Here is this week’s list of family-friendly free or frugal events for around the Northwest, as well as some events going on around the country. Thanks to Sia from Centsible in Seattle for providing this extensive list of activities for us.
Sounds Fun Mom always has a great list of events local to the South Sound area of WA as well, so make sure to check out her extensive list.
Be sure to check out Thrifty NW Moms roundup of Consignment sales around the Pacific NW too!
If you see a fun, frugal event that’s not listed, feel free to leave a comment so we can add that event to our list.
PUGET SOUND AREA::
Friday May 4th:
*Lincoln High School Plant Sale - Puyallup; 5/3-5/5; 2:30pm to 5:30pm; The annual plant sale to support Lincoln High School students will be taking place next week from May 3rd – 5th. This is an excellent opportunity for you to support the Environmental Education Club & the FFA at Lincoln High School. All proceeds go directly back into the student programs.Even better, their prices should match or beat the prices at local stores – so you’re saving money & supporting school programs!
*Free Skate At Tiffany’s - Puyallup; 5/4-5/6; Tiffany’s Skate Inn will be offering FREE skating admission (including regular skate rental) to anyone who donates a jar of peanut butter. So, if you’d like FREE admission for your whole family – make sure to bring a jar of peanut butter for each member of your family!
*Free Entrance To Hands On Childrens Museum – Olympia; 5/4; 5:00pm to 9:00pm; Free entrance for the evening on the first Friday of each month.
* Free Admission To KidsQuest Children’s Musuem – Factoria; 5/4; 5:00pm to 8:00pm; First Friday evening of the month offers free admission.
*Free Entrance To Bellevue Art Museum – Bellevue; 5/4; 11:00am to 8:00pm. First Friday of the month Bellevue Art Museum offers free admission.
*PCC Family Nutrition Night – Seattle; 5/4; 5:30pm to 7:30pm; Kids and parents are invited to discover the wonders of fresh, simple food as you learn how to cook an easy meal with PCC Nutrition Educator Leika Suzumura. Participants will enjoy a family-style meal together and leave with new ideas and recipes.
*Fiesta Familia – Seattle; 5/4; 6:00pm to 8:00pm; This Cinco-de-Mayo-themed night includes bouncy houses, a PG movie, toddler play room, crafts and more. Ages 10 and younger. $3 kids, their adults are free.
*PowWow – Edmonds; 5/4; 7:00pm; One of the largest Pow Wows in Washington, a celebration of American Indian singing, drumming, dancing, and arts and crafts.
*FreeTête-à-têter At Frye Museum – Seattle; 5/4; 11:00am to 5:00pm; Frye Museum entrance and parking are free all the time. You can check their events page here, for a list of weekly events.
On the first Friday of the month Children’s stories are brought to life with movement and play in the Frye Art Museum galleries by Frye educators or librarians from The Seattle Public Library. Visit the galleries after story time. Ages 3 to 5 with adult. Both museum entrance and story time are free.
*Free Entrance to Seattle Symphony’s “Soundbridge”- Seattle, Beneroya Hall; 5/4; 12:00pm to 4:00pm; Soundbridge is a music discovery center and is free each Friday after 12 pm; Ages 2-5, 30 minute interactive storytelling with song & rhythm, dance & musical instruments.
Saturday May 5th:
*Seattle Centers ‘The Next 50′ celebration - Seattle; through 10/21; Join The Next Fifty for a full schedule of Opening Day activities launching the six-month celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Most of the events are FREE.
*Free Pancake Breakfast at McLendons Hardware – Various Locations; 5/5; 7:30am to 10:00am; a FREE pancake breakfast with sausage, coffee & juice. You will also be able to get a FREE 2″ tomato plant with any purchase on Saturday – limit of 1 per customer. (There will be 900 per store). You can also take a chance spinning the prize wheel from 11am – 1pm (grand prize is an iPad).
*Arlington Airport Appreciation Days – Arlington; 5/5; 9am to 2pm; Free flights for kids ages 8 to 17, plus fire trucks and aircraft displays, face painting, crafts, games and more. Subject to weather conditions.
*Special Preservation Day at the Karshner Museum -Puyallup; 5/5; 10am to 2pm; Admission is 3.00; 10.00 max for the family kids can try their hands at churning butter, making ice cream and more. Small museum but lots for kids to touch and explore Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*62nd Loyalty Days & Parade – Long Beach; 5/5 – 5/6; Initiated in 1950 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Loyalty Days is an historically rich celebration of patriotism. This longest running Loyalty Day event in Washington includes a parade through main street in Downtown Long Beach. This year’s theme is “Fallen But Not Forgotten” and honors our Special Forces.
