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.
Make sure to check out our huge roundup of Fall festivals in the Northwest as well to see if there’s a fun event going on around you this weekend. 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.
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 23rd:
*The Puyallup Fair – Puyallup; 9/23- 9/25 (last weekend of the fair); 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 under 5 are always free. Check out our list of deals available to get into the fair for less. You can also get Puyallup Fair tickets for Saturday & Sunday for just $9/ticket – make sure to bring along the printable coupon.
*Tolkien & Tea – Kent; 9/23; 10:00am to 9:00pm; Join them for a FREE full service tea, beginning at “Elevensies” and hang about for the public showing of The Lord of the Rings. Feel free to come dressed as your favorite character! (plus sign up for their 0-60 club and kids [0 - high school] get 5 free books per month, so you can pick up your free books while you enjoy the festivities). Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*Freemont Oktoberfest - Freemont; 9/24 – 9/25; 11:00am to 6:00pm; Entertainment, microbrew tasting garden, kids’ area (zucchini car races, arts and crafts, pumpkin carving and bowling, and more.
*Free Entrance to Seattle Symphony’s “Soundbridge”- Seattle, Beneroya Hall; 9/24; 9 at 10:00 am; 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 24th:
*Hops and Crops Festival - Mary Olson Farm in Auburn; 9/24; 12:00pm – 6:00pm; $5.00 admission for adults; kids 13 and under are free. Kids’ activities with rootbeer garden; farm tours; live entertainment and more. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*Applefest – Olympia; 9/24 – 9/25; 9:00am to 5:00pm; Free event with Bluegrass music, Goat Walk, animal train, games, petting farm, pony rides, apple bobbing, apple slingshot, cider and food and more. Parking is $3.
*Harvest Celebration Farm Tours - Snoqualmie Valley; 9/24; 10:00am to 4:00pm; Seven farms in the Snoqualmie Valley open to the public for family fun. Chef demos, wine tasting, hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, music and hands-on activities. Farm descriptions, details and directions available online. Suggested donation $5 per adult.
*Whidbey Island Kite Festival - Coupeville; 9/24 – 9/25; 9:00am to 5:00pm; Features colorful and impressive kite flying displays, kids’ kite making, beginning sportkite lessons, and a teddy bear drop and more.
*Harvest Jubilee – Stanwood; 9/24; 10:00am to 5:00pm; Harvest Jubilee Festival and Farm Tours is a free, family-friendly event with exhibits, demonstrations, and presentations to inspire future farmers and food entrepreneurs, as well as to entertain and educate everyone who attends.
*Bellevue Art Museums Get Crafty Saturday – Bellevue; 9/24; 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Free craft time for kids each Saturday. $2 material fee or free with admission.
*FreeTête-à-têter At Frye Museum – Seattle; through Jan. 2012; 11:00am to 5:00pm; Art lovers, did you know the Frye Museum is always free! Even better, they also provide free parking for visitors. Currently that are exhibiting Tête-à-têter, featuring one hundred fifty paintings from the Frye Art Museum’s Founding Collection. You can find a list of free events this week here, including art classes and tours.
This week the Frye is hosting the Curious Max: Family Day. Draw with a professional teaching artist, tour the exhibitions with an expert gallery guide, create sock monkeys and origami butterflies. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gallery Tours and art activities including sock monkey making and origami butterflies 11:15 p.m. Storytelling: Caps for Sale by Seattle Children’s Theatre 12 p.m. Special performance by Recess Monkey (Auditorium seating is first-come, first served.
*“Swordfighting Program” presentation by the Knights of Veritas - Kent; 9/24; 10:00am; Learn about chivalry & authentic Western martial arts, see artifacts and traditional dueling. FREE, fun & educational! This event is also taking place at Once Sold Tales so you can sign up for their 0-60 club and kids [0 - high school] get 5 free books per month, so you can pick up your free books while you enjoy the festivities. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
*Italian Fest – Seattle Center; 9/24 – 9/25; 10:00am to 7:00pm on Sat. and 10:00am to 6:00pm Sun. Free festival celebrating Italian culture. There will be food, music and dance, bocce tournament, grape stomp, children’s activities and puppet show by Carter Family Marionettes and more.
