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. Don’t forget to check out Goldstar for Discount Tickets on many local activities and events, if you are looking for a specific event and want to save some money!
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! We’ve got a big list of summer festivals and fair in the Northwest as well.
We have just published our Fall Consignment Sale round up here. Be sure to stop by and check that big list of sales out 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 August 10th:
*Sky Valley Tractor Club Show - Monroe; 8/10-8/12; 9:00am to 5:00pm; Antique tractor and machinery displays, grain threshing, hay bailing and tractor pulling, tractor parade (noon each day), petting zoo, pedal tractors and hay rides. Admission is $6 for adults, and $3 for kids and seniors.
*Pierce County Fair - Graham; 8/10 -8/12; Times vary check website for details. A yearly celebration of rural life, agriculture and good ol’ family values. The Pierce County Fair is nestled among the giant firs and green grass of beautiful Frontier Park. Sit back and enjoy a wide selection of tasty fair food while viewing many of our free entertainment acts and attractions. Admission is $5.
*Jefferson County Fair – Port Townsend; through 8/11; Traditional County Fair with a Sunday BBQ.
*A Taste Of Edmonds – Edmonds; 8/10– 8/12; Times vary check website for details. Food, arts and crafts, music and entertainment, and a children’s area with inflatable rides, pony rides, rock wall, a giant slide, woodland park zoo exhibit, free craft activities and more.
*Festival At Mt. Si - North Bend; 8/10-8/12; Times vary check website for details; Arts and crafts, food, music, parade , contests, kids’ area, fireworks and more.
*South Lake Union Block Party- Seattle; 8/10; Noon to 9:00pm; Food, kids’ area, music and a movie on the lawn at the end of the day.
*Phinneywood Summer Streets - Seattle; 8/10; 6pm to 10pm; The street is closed to traffic, turning the area into a big neighborhood fair. Enjoy information booths, food, games, a find-the-pig scavenger hunt from Woodland Park Zoo, music, and much more.
*Auburn Good Ol Days - Auburn; 8/10-8/12; 10:00am to 10:oopm Sat and 10:00am to 6:00pm Sun.; Juried art show, entertainment, children’s area, car show, community barbeque, food, parade, street dance and more.
*Stillaguamish Festival of The River & Pow Wow - Arlington; 8/10-8/12; See website for times. Environmental education, music (including kids’ stage), food, logging show, salmon bake, entertainment, pow wow and more. Free, but parking will cost $5.
*Where Are The Wild Things? They’re at Story Time! – Northgate Mall; 8/8; 10:30am; It’s Story Time with “Wild Thing” at Northgate Mall. All ages are welcome to attend this event near the Children’s Play Area. The first 40 members to show their membership card receive a free “Where The Wild Things Are” book! We’ll listen to stories, sing songs, then meet & take photos with Wild Thing! Not a Kidgits member yet? Join today at the Guest Services Booth for just a $5 annual membership fee and receive an official member T-shirt and lots more!
*Get Free Min Manicure & Meet Katie Cazorla – Northgate 8 /10 – 8/11; The star of TV Guide Network’s new reality series “The Painted Nail” –will be in town on Friday, August 10th-Saturday, August 11th . On Saturday FREE mini manicures for fans from 11am – 6pm in their mobile spa. You will be able to choose a color from any of Katie’s eco-friendly polishes. Katie Cazorla has celebrity clients, so this could be a fun little trip out with your girlfriends or your daughters on Saturday to meet her & get a little pampering.
*Peanut Butter & Jam Concert – Tukwila; 8/10; 12pm to 1pm; The Not-Its! Aug. 10. Bring a picnic and blankets to enjoy this free event.
*Seattle Centers ‘The Next 50′ celebration - Seattle; through 10/21; Join The Next Fifty for a full schedule of activities launching the six-month celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Most of the events are FREE.
Summer events will include: FREE Movies, FREE Concerts, and FREE Programming at the International Fountain
*Cinema Under The Stars - Everrett; 8/10; Family entertainment pre-show starts at 7:30 p.m., and movie starts at dusk. Enjoy free outdoor showing of Muppets. Bring blankets. Snacks available for purchase.
*Free Casper Babypants Concert – Seattle; 8/10; See website for schedule; Hear a concert by popular kids’ entertainer Caspar Babypants, featuring music on guitar and piano.
*Jetty Island Days - Everett; through 9/3; Jetty Islands Open Day is today. Enjoy Sandblast celebration, pirates hunt, crafts and more. Ferry rides to Jetty Island are free, but donations of $2 per adult and $1 per child help offset this cost and are appreciated. Find the calendar for the all of the Jetty Island Days activities here.