*Boating Opening Day – Montlake; 5/5; Official opening of Seattle boating season features crew races (10:20 a.m.) and decorated boat parade with all sizes of boats from rowboats to Seattle Fire Department boats (noon to 2:30 p.m.)
*Free Family Days At Seattle Asian Art Museum - Seattle; 5/5; 11:00am to 2:00pm; Admission to the Seattle Asian Art Museum is free on the first Saturday of each month for families. Celebrate the lunar New Year with dragon prints, music and family tours.
*Living History Open House – Historic Ft.Steilacoom, Tacoma; 5/5 -5/6; 10am to 4pm;Admission free; donations accepted
Actors in period dress give tours and answer questions about life in the mid 1800s. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*Kids Fishing Derby – Marysville; 5/5; 8:00am to 11:00am; Bring your own gear or equipment provided. Door prizes and grand prizes are determined by a random drawing of all participants. No pets. Ages 12 and younger. FREE, bring canned food donation. Pancake breakfast $5, $3 kids.
*Read with a Daffodil Princess- Puyallup; 5/5; Come enjoy are back for free story time with the princesses! Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*Water and Habitat Weekend – Seattle Center; 5/5; See website for specific schedule of event; Free event. Explore ways to protect and sustain our most precious resource, water and watersheds, and reorient ourselves within our community ecosystems and local habitats. The weekend includes activities, displays, information, exhibits and performances throughout Seattle Center;
*Pond Boat Sailing – Seattle; 5/5; 11:00am to 2:00pm; Join The Center for Wooden Boats at the Model Boat Pond in Lake Union Park for pond boat sailing, free first Saturdays.
*Free story time at Cabela’s - Lacey; 5/5; 10:30am to 11:00am; Members from the South Sound Reading Foundation join us on the first Saturday of the month to read outdoor stories to children three to eight years of age. For parents and grandparents… bring your children to this fun event in our walled hunt camp tent. Parents and grandparents are asked to stay with the children during Story Time. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*The Children’s Museum Sensory Sensitive Hour - Seattle; 5/5; 8:30am to 10:00am; The Children’s Museum, Seattle opens its doors early for families with children on the autistic spectrum. During the early open time the Museum does not run normal music or sounds and will not use the PA system. $3, tickets may be pre-purchased online.
*Bellevue Art Museums Get Crafty Saturday – Bellevue; 5/5; 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Free craft time for kids each Saturday. $2 material fee or free with admission.
* Science & Technology Center (MaST) – Saturdays 10am – 2pm; kids can explore sea life with touch tanks & more. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
Tuesday May 8th:
*Free Admission to Pt. Defiance Zoo for Tacoma Residents - Tacoma; 5/8; Visitors who live at a Tacoma address will be admitted free on the Tacoma Resident Free Days listed below. Please bring proof of residency.
Wednesday May 9th:
*Student Wed. at The Bellevue Art Museum - Bellevue; 5/9;1:00pm to 5:00pm; Explore the Bellevue Arts Museum after school. Students of all ages. 1 to 5 p.m. second Wednesdays. FREE with downloadable coupon, pre-register.
Thursday May 10th:
*Free Admission To NAAM - Seattle; 5/10; 11:00am to 7:00pm; The Northwest African American Museum is free on the second Thursday of each month.
*Free Admission To Seattle Asian Art Museum- Seattle; 5/10; 5:00pm to 9:00pm; Second Thursday of the month SAAM offers free admission to the museum.
*Half Priced Admission Imagine Childrens Museum – Everett; 5/10; Thursday 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. is half priced ( $3.88)
PORTLAND AREA:
Here’s our list of weekly events for the Portland area. For more Portland happenings, check out the PDX Kids Calendar, a comprehensive events-based website for families in the Portland area.
Friday May 4th:
*Friends of the Hillsboro Public Library Spring Used Book Sale – Hillsboro; 4/27 – 5/6; See website for times. “More than 50,000 items to choose from! You’ll find kids books, cookbooks, mysteries, fiction, nonfiction, reference, large print, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs–even videos and LPs at the Friends of the Library Book Sale! ”
*28th Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta - Portalnd; 5/4-5/6; Admission is free on Friday from 11:00am – 3:00pm. After Friday Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids.
*Gathering of the Guilds- Oregon Convention Center; 5/4-5/6; Free. Enjoy artisan hand crafted work, more then 150 booths, live demonstrations, music, activities for kids and much more.
*Free Admission To The Children’s Museum - Portland; 5/4; 4:00pm to 8:00pm; The first Friday of the month you Target sponsors free admission to the Childrens Museum. This month you can make a book.
