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 September 14th:
*The Puyallup Fair – Puyallup; 9/7– 9/23; Schedules vary each day, see website for details; This fair is full of all of the standard fair fun, rodeos, concerts, carnival rides and games, animals and much more. Kids free Sept. 8-9 with coupon. Kids under 5 are always free.
*Farmyard Grand Opening Weekend - Redmond; 9/14 – 9/16; 10am -8pm; Half price entry this weekend only. Race the Bouncy Rodeo Horses, enjoy the Singing Chicken Show, make music in our Music Garden, lay back on the Giant Spiderweb, race your favorite duck in our Rubber Duck Races, sit back and enjoy a hayride tour of the farm, climb the straw bale pyramid, play Pumpkin Checkers, solve our many challenging walk-through mazes, and get lost and find yourself again in our big Field Maze. There is no fee to visit the farm, farmstand, or Pumpkin Patch. Entry to the Farmyard is $9 (free for 2 years old and younger).
Hayrides are $2 (included in the Farmyard entrance). Farm Tots is $8 for a child accompanied by an adult.
*Seattle Art Museum Free To Teens – Seattle; 9/14; 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.
*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
*FreeTête-à-têter At Frye Museum – Seattle; 9/14; 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; 9/14; 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 September 15th:
*Fall Farm Jubilee – Snoqualmie Valley; 9/15 – 9/16; 11:00am to 4:00pm; A free fall tour at Jubilee Farm in the Snoqualmie Valley, celebrating the autumn harvest. Enjoy live music, tours, local food, kids’ activities, hayrides, ice cream and more.
*Fiesta Patrias 2012 - Seattle; 9/15– 9/16; Check website for schedule of events; Mexican & Latin American Independence celebration; Two days of Fiestas Patrias activities get underway at the Seattle Center at noon on Saturday ending with a dance featuring the best salsa and Tex-Mex music in the Northwest. Family activities continue through Sunday evening. Parade and celebration in South Park includes: Parade participants include Mexican vaqueros on dancing horses, marching bands, “low riders,” classic cars, dancers, clowns, children in traditional dress, Seattle police and fire departments, dignitaries, and more. Event is free to the public.
*Pumpkin Hurl & Medieval Faire - Snohomish; 9/15; 10:00am to 4:00pm; Experience a Medieval Village complete with artisans, food and music plus interactive children’s activities! Outrageous trebuchets hurl pumpkins over 1800 feet are part of the fun too. Tickets $5 (4yrs and under are free), parking is $3.
*Frasier Cabin Heritage Program - Bellevue; 9/15; 11:00am to 3:00pm; Visitors are invited to participate in hands-on activities that relate to early settler life at the historic 1888 Fraser Cabin. The log cabin experience is magical and will transport you back in time. Eastside Heritage Center staff and volunteers present the activities and interpret the log cabin that was built and lived in by the Fraser family over 100 years ago!
*Salmon SEEson – Issaquah; Every Saturday, September 8 to November 10. See salmon return to Issaquah Creek, where you can view spawning from the bridge or through viewing windows. Trained docents from Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) will be available 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
*Pirate Day – Bothel; 9/15; 11:00am to 2:00pm; Free event for public with fun, food and a visit from the Pirates of Treasure Island.
*A Taste Of Lynnwood - Lynwood; 9/15; 11am to 8pm; Lynnwood Center block party, with food and crafts vendors, live music and entertainment (including Caspar Babypants at 11:15 a.m.), and a kids’ zone with rides and games (fee). Walk on the ferry and take the free shuttle to the fair.
*Goodfest - Redmond; 9/15; 12:00mm to 5:00pm; Entertainment from Rhythm Village, The Not-Its! Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies and Caspar Babypants plus facepainting, free train rides, games, activities, giveaways, retailer specials and much more!
