We’ve found and free or low cost events to do with the kids all over the South Sound this weekend. Celebrate the Lunar New Year by watching a Lion Dance or making a craft, head to Slime Saturday, or maybe you or someone you know is a dad who’d like to take his daughter dancing. All that plus library events, nature walks, and much more is right ahead!
Welcome to our guide to free and affordable family fun all over the South Puget Sound! We have one just like it up every Friday! This weekend, you can see Sesame Street, meet Daniel Tiger, explore an area park with a naturalist, or hit up a fun and free event at your library. Read on for all of that and more!
Welcome to our guide to free and affordable family fun all over the South Puget Sound! We have one just like it up every Friday! This weekend you can look at trains, reptiles, or ice carvings. How’s that for variety? We’ve also found theater, films, and a free Recess Monkey concert. Or maybe you’d like to meet a falcon at the library? Read on for all that and more!
Welcome to our guide to free and affordable family fun all over the South Puget Sound! We have one just like it up every Friday! This weekend’s highlights include a fun event at the STAR Center in Tacoma Saturday, the return of library story times, a live dive experience with Harbor WildWatch in Gig Harbor, and more! We’re especially excited for Bedknobs and Broomsticks on the big screen Sunday! Read on for all of it. As always, it’s organized by day and area, and I do appreciate you using the links to confirm details before you go!
Are you wondering when you can go to Washington State Parks or our area national parks for free? You need a one day or annual pass called a Discover WA Pass to use Washington State Parks, except for on these special free days when no pass is required! We have the list of all of this year’s free park dates so you can mark them on your calendar. We also have the free dates for national parks below, too!
Washington State Parks offers several “free days” when a Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park. Following are the 2019 State Parks free days:
Please note, free days apply only to day use (not overnight stays or rented facilities). A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington State Departments of Natural Resources and Fish & Wildlife on these days. Sno-Park permits are still required on free days at designated Sno-Parks during the winter season.
The nature trail at Dash Point State Park
If you decide you want to purchase a Discover Pass, you can buy them online, from over 600 licensed vendors, from the Department of Licensing when you renew your license, at state parks where representatives are present, and at over 80 retail locations.
Two of our favorite South Sound Washington State Parks are Saltwater State Park in Des Moines and Dash Point State Park in Federal Way. Tolmie near Olympia and Kopachuck near Gig Harbor are also great. We’d love to hear about your favorites, too. Leave a comment and spill!
There are also some days when you can get free entry to national parks! Note that as of this writing, many national parks, including Mt. Rainier, are closed due to the partial government shutdown, so don’t go now, but do mark your calendar.
Hiking at Olympic National Park
In case you haven’t heard, the Every Kid in a Park Initiative is an amazing effort that allows all 2018-2019 4th graders and their families free access to national parks every day. You can use your free pass for everyone in the car, and it’s good all the way through August! An amazing deal! You can get more information and your pass, right here.
If you’ve got a 5th grader and are planning to travel to Eastern Washington or Northern Idaho, your child can get a FREE ski passport to ride or ski at participating slopes. Get all the info at the 5th Grade Ski Passport site.
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What are some of your favorite state or national parks to enjoy with your kiddos?
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Welcome to our guide to free and affordable family fun all over the South Puget Sound! We have one just like it up every Friday! This weekend’s highlights include a fun event at the STAR Center in Tacoma Saturday, the return of library story times, a live dive experience with Harbor WildWatch in Gig Harbor, and more! We’re especially excited for Bedknobs and Broomsticks on the big screen Sunday! Read on for all of it. As always, it’s organized by day and area, and I do appreciate you using the links to confirm details before you go!
Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Lake The area’s only drive thru light display. Take in the twinkling lights from your cozy car.
Zoolights, Tacoma – November 23rd-January 6th, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Explore over half a million lights at the zoo, take a camel ride or get warm in the South Pacific Aquarium.
Indigo Frozen Fountain – Ice Skating at Point Ruston, November 14th – February 2nd. The Grand Plaza at Point Ruston will be transformed into a winter wonderland! Follow link for admission details and holiday hours.
