Guys!  KidsDay from Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation is coming up Friday, and you do not want to miss this full day of FREE fun just for kids! It’s totally worth the trip for families anywhere nearby!

It all happens at Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth Street SE on Friday, June 22nd from 11AM-4PM.

There will be  inflatable rides, children’s activities, live stage entertainment, mini golf, free museum admission, hundreds of cool vendors (Like US!)  and much, much more. Admission is FREE and so are most of the activities!

Do bring a little cash if you want to do attractions like the swings or get some eats from a food vendor.

Parking is available in and around the park, with overflow parking at Grace Community Church and street parking surrounding the park.

My boys and I have gone to this event several times and always had fun. The lines for the inflatables get long, so you might want to encourage your kiddos to check out other stuff because there is so much to do.

We also like to go early or late in the day for even more fun with lighter crowds, but I’ll leave that part up to you.

For additional event information, parking information, a festival map or entertainment schedule, you can check out the event page on Facebook.or look at the city website here! 

Now, I do want to give you a few tips based on my experience and reader feedback from last year

• Tip One: Read the information about where to park!! Seriously.
• Tip Two: Consider going earlier or later.
• Tip Three: Get a brochure/map. Except for a limited area of commercial vendors, every booth is required to have a free kid’s activity. Check out the map before you go or grab one when you arrive, so you can plan what attractions to hit, and don’t be shy about asking the different tables you visit what they have for you to do! You might also want to preview the entertainment schedule.
• Tip Four: You will get likely end up with a bunch of swag and things the kids want you to keep. Try to stop by a booth giving out bags early on, or bring your own.
• Tip Five: Come prepared. Yes, this is a popular, busy event. If that’s not your style, well-consider yourself warned. It also looks like it’s going to be hot, so make sure you’re ready for the weather, and you may want to bring the kids’ swimsuits for the spray park.

And, oh, yeah-We’ll be there! Do be sure to stop by the Sounds Fun Mom booth to say, “Hi!” and chat about summer activities. I’d love to meet you.

Disclosure: We are proud to be a media partner with the City of Auburn Parks Department. They’ve been super cool partners of ours since way back when. If you have a chance to say you heard about their events on Sounds Fun Mom, I’d really appreciate it!

South Puget Sound Area Father’s Day Events

Hey, South Sound! Need a plan for Father’s Day? Here are some ideas that might work!

These are events specifically to celebrate dads and Father’s Day. We will  have lots of other weekend happenings for dad or anyone, in our weekend events guide up every Friday. Want it sooner? We send it out on Thursday when you subscribe to our emails. 

Father’s Day Events All Over the South Sound

Michael’s Stores are offering card making for dad during their Kids’ Club on Saturday, June 16. These are 2.00 or 5.00.

South King County Area Father’s Day Events

The Museum of Flight is hosting free admission for Father’s Day! All dads accompanied by children on Sunday, June 17, are welcome to attend.

Head to Emerald Downs for events for Dad on Sunday, June 17

GATES OPEN: 30 minutes before the first simulcast race | FIRST RACE: 2 PM Bring dad to the track and get a Father’s Day ball cap and bet the ponies. I believe you will need reservations if you want to do the buffet-call ahead on that.

Dad & Me Day at Wild Waves! On Sunday, June 17, celebrate Father’s Day with us! Treat Dad to a day of Rides, Slides, and Family FUN!
Dad gets in FREE with the purchase of a child’s ticket at the gate for $22.99+tax. Park Hours: 10:30am – 7:00pm

Tacoma Area Father’s Day Events

Show Dad around Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium with half-off admission Sunday, June 17! All dads receive half off general admission.

America’s Car Museum  has BBQ available. Enjoy Pacific Grill Events & Catering special BBQ and beer garden on the Anderson Plaza Father’s Day Weekend! Click here to see the full menu. ACM Members receive a 10% discount. Available June 16th and 17th.  You do not need to purchase museum admission to purchase BBQ, but if you want to see the cars you will need to buy museum tickets.

Old McDebbie’s Farm at Jim’s U-Fish offers free admission to dads on Father’s Day, Sunday I’m still checking on this for 2018.

Olympia Area Father’s Day Events

The WET Science Center is offering a Father’s Day craft on Saturday, June 16th. It’s Free!

Dads and granddads get in free at the Hands-On Children’s Museum  on Sunday, June 17.

