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.
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 Summer Fun Page for park reviews, and other frugal summer fun ideas, as well as our roundup of Summer Reading Programs in the Pacific NW and our 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 June8th:
*Maple Valley Days - Maple Valley; 6/8 – 6/10; Live entertainment, carnival rides, classic car show, games, contests, vendors and more. Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. from Lake Wilderness Elementary School to Lake Wilderness Park. FREE (some activities may have fees).
*Tastin and Racin - Issaquah; 6/8-6/10; See website for times each day; Hydroplane racing, food vendors, kids’ activities, live entertainment and more. Free admission Friday, otherwise it will cost: $10, $5 ages 6 to 16 and 65+, free ages 5 and younger.
*Seattle Art Museum Free To Teens – Seattle; 6/8; 5:00pm to 9:00pm; The Seattle Art Museum is free to teens 13 to 19 with school ID on the second Friday of each month.
*Chatney Sing Along at Northwest Seaport- Seattle; 5/11; 8:00pm; Songs of the sea are easy to learn and fun for all ages. There will be a songleader to keep the music rolling, but anyone can lead a song or just join in the chorus aboard the Virginia V this week. Free.
*Trash Fashion Futures Fashion Show - Seattle (Intiman Theater); 6/8; 8pm; Part of the Next 50 at Seattle Center, haute trash fashionistas from across the country and beyond – a total of 20 designers and over 40 never-before-seen designs – will present a stunning collection of couture made entirely from society’s rubbish. Creative sets and photo imagery will set the ambiance for this entertaining and educational fashion adventure into consumption and waste. Free.
*FreeTête-à-têter At Frye Museum – Seattle; 6/1; 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.
*Free Entrance to Seattle Symphony’s “Soundbridge”- Seattle, Beneroya Hall; 6/1; 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 June 9th:
*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 Admission to Wa. State Parks - 6/9; Get free admission to Washington State Parks for National Get Outdoors Days.
*Free Dental Screening for Children – Seattle; 6/9; 9am to 12pm; The Center for Pediatric Dentistry – a partnership of UW and Seattle Children’s – hosts a free dental screening for all children ages 1 through 18. No reservations are necessary and there is plenty of free parking. Every child will receive a free brief dental screening to identify potential trouble spots in the mouth (no X-rays). Call 206-543-5800, or participate at The Center for Pediatric Dentistry 6222 N.E. 74th St. Seattle WA 98115.
*Butterfly Bonanza Super Saturday -Seattle; 6/9; 10am to 3pm; Come face-to-face with butterflies of the Pacific Northwest. Learn how and where to find these beautiful insects, create butterfly arts and crafts, play interactive games and more.
*Padiriwang Phillipine Festival – Seattle Center House; 6/9 – 6/10; 10am to 9pm on Sat. and 12pm to 4pm on Sun. Explore and experience the cultural roots and contemporary influences of the Philippines through live performances, arts, hands-on activities, martial arts, foods, games, and a lively marketplace. Free.
*Hawaiian Canoe Races – Everett (Silver Lake); 6/9; 10am to 2pm; This family-oriented event is hosted by Hui Wa’a O of Puget Sound, an organization dedicated to perpetuating native Hawaiian culture in the Pacific Northwest. You will witness the sport of outrigger canoe racing that includes both youth and adult races. Enjoy the Hawaiian music and visit the concessions stand.
*Vintage Plane Fly Day – Everett; 6/9; 12pm to 1pm; Watch historic aircraft from the Flying Heritage Collection take to the sky for a maintenance flight. Bring lawn chairs.
*Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo - Snoqualmie; 6/9; 11am to 3pm; The Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Safety Rodeo is the largest bike safety event in the Pacific Northwest, bringing more than 1,500 kids and parents together to support and promote summer bike safety. Activities include: • Bike safety instruction by the Snoqualmie Police Department with age-appropriate obstacle courses. • Bike helmets inspected by police; free helmet replacements as needed. • Free T-shirts and safety certificates for all participants. • Free food and beverage. • Bouncers and face painters (donations requested).
*Kermesse, A French Festival – Bellevue; 6/9; 11am to 3pm; Pony rides, food vendors, face painting and other booths. Fun for the whole family. $10 for unlimited booth play, individual tickets available, $3 pony rides. Held at the French immersion school, so its a great opportunity to learn more about the school too.
*Kids Cove Concerts – Bellevue; 5/12; 11:00am; Enjoy free family-friendly concerts on the second Saturdays of each month. This Saturdays entertainment will be provided by Brian Vogan .
*Sea Cinema - Olympia; 6/9; 5:30pm to 11:00pm; Free event. Annual film festival in celebration of World Oceans Day explores the world’s oceans and Puget Sound. Best for ages 8 and older. (and be sure to check out our review of Tumwater park if you plan to head in this direction for event).
*Beach Explorations – Throughout the Puget Sound; see website for specific locations and times. Join beach naturalists and explore the beach at low tide. Free.
*Camlann Village Weekend – Carnation; Noon to 5 p.m. Through July 22 and Sept. 1-23. Live portrayals of medieval villagers and every-day village activities. $5 suggested donation, free ages 4 and younger.
*Bellevue Art Museums Get Crafty Saturday – Bellevue; 6/2; 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!
Sunday June 10th:
*Waterfront Wimsea Family Days - Seattle Waterfront; 6/10; 12pm to 5pm; Free event! Enjoy free family entertainment, including Bubbleman, comedy and magic by Bruce Meyers, music by The Not-Its! and Ian Dobson’s Pan Leggo, Seattle Seafair Clowns and Seattle Firefighters.