*Funtastic Fridays – Mercer Island; 8/10; 1pm; Join the Fun Mobile crew for wacky, zany fun at nine special Friday events this summer for our new program, “Funtastic Fridays! There will be crafts, games and more. This weeks theme is – In The Jungle.
*FreeTête-à-têter At Frye Museum – Seattle; 8/10; 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; 8/10; 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 August 11th:
*Storytelling with the South Sound Storytellers Guild - Priest Point Park in Olympia; 8/11; 7pm; Family stories followed by scarier tales. Bring chairs or a blanket. Bring your dinner or snacks. Bring a flashlight and mosquito repellant. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*Get OUT Summer with Sam – Seattle (Sculpture Park); Various times and dates throughout the summer; Stay active in the park this summer. Drop by and participate in a weekly line-up of events, including a brand-new Thursday farmers market, performances, social dancing, yoga and drawing in the park on Saturdays and more.
*Kirkland Summer Fest - Kirkland; 8/11; 11am to 3pm; Free event with Kids Corner with Charles the Clown, inflatables, climbing wall, touch-a-truck, music, food and events throughout downtown Kirkland area.
*Coupeville Arts & Craft Festival - August 11th – 12th; Art Gallery open from 10am to 7pm; Enjoy arts and crafts, entertainment, kids activities, vendors and more.
*Snoqualmie Ice Cream O-Rama – Snoqualmie; 8/11; 11am to 4pm; Enjoy free food, music, and of course, ice cream at the second annual Snoqualmie Ice Cream-O-Rama. Activities include face painting, tours of the creamery and surrounding mini farm, and drinks and treats from Top Pot, including new doughnut-inspired ice cream flavors and more.
* Orting Summerfest - Saturday August 13th – Free – bouncy houses, super slide & obstacle course, carnival games & more.
*Free Bootcamp with YMCA - N. Seattle (Greenlake) – Held every Saturday through Aug. 25. 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a free boot-camp workout at the field near Green Lake Community Center, hosted by University YMCA.
*Autism Day – Carnation; 8/11; 11am – 3pm; Free event at the Jubilee Farm. There will be booths, GFCF food, animals, games and activities, hayrides, slip-n-slide, quiet zone and more.
*Beach Explorations – Throughout the Puget Sound; see website for specific locations and times. Join beach naturalists and explore the beach at low tide. Free.
*Kids’ Cove Concert Series - Center Court at Bellevue Square; Join them for Second Saturday Kids’ Cove Concerts. Free family friendly concerts in Center Court, January through August at 11 am.
*Bellevue Art Museums Get Crafty Saturday – Bellevue; 8/11; 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Free craft time for kids each Saturday. $2 material fee or free with admission.
*Pond Boat Sailing – Seattle; Saturdays and Sundays through November; 11am to 2pm; Join The Center for Wooden Boats for pond boat sailing in Lake Union Park’s Model Boat Pond. Ages 5 and older. $5 suggested donation for boat rental, free first Saturdays.
* Science & Technology Center (MaST) – Saturdays 10am – 2pm; kids can explore sea life with touch tanks & more.
Wednesday August 15th:
*Wild Wacky & Sometimes Wet Wednesday - Bremerton; 8/15 (every Wed. through Aug.); Join The Naval Undersea Museum where kids and parents are invited to drop in from 10:00am to 2:00pm every Wednesday this summer for hands-on activities about the undersea. Free.
Thursday August 16th:
*Half Priced Admission Imagine Childrens Museum – Everett; 8/16; Thursday 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. is half priced ( $3.88)
Sounds Fun Mom always has a great list of events local to the South Sound area of WA as well, if you are looking for more ideas!
PORTLAND AREA:
Here’s our list of weekly events for the Portland area.
Friday August 10th:
*Clark County Fair – Ridgefield (Clark County Fairgrounds); through 8/12; Times vary check website for details; Entertainment, exhibits, family activities, animals, concerts, food and more. Tickets are $8, $7 seniors, $5 ages 7 to 12, free ages 6 and younger if you purchase online ahead of time ($.75 service fee will be added). Free pancake breakfast with coupon and admission on 8/3, from 8am to 11am.
*The Bite of Oregon - Portland (Downtown), Times vary see website for details. August 10-12, Spend several days tasting, sampling, enjoying our local music and watching talented chefs and aspiring chefs show off their cooking abilities with various and highly entertaining cooking competitions.
*Elephant Garlic Festival - North Plains, August 10-12, Times vary see website for details. Free event includes all things garlic, plus parade, car show, arts & crafts, food and more.
*Tualatin Crawfish Festival - 8/10- 8/11; See site for times; This event offers a wide variety of food, entertainment and activities. Friday is FREE! Saturday is $4 for adults, $2 for seniors. Children under 2 will be FREE.
