows what you’re looking for.

Before you start your search, you’ll need to print a ‘Bunny Scorecard’ (one scorecard for each participant, please)

.Each bunny will have a unique number. When you find a bunny, write the corresponding number on your scorecard.

Please don’t take or move the bunnies from their hiding spot. The hunt needs to be fun for every bunny! 

When you finish your scorecard, email it to events@auburnwa.gov by noon on March 31 to be entered into the random drawing for prizes. Winners will be selected at random and announced on April 1.

Need more info? Head here! 

Here for the list of parks? It’s here!

1. Auburndale Park, 31802 108^th SE

2. Brannan Park, 1019 28^th Street NE

3. Cedar Lanes, 1002 25^th Street SE

4. Dorothy Bothell Park, 1087 Evergreen Way SE

5. Dykstra Park, 1487 22^nd Street NE – be sure to check the trail from Dykstra Park to Isaac Evans Park!

6. ***Game Farm Park, 3030 R Street SE

7. Isaac Evans Park, 29827 Green River Road SE – be sure to check the trail connecting this park and Dykstra Park!

8. Lea Hill Park, 31693 124^th Ave SE

9. ***Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth Street SE

10. Lewis Lake Nature Park, 899 W Street NW

11. Mill Pond, 4582 Mill Pond Drive SE

12. Roegner Park, 601 Oravetz Road SE

13. Sunset Park, 1420 69^th Street SE

14. Veterans Memorial Park, 405 E Street NE

15. White River Trail – bunnies will be hiding all the way from Roegner Park to the end of the trail past Game Farm Wilderness Park

***Game Farm Park and Les Gove Park will have ‘accessible’ bunnies in view of the trail to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and wagons.

Save the date! It’s almost time for the bunny hunt in Auburn from our friends with Auburn parks!

This is a safe, fun event for the whole family that will get you outside (not on another Zoom call)! and exploring some of Auburn’s amazing parks and trails.

Plus, you could win some very cool prizes!

Need more details? Our post with ALL you need to know is here! 

Or visit the Peter Cotton Trail Fb page or site!  Remember: The fun starts March 26th, so plan an adventure with your favorite some-bunnies today!

Bunny locations to be announced on Friday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m.

Bunny locations will be posted to:

• City of Auburn Website at: auburnwa.gov/events
• Facebook: Auburn Arts & Events and Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Facebook pages and within Auburn’s Peter Cotton Trail Facebook event
• Eblast subscribers: Released via e-blast to Auburn at Play e-mail subscribers

•  

Oh, friends! I’m so excited to be able to share real, in person things you can go do with the kids again!

This weekend, the super fun Washington State Toy Show is on at the Fairgrounds in Puyallup. It’s a must for collectors or nostalgia fans, and really so much fun for all ages to look and browse at comics, Star Wars collectibles, and so much more. Plus, SFM readers can get their kids in FREE! Here’s all the details straight from our pals with the Washington State Toy Show!

Free Washington State Toy Show kids’ tickets for Sounds Fun Mom readers!

Join us on March 13st and 14th for the return of the Washington State Toy Show. Vintage and Modern Toys and Comics sold with a variety of Vendors. Toys, Action Figures, Die-Cast, LEGO, Collectibles, Video Games, Comic Books, and so much more will be available.

Due to the occupancy limits, all heads need to be counted including kids. So for the last two hours of each day, we are offering 50 free kid tickets during the last two hours of each day. Use the code “soundsfun” at checkout and we will add 2 kid tickets for free. Coupon is good for Saturday 3pm to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 4pm and is limited to 2 kid tickets for every adult ticket. Head here for tickets and more info! 

The Washington State Toy Show will be held in the 20,000 sq. ft. Expo Hall and the 6,000 sq. ft. VIP Tent at the Washington State Fair and Events Center. Entry will be through the Gold Gate and free parking in the Gold Lot.

All Washington State, Pierce County, and Washington State Fair COVID protocols will be enforced and used in preparation for this event for the safety of our sellers, attendees, and staff. Masks must be worn at all times. Occupancy limits will be enforced.

For more info and tickets head here! 

Need to know more about the event? Here’s their Facebook page, too! 

Big news! If you’ve been looking for a place to take the kids sledding or to see or play in the snow, you’ll be glad to know that the Snowplay area at Mt. Rainier is finally open! 

This area is the only location to sled at Mt. Rainier.

Read on for all the information for 2021 Sledding/Snowplay at Paradise at Mt. Rainier. You can also use the links to find out information on snowshoeing.

For more sledding and snow fun options, check the list I’ve linked to at the bottom of this post!

Note that this information is straight from the park.

Sledding/Snowplay Status: OPEN
The official Snowplay Area is the safest and only location that sledding is permitted in Mount Rainier National Park.

Know Before You Go:  Sledding and sliding are permitted only in the designated snow play area at Paradise, located immediately north of the upper parking lot. Trees, tree wells, and cliffs make other areas dangerous. For everyone’s safety, use “soft” sliding devices-flexible sleds, inner tubes, and saucers. No hard toboggans or runner sleds (SFM note-you bring your own). Note: Check the status of road and avalanche conditions before leaving home. Remember all vehicles are required to carry tire chains when traveling in the park in winter.

You can read the complete press release for more information on the SnowPlay area at Mt. Rainier here.

For more options for area snow play and sledding, see the list here! 

Are you looking for Tacoma area light shows or places where you can safely walk around or drive thru Christmas Lights?

I’m excited to have some new options for you!

First up: LeMay Lights!

This is a new light show at the LeMay Collection at MaryMount (NOT the same as the ACM by the Tacoma Dome).

This is a new event, so the info is straight from their fb post and Eventbrite page.