*Free Dental Screening For Children - N Seattle; 9/15; 9am to 12pm; Families are invited to a free dental screening for all children ages 1 through 18 and children with special needs through age 20. No reservations are necessary and there is plenty of free parking. This event provides the perfect “first visit” opportunity for very young children. It’s a chance for families to learn basic oral hygiene and target potential problem areas. Families will meet specially trained dentists and dental assistants, who will answer any questions. Children will learn how an exam is carried out and receive a mouth mirror, toothbrush, coloring sheet and sticker chart. The Center for Pediatric Dentistry (in Magnuson Park) 6222 N.E. 74th St. Seattle WA 98115, 206-543-5800.
*Free Wing Luke Museum Entrance – Seattle; 9/15; 10:00am to 8:00pm; The Wing Luke Museum offers free admission on the third Saturday of each month.
*Free Casper Babypants Concert – Seattle; 9/15; See website for schedule and locations; Hear a concert by popular kids’ entertainer Caspar Babypants, featuring music on guitar and piano.
*Camlann Village Weekend - Carnation; 9/1 – 9/23; 12pm to 5pm; Camlann Village event is peopled with portrayals of medieval villagers and every-day village activities. $5 suggested donation, free ages 4 and younger.
*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.
*Beach Explorations – Throughout the Puget Sound; see website for specific locations and times. Join beach naturalists and explore the beach at low tide. Free.
*Bellevue Art Museums Get Crafty Saturday – Bellevue; 9/15; 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.
Thursday September 20th:
*Tacoma Art Walk – Tacoma; 9/20; 5:00pm to 8:00pm; Visit Tacoma’s downtown galleries during the third Thursday artwalk. FREE, includes the Museum of Glass, Washington State History Museum (free 2 to 8 p.m.) and Tacoma Art Museum.
*Half Priced Admission Imagine Childrens Museum – Everett; 9/20 ; 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 September 14th:
* Mt. Angel Oktoberfest – Mt. Angel; 9/14 – 9/16; 11am; Enjoy Oktoberfests traditional food, drink, and dance. Enjoy family activities and kids’ amusements: balloon hats, face painting, pony rides, large straw maize, and a 4-H Petting Farm, comedy, and magic shows, along with Wiener Dog Racing and more.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 9/14; 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; 9/14; 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 September 15th:
*Aquifer Adventure - Portland; 9/15; 12pm to 4pm; Enjoy canoe rides, treasure hunting, and an obstacle course and learning! Free.
* Mexico’s 202nd Birthday - Portland; 9/15; 11am to 11pm; Free event to celebrate Central American and Mexican Independence at El Grito! The celebration will feature authentic Latino food, dance, and live Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico.
*Leyendas de Mexico - Portland; 9/15; 2pm to 3pm; A Family-friendly bilingual performance from Nuestro Canto, with the magic of masks, movement and imaginative storytelling! $4 advance/ $7 door. Ages 5 and up.
*Scappoose Sauerkraut Festival - Scappoose; 9/15; 10am to 6pm; Free event. Enjoy the 23rd Annual Scappoose Sauerkraut Festival with all day entertainment, good food, cabbage bowling and more.
* Hood River Fruit Loop Pear Celebration - Hood River; 9/15 – 9/16; Most events are free, check website for times and fee details. Sample more than 18 varieties of pears, artisan foods, pear wine, live music, a corn maze, and more.
*Family Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play - Portland; 9/15; 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; 9/15; 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 ; 9/15; 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 – 9/15; 10:00am to 11:30am; Enjoy free guided walks with park ranger.
Monday September 17th:
*Washington County Museum Free Admission – Portland; 9/17; 10:00am to 4:30pm; Admission is free to this museum every Monday.
*Mondays On The Mall – Portland – Downtown Central Transit Mall; 9/17; Various Times; Free events all day including Wii play, caricatures, the original photo booth and entertainment.
For more Portland happenings, check out the PDX Kids Calendar, a comprehensive events-based website for families in the Portland area.
NATIONAL EVENTS:
*Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores– Sat. 9/15; 11am to 3pm; Kids can come to this free craft time each week for a new craft (plus print a $5 off $25 coupon).
*Barnes and Noble Free Storytime - 9/15; Times and events vary by location. Check your location for specific story’s available this weekend.
{ 1 comment }
Great round-up of local events! Now that our kids are adults we just don’t make time for community fun. We need to change that and your list is a good start.
Thanks!