There’s a skating rink in Auburn this year! Let us know about this if you go; we haven’t had a chance to check it out. Look under the, “Community Calendar,” for more info. Located in the heart of downtown Auburn in the Main Street Plaza (Corner of Main Street & Division Street across from City Hall). Purchase your tickets right across the street at Gosanko Chocolate. Tickets are $6 for kids (under 12) and $8 for adults (skates included). Open 7 days a week 3PM-7PM Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM Sat-Sun
There is also a new ice skating rink in Olympia this season!
Holiday ice skating at Sprinker Rec CenterDecember 7 – 31st | during sessions listed
Holiday music, snowflakes, indoor snow flurries & a decorated Christmas tree in the center of the arena. – “selfie photo favorite” Closed January 1st
Renton Clam Lights Free outdoor light show at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park through January 1st.
Model Train Festival continues at the Washington State History Museum.
Tacoma Little Theater presents Scrooge! the musical one show each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Limited seats left
Eric Haines: One Man Band at the Graham Library
Join multitalented performer Eric Haines for a high energy all ages show of comedy, music, and acrobatics as he unicycles, juggles and stilt walks into your heart. 2-3PM
Thank You Cards & Cocoa at the Orting Library
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 The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors at most stores.
Lego Mindstorms Robots Drop in at the Federal Way Library Ages 8 and older.
Drop in and play with LEGO Mindstorms! Come build and program robots with our LEGO Mindstorms kits. 1-4PM
Winter Wildland at NW Trek December 29-30. Watch animals enjoy special themed enrichment treats and activities; included with admission. NW Trek is spendy but a very full day of fun; SFM recommends investing in an annual pass if you’d go more than twice this year.
Stranger Things Escape Room at the Puyallup Public Library
Can you escape this Stranger Things-themed room before the Demogorgon gets you?! Teams will have 45 minutes to work together to solve puzzles using clues, hints, and strategy before time runs out.
This program is for kids, teens and adults, ages 11 and up. Contact the library at 253-841-5454 or puylib@ci.puyallup.wa.us to sign up. Each session is for 4-8 players. Please be aware the library may pair you with other players. Registration is required.
Model Train Festival continues at the Washington State History Museum
The Tacoma Stars Reserves are planning Tacoma Narrows FC
Kids/Adults cooking class with Dolce Aroma LLC
Kids and adults cooking class on Saturday December 29th.
The menu for the baking class is the making of a Sicilian bread “Mafalda”, followed by cartocciata-type of calzone savory Girella roll filled with chocolate mousse, Swans and profiterole, and lastly making Sicilian cookies.
The duration is about 3 hours and Tickets are $65/person.
The Hands-On Children’s Museum has fun activities included with admission all week.
Learn about New Year’s around the world at the LOTT Wet Science Center, Olympia The center and its activities are free.
Also check, “Ongoing Events,” at the top of this post.
Winter Wildland at NW Trek Watch animals enjoy special themed enrichment treats and activities; included with admission. NW Trek is spendy but a very full day of fun; SFM recommends investing in an annual pass if you’d go more than twice this year.
Jurassic Tour is at the Outlet Collection in Auburn the 29th-6th. This is a different company than Jurassic Quest, although it looks very similar. Reviews on this one are mixed. I do advise giving them a read before you decide if it’s worth it for your dinosaur lover as the tickets are on the spendy side.
If none of those ideas float your boat, check out our post on the 14 Best Ideas for Winter Break Fun in the South Sound!
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Let’s see….You could see trains, watch Santa arrive by plane, make a gingerbread house, see a Nutcracker, drive through sparkling lights, and that’s just a start! It’s truly an amazing list full of ways to have fun with the kids no matter your budget or your idea of fun! And, yes, we’ll have all kinds of winter break suggestions up at the site in just a bit!
While we strive for 100% accuracy, this time of year we do encouage you to use the links we provide to confirm event details, as we have listed literally hundreds of haps on our various guides in the last weeks.
You’ll find a list just like this-just for the South Sound-every Friday morning! One note-While we strive for 100% accuracy, this time of year we do encourage you to use the links we provide to confirm event details, as we have listed literally hundreds of haps on our various guides in the last weeks.