*First Friday Art Walk - SE Portland; 5/4; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Hosted by Portland’s Eastside art galleries and alternative art venues, First Friday provides arts enthusiasts the opportunity to wander from gallery to gallery for artist receptions and openings during extended hours on the First Friday of every month
* Camas First Friday - Portland; 5/4; 5:00pm to 8:00pm; Come and join us for January’s First Friday- Game, Craft & Cocoa Night! Enjoy family friendly games and crafts throughout participating downtown merchants. Have fun and the chance to win prizes!
*Vancouver First Friday Art Walk - Vancouver; 5/4; 5:00pm – 7:00pm; Join us for a fresh spring evening with refreshments, stimulating conversation and inspiring art! Walking maps will be provided to all attendees. This event is free to attend, but an RSVP is requested by replying to this email at firstfriday.artwalk@yahoo.com.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 5/4; 5:00pm; Free Movie Night. Grab a bite to eat, relax, and unwind while you enjoy a movie with the little atmosphere.
* Art & More , Be A Messy Monkey - Portland; 5/4; 10:00am to 12:00pm; Drop-in Art, play and relax while enjoying a warm beverage, socializing with other families & making art! Each week we offer a special project and additional 2-3 sensory art stations. 8 hr/per parent and child . Due to popular demand you must pre-register here
*Music From Mr. Hoo from The Alphabeticians – Portland; 5/4; 11:00am to 12:00pm; Mr. Hoo will be singing songs with and for kids. He’ll play his guitar and sing some original songs, some Alphabeticians songs, some classic kid songs and Hoo knows what else? $3 suggested donation pp.
*Sing a Long With Tyleena – Portland; 5/4 & 5/5; 10am; Join us for a musical sing a-long and story time with the fantastic Tyleena! Sing along to your favorite songs and books. Pick up a tambourine, drum or shaker and jam with us while learning some basic rhythm skills. Fun for the whole family! $3 donation.
Saturday May 5th:
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 5/5; 5:00pm; Free Movie Night. Grab a bite to eat, relax, and unwind while you enjoy a movie with the little atmosphere. This weekend: .
*Family Happy Hour at Eat. Art. Theater - Portland; 5/5; Every Saturday from 4-6, join us for family friendly music and happy hour food and drink specials with some of Portland’s finest kids acts! Every week, two different acts take the stage to enlighten and entertain. Guests include: The Alphabeticians, Professor Banjo, The Snail People, Mo Phillips, Mr. Ben, and more!
* Free Family Swim At Marshall Community Center - Vancouver; 5/5; 4:45pm to 6:30pm; Bauman Chiropractic is sponsoring free family swims at Marshall Pool Saturday evenings.
* Kids Saturday Morning Skate Session At Oaks Park – Portland ; 5/5; 10:30am to 12:00pm; For $5.50 children 10 and under can skate (skates included). Parents free with paid child admission.
*Free Guided Nature Walk – Portland – 5/5; 10:00am to 11:30am; Enjoy free guided walks with park ranger.
Sunday May 6th:
*$2 OSMI Days – Portland; 5/6; 9:30pm to 5:30pm; OMSI offers $2 admission on the first Sunday of each month.
Monday May 7th:
*Washington County Museum Free Admission – Portland; 5/7; 10:00am to 4:30pm; Admission is free to this museum every Monday.
*Mondays On The Mall – Portland – Downtown Central Transit Mall; 5/7; Various Times; Free events all day including Wii play, caricatures, the original photo booth and entertainment.
Thursday May 10th:
*Lunch Time With Mr. Ben at Eat. Art. Theater - Portland; 5/10; Every Thursday from 11-12pm, join us for family friendly music! Every week Mr. Ben performs and kids are free to interact.
NATIONAL EVENTS:
*Free Comic Book Day - Various Locations; 5/5; Get a free Comic Book at participating stores. Check the national site to find participating stores near you.
*Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores– Sat. 5/5; 11am to 3pm; Kids can come to this free craft time and make a Thank You Bouquet Card (plus print a $5 off $25 coupon).
*Bank Of America Museums On Us Free Entrance – 5/5 & 5/6; Bank Of America card holders can get free entrance to Museums Nationwide. Check website for participating museums in your area.
*Home Depot Kids Workshop – 5/6; 9:00am to 12:00pm; Kids can participate in building a planters box.
*Michaels Make It Take It Event - 5/4; 6:00pm to 8:00pm; Make a Mothers Day Frame. Free Make-It Take-It with purchase of frame.
*Michaels Make It Take It Event - 5/5; 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Make a Mothers Day Card. Free Make-It Take-It.
*Michaels Make It Take It Event - 5/6; 1:30pm to 2:30pm; Make a Mothers Day Bead Bracelet. Free Make-It Take-It.
*Barnes and Noble Free Storytime - 5/5; Times and events vary by location. Check your location for specific story’s available this weekend.