Wednesday June 13th:
*Student Wed. at The Bellevue Art Museum - Bellevue; 6/13;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 June 14th:
*Free Admission To NAAM - Seattle; 6/14; 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; 6/14; 5:00pm to 9:00pm; Second Thursday of the month SAAM offers free admission to the museum.
*Half Priced Admission Imagine Childrens Museum – Everett; 6/14; 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 June 8th:
* Pedalpalooza - Porland; 6/8; is 3+ weeks of bikey fun. With 274 different events, most organized by individuals, bikers of all persuasions are likely to find many events of interest. Nearly all events are free.
*Portland Rose Festival’s City Fair at Tom McCall Waterfront Park - Portland; 6/8; 3pm to 11pm; $5 pp, kids 6 and under free.Carnival rides and games, food, and other festivities.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 6/8; 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; 6/8; 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; 6/8; 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; 6/8 & 6/9; 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 June 9th:
*Family Day at the Washington County Museum - Portland; 5/12; 10:00am to 2:00pm; Join the Washington County Museum hands-on history and art activities for the whole family. Bring the kids for crafts, stories and more. Make a kite, play with bubbles, and draw on the sidewalk. Admission: Free and open to the public.
*Water Wonder at Blue Lake - 6/9; 1pm to 5pm; Explore how precious water helps plants and creatures thrive, and how to protect it from pollution. Discover exciting activities such as lake creature explorations, water critter origami, water cycle card making or fishy potato stamp printing. Ages three and up. Adult supervision required. Free program. Parking $5 for cars, and is located next to the water spray ground inside Blue Lake Regional Park – so you can have fun there too if its sunny.
*Painted Turtle Walk - Portland; 6/9; 1pm to 2:30pm; See Western painted turtles and learn about the natural history of painted turtles and why they are so rare. Free. Best for ages 5 and up.
*Healthy Kids Day -Portland; 6/9; 8:30am to 1:30pm; Enjoy a day of nap-inducing fun for the kids and a wealth of resources for parents, including face painting, free gymnastics classes, and a Bounce Castle on the Court House Lawn. Hillsboro Farmers Market. Free.
* Dragon Boat Races - Portland; 6/9; 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. This Rose Festival event takes place at the south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park. 80 teams compete (including local, national, and international teams) with heats of four teams competing every nine minutes. These races are held on the Willamette River (near the Hawthorne Bridge), in boats graciously provided through the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association.
* Grand Floral Parade - Portland; 6/9; 10am; This Rose Festival tradition is fun for the whole family. Free.
* National Get Outdoors Day at Fort Vancouver - Vancouver; 6/9; 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. About 60 booths with hands-on recreation activities such as climbing, fishing, camping, hiking, orienteering, Frisbee golf, and archery.
*Camtown Youth Festival in Camas - Camas; 6/9; 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Activities appropriate for children ages 3 to 16 years: arts & crafts, entertainment, carnival games, a petting zoo, and more.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 6/9; 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; 6/9; 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; 6/9; 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 ; 6/9; 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 – 6/9; 10:00am to 11:30am; Enjoy free guided walks with park ranger.
Sunday June 10th:
* Milk Carton Boat Races - 6/10; 11am; Another fun Rose Festival event. Competitors race in water-crafts made from milk jugs or cartons.
Monday June 11th:
*Washington County Museum Free Admission – Portland; 6/11; 10:00am to 4:30pm; Admission is free to this museum every Monday.
*Mondays On The Mall – Portland – Downtown Central Transit Mall; 6/11; Various Times; Free events all day including Wii play, caricatures, the original photo booth and entertainment.
Thursday June 14th:
*Lunch Time With Mr. Ben at Eat. Art. Theater - Portland; 6/14; 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 Fishing Day in WA, OR & ID – 6/9 – 6/10; In Washington, Oregon & Idaho on Saturday June 9th and Sunday June 10th, you will be able to fish for FREE – no fishing license necessary! This also means that you can gather shellfish at any waters open for fishing as well.;
*Free Admission to National Parks – 6/9; Get free admission to National Parks across the country, that generally charge a fee.
*Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores– Sat. 6/9; 11am to 3pm; Kids can come to this free craft time and make a flip flop note pad (plus print a $5 off $25 coupon).
*Lowes Build And Grow Clinic - Saturday 6/9; 10:00am; Come join Lowes Build and Grow Clinic. This week they will be making a monkey powered plane. Register here.
*Michaels Make It Take It Event - 6/9; 10:00am to 12:00pm; Make a Fathers Day frame. Free Make-It Take-It event.
*Michaels Make It Take It Event - 6/10; 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Make a Fathers Day Keychain. Free Make-It Take-It event.
*Michaels Make It Take It Event - 6/12; 6:00pm to 8:00pm; Make a Fathers Day Mug . Free with purchase of mug, Make-It Take-It event.
* Summer Movie Express - $1 movies on Tues. & Wed. through the summer with this program.
*National Geographic Little Explorers World Oceans celebration at Pottery Barn Kids -6/9; 10am; Kids 3 and up can enjoy hands on activities at this event. Receive an Explorer Badge and a Dr. Seuss Book
*Barnes and Noble Free Storytime - 6/9; Times and events vary by location. Check your location for specific story’s available this weekend.
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