Beyond the South Sound

Northwest Railway Museum in the Snoqualmie area has free rides for fathers with a paying child of any age June 16-17. Follow the link to check out the special schedule!

Other Ideas

Most area grocery stores have traditionally offered cake decorating events. I haven’t been able to confirm any yet, but you might check your store or weekly flyer. Let me know if you find out anything we can share!

If nothing here suits your fancy, remember we have a regular guide to weekend events every Friday all year round!  You can always find lots of ideas in it for the whole family! Want it sooner? You can get it in your in box on Thursday as an email subscriber. 

If you’re a fan of The Descendants or Tom Welling, or Transformers, or Star Wars, or you just love toys, comics, and all things geekery in general, you really must plan on going to the Toy and Geek Fest this June. The organizers were some of the very first supporters of this site, and we are Thrilled to help them promote this great event.

It’s at the fairgrounds in Puyallup again, and it’s So Much Bigger.

I’ll be honest and tell you I don’t know who all these folks are, but my kid sure does, and he is so ready to meet some of his favorites from Flash, in particular. I’m told a lot of people are excited about meeting this guy!

Or maybe your kids would love to hang out with this guy.

or this guy

or all these guys…..

In addition to the celebrities and photo ops, there will also be an interactive play area for kids, over 350 vendor, industry, and exhibitor booths, fair food, and much more.

Most everything except any merch or food you buy is included with your ticket. There will be opportunities to donate for photo ops. to benefit children’s charities, and, as you’d expect, you will need to pay for autographs and photos with the celebrities if you choose to get those. Photos with the Garrison Titan, Transformers, Star Wars vehicles and more are free/donation welcome.

While the celebrity photos and autograph sessions are totally optional, you should know that there are a limited number of slots available, and I’m told the autographs and photos with The Descendants and Tom Welling are going fast.

Just want to go to the event? Early bird pricing  is ending in just days, so I really do encourage you to go grab those tickets now if you know you want to go so you can save some bucks (More left for scones!). You’ll also want to make reservations for the celebrity photo ops. and autographs if you want those.  I’m told having all these folks in one place-especially so many Descendants-is pretty much unheard of.

More information about the photos and autographs is here.

You can get more information about the event and purchase tickets right here.

Early bird pricing ends March 15th!

I’d also encourage you to follow the Toy and Geek Fest on Facebook or Instagram  (be sure you follow SoundsFunMom on Instagram while you’re there)  to keep up with additional announcements and fun.

We’re excited to tell you about Tacoma and South Sound area photographers doing Spring Mini Sessions.

I think the cuteness here pretty much speaks for itself!

Your adorable kiddo + a real bunny and a darling backdrop + Angie’s incredible photography. That’s a recipe for a priceless keepsake.

You can read more and schedule your Spring Mini Session on March 24th right here.  They will fill up, so book yours now and then get busy finding that super cute outfit!

You may also want to like her Facebook page to keep up on future fun mini sessions.

Disclosure: Photographers featured at Sounds Fun Mom help support the site with a one time paid listing good for a full year! If you are a photographer, and you’d like to be featured, send me an email at soundsfunmom@gmail.com

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I love consignment sales all year long, but I think they’re especially great this time of year!

I’m excited to again be working with the Seattle East Just Between Friends Sale, a sale you Must get on your radar if you’re one of our readers in South King County, Covington, Maple Valley, Renton, or those parts.

Mom to mom-It’s worth the trip from elsewhere, especially if you’re a brand fan. I have never seen so much Hana Anderson at one consignment sale! We’ll have a little more about the sale later, along with a great giveaway, but today I wanted to encourage. you to think about consigning at the March sale!

If you’re clearing out clutter or outgrown clothes and toys, consignment is a great way to make a little extra money while making room for all that new stuff your kiddos just got. And it’s So much better than trying to DIY it with stuff all over your yard!

If you’ve been wanting to give consignment a try, but you’re intimidated by it, I’ve got a great tip for you! Courtney, the sale order, has organized a FREE Facebook “Consignor 101,” party on Wednesday the 10th. It’s a great chance to get all your questions answered. Here’s more from Courtney:

 Whether you are deciding if consigning is for you, or if you’ve consigned with us before, this party will give you the tools and inside scoop on how to be the most successful at our sales! So join us for lots of great information and don’t forget about the chance to win some awesome prizes!! So put the kids to bed, grab your glass of wine (or water ) and tune in! Can’t wait to “see” you there!!