*Free Walk Climbing Wall – Portland; Now through end of September ; The Rock Climbing wall starts to travel throughout Portland for free rock climbing fun for all. Check website for locations, dates and times in your area!
*Pier Pool - Through 8/31; 1:30pm to 3:30pm; Admission is free every Friday!
*Free Movies In The park Summer Series - Portland; See website for specific times. Come enjoy free movies at various Portland area parks all summer. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. Movie begins at dark.
*Free Playground Programs & Free lunch – Portland area playgrounds. Enjoy free playground programs and free lunch for kids 0 -18 all summer. See website for locations and times.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 8/10; 5:00pm; Free Movie Night. Grab a bite to eat, relax, and unwind while you enjoy a movie with the little atmosphere.
*Music From Mr. Hoo from The Alphabeticians – Portland; 8/10; 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.
Saturday August 11th:
*Big Truck Day- Conestoga 8/11; 10am to 2pm; Big Truck Day at Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center gets bigger each year, and this year’s edition is shaping up to be the biggest yet. This is a fun and free event featuring more than 75 trucks and specialty vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Climb aboard, honk the horns and admire the view from the driver’s seat of these big rigs, and more.
*Alberta Street Fair – Portland; 8/11; 11am to 9:30pm; Enjoy this free event with three stages featuring music performances,and over 250 artisans, local vendors and eclectic businesses and crafts all in one place. Kids parade at 11:00 am. Children’s corner at Alberta Street and 18th.
*The Streets Block Party – Portland; 8/11; 10am to 4pm; This event boasts a sidewalk sale, live music (Mr. Hoo & the Shwing Daddies), REI talks, kids crafts (glitter tattoos and face painting, clowns), free food samples (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm), safety activities and more.
*Free Movies In The park Summer Series - Portland; See website for specific times. Come enjoy free movies at various Portland area parks all summer. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. Movie begins at dark.
*Lets Go Camping – Various state park locations, weekends through 8/24; $20 per family. Tent, sleeping bags and mattress pads provided if iy need them. Lots of fun activities for everyone. There are 17 weekend events scheduled at various state parks. A very secure event with ranger-led activities and experienced volunteers on hand to assist you 24/7. Call 888-953-7677 to reserve spots. For more information head here and click on the Let’s Go Camping link on the left side of the page.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 8/11; 5:00pm; Free Movie Night. Grab a bite to eat, relax, and unwind while you enjoy a movie with the little atmosphere. This weekend: .
* Free Family Swim At Marshall Community Center - Vancouver; 8/11; 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 ; 8/11; 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 – 8/11; 10:00am to 11:30am; Enjoy free guided walks with park ranger..
Sunday August 12th:
*Wings & Wheels – Portland; 8/12; 11:00am to 5:00pm; Entertainment will include classic car displays, model train displays, antique, experimental, and modern aircraft displays, various demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, food and beverage vendors and local bands. $5 for adults, kids 7 and under are free.
Monday August 13th:
*Washington County Museum Free Admission – Portland; 8/13; 10:00am to 4:30pm; Admission is free to this museum every Monday.
*Mondays On The Mall – Portland – Downtown Central Transit Mall; 8/13; Various Times; Free events all day including Wii play, caricatures, the original photo booth and entertainment.
Tuesday August 14th:
*Clackamas County Fair - Canby, August 14-19; Traditional fair and rodeo with Daily Special information here.
For more Portland happenings, check out the PDX Kids Calendar, a comprehensive events-based website for families in the Portland area.
Wednesday August 15th:
*Skamania County Fair & Timber Carnival – Stevenson, August 15-20, Times vary see website for details. FREE Admission. The Skamania County Fair and Timber Carnival is a tradition of people sharing their knowledge and skills for the preservation and promotion of what’s best in America. People of all ages demonstrate their talents and hard work to educate and inspire us about what we can achieve.
NATIONAL EVENTS:
*Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores– Sat. 8/11; 11am to 3pm; Kids can come to this free craft time each week for a new craft (plus print a $5 off $25 coupon).
*Lowes Build And Grow Clinic - Saturday 8/11 & Sunday 8/12; 10:00am; Come join Lowes Build and Grow Clinic. This week they will be making a Shrek Dragon Ride. Register here.
*Kids Skate Free Program – Kids 12 and under can get 2 free skate passes per week during the summer.
*Kids Bowl Free – 2 free bowling passes per child per day for the summer months.
*Kids Bowl Free AMF Program - Kids 15 and under can bowl 2 free games per day through Sept. 3rd.
* Summer Movie Express - $1 movies on Tues. & Wed. through the summer with this program.
*Barnes and Noble Free Storytime - 8/11; Times and events vary by location. Check your location for specific story’s available this weekend.