You can get the full Seattle East JBF Sale schedule here.

Head here for the Facebook Consignor 101 Event. Be sure to say you’re, “Interested,”, so you’ll get a reminder tomorrow. It starts at 8PM, so you’ve got time to get the kids in bed or (HINT!) delegate that job!

We’ve found the cutest Breakfast With Santa hosted by our sponsors and friends with Pierce County Parks and Recreation. If you’ve been looking to start a new tradition, this is one of the cutest things we’ve found this year, and it’s a good deal, too!

Your ticket includes waffles from P&J’s Waffle Delight, fruit, and drinks, and a visit with Santa that you’ll get to remember with a free digital download captured by their photographer! Plus, you’ll enjoy indoor ice skating under a snow filled sky with holiday music and special effects lighting. How cute is that??

Tickets are just 9.00 per person! Yes, for all that! This is a great deal, guys!

If that isn’t enough fun for you, later in the day you can head to the rest of Winterfest at Sprinker for more ice skating and fun. Skating with princesses! Fruitcake bowling! This is a separate event that requires an additional ticket, but it also looks awesome, especially if you’ve ever wanted to get on a Zamboni. #LifeGoals.

You can check out the rest of the Winterfest details here, but don’t get too distracted because you’re going to need to call for those Breakfast with Santa tickets as pre-registration is required. Here is the event on fb if you want to share and tag a friend so you can get the same seating. Just don’t wait too long to call.

Event Details

When: Saturday, December 16th 9-12

Where: Sprinker Recreation Center

Cost: 9.00 per person

Tickets: Call 253 798 4000

You can go in and pick your tickets up, or have them waiting at will call for you! These are going to go FAST, and many other Santa Breakfast options have already sold out and/or happened, so do call today if you can!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post; the opinions are my own! When you call 253 798 4000 for your Breakfast With Santa tickets, I’d love for you to say you saw it on Sounds Fun Mom! Thanks!

Update: Congratulations to Kari, whose winning comment was chosen randomly! Thank you to everyone who entered. If you didn’t win, but you’d like to go, there are still tickets available! 

And, yes! We have more giveaways coming soon!

Are you looking for a special show to see with your children this holiday season? I am so excited that my all time favorite Christmas special is going to be live on stage right in Tacoma, and I’m thrilled that Sounds Fun Mom is again a media partner of the Broadway Center.

Yep, Charlie Brown and the whole peanuts gang are bringing the classic animated TV special to life!  A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Emmy® and Peabody award-winning story by Charles M. Schulz, has warmed the hearts of millions of fans since it first aired on television over fifty years ago. I have so many fond memories of watching this one when I was growing up. I always knew Christmas was really on the way when it was the Charlie Brown Christmas Special night!

The stage adaptation will include the classic music by Vince Guaraldi and the story you love with all the Peanuts characters discovering the true meaning of Christmas.

I’m so excited to see this one with my family, and I know you’ll love it, too.

The show plays one night only at the beautiful Pantages in Tacoma November 30th at 7:30PM.

You can get tickets right here. Plus, we have a contest!!

Yep, one luck winner will win SIX tickets to this awesome show, so you can take the whole family! First, make sure that the date and time works for you because this one is playing one night only!

On to the contest….

• For a first, required entry, tell us why you’d like to win!
• For a second, optional entry, tell a friend about this great show. You could share this post on fb, or feel free to text your mom’s group, tell the crowd at the bus stop, or whatever works! Leave a comment letting us know what you did.
• For a third, optional entry sign up for our weekly emails. They come out on Thursday and are a sneak peek of the weekend events guide just for subscribers. Leave a comment and let us know you’ve signed up for it or already subscribe. Note that we will confirm this to keep things fair.

And, that’s it….All entries should be left as separate comments to improve your odds. Only comments are valid as entries.

We’re going to do this giveaway fast-I’ll be choosing a winner Tuesday mid-morning, and I’ll need to hear back within 12 hours.  Do make sure to leave an email you check.

Note this is our second in a series of awesome giveaways we do this time of year. Do make sure you’re following the site so you don’t miss any of them!

Disclosure/Legal: We are proud to have a publicity/sponsorship agreement with the Broadway Center for Performing Arts. We were provided tickets for this giveaway. Facebook is not affiliated with this giveaway. Sounds Fun Mom LLC has no other affiliation with this event or venue. By entering you affirm that you are eligible and assume all responsibility for your experience. Good luck!