*Vintage Plane Day – Everett; 9/24; 12:00pm to 1:00pm; Watch historic aircraft from the Flying Heritage Collection take to the sky for a maintenance flight. Bring lawn chairs
*Browns Point Lighthouse Cottage Museum & Tours – Browns Point; Each Saturday through November; 1:00pm to 4:00pm; You get to see the keeper’s quarters, the bell, and the museum, and it’s free and very kid friendly (they can touch everything). Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
* Science & Technology Center (MaST) – Saturdays 10am – 2pm; kids can explore sea life with touch tanks & more. Thanks Sounds Fun Mom!
Sunday September 25th:
*The Children’s Museum Birthday Celebration – Tacoma; 9/25; Celebrate the 25th birthday of Children’s Museum of Tacoma with $.25 cent admission and birthday-themed crafts and activities, bubble parades, playdough cupcake decorating and face painting
Thursday September 29th:
*Half Priced Admission Imagine Childrens Museum – Everett; 9/29; 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 September 23rd:
*Free Admission To The Genealogical Forum at OHS - Portland; 9/23; 10:00am to 4:00pm; Come visit OHS at the Genealogical Forum of Oregon’s grand opening of their new library facility. There will be workshops featuring genealogy and history topics, followed by Q&As, as well as all-day booths displaying OHS’s finest!
*6th Annual American Indian Day Celebration -Portland; 9/23; 12:00pm to 7:00pm; This is a free event that will include Northwest Tribal leaders, Indian advocates, drum groups, dancers, and arts & crafts vendors. Thanks PDX Kids Calendar!
*Lady Bug Nature Walk – Portland; 9/23; 10:00am; Walk through parks, gardens and natural areas. Touch slimy slugs, smell tree bark, feel crinkly and soft leaves, hear musical bird songs etc. Cost is $3 per toddler, adults are free!
*Creative Play At Isobels Clubhouse – Portland; 9/23; 9:30am to 11:30am; As part of creative play, kids can dress up in costumes, play with toys, read stories, play games or create in the art space.
*Sing a Long With Tyleena – Portland; 9/23 & 9/24; 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 September 24th:
*Reed College Clebrates its 100th Birthday- Portland; 9/24; 8:00am to 3:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Join them for a free celebration with activities that include games, a bouncy house, spin art, scavenger hunt, balloons, juggling, food, movies, tours of Reed Canyon, Portland Taiko, a pet parade, fireworks and more. Thanks PDX Kids Calendar!
*Green Sprouts Festival - Portland; 9/25; 10:00am to 5:00pm; A fun, festive and educational one-day event for the whole family that celebrates and promotes the nurturing of life through nature. From pregnancy to childhood, parents can learn about and explore eco-friendly, community-involved, natural, and healthy options to raising their families. Kids free with paying adult ($2-$5)
*Portland Polish festival - North Portland; 9/24; 11:00am to 10:00pm Sat and Sunday from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. Free event with dancing, music, a polka contest, and Polish food. Thanks PDX Kids Calendar!
* Free Family Swim At Marshall Community Center - Vancouver; 9/24; 4:45pm to 6:30pm; Bauman Chiropractic is sponsoring free family swims at Marshall Pool Saturday evenings.
*Free Guided Nature Walk – 9/24; 10:00am to 11:30am; Join park rangers for a free guided nature hike.
*Lady Bug Nature Walk – Portland; 9/24; 10:00am; Walk through parks, gardens and natural areas. Touch slimy slugs, smell tree bark, feel crinkly and soft leaves, hear musical bird songs etc. Cost is $3 per toddler, adults are free!
* Kids Saturday Morning Skate Session At Oaks Park – Portland ;9/24; 10:30am to 12:00pm; For $5.50 children 10 and under can skate (skates included). Parents free with paid child admission.
Sunday September 25th:
*Bite Size Kids Cook Class At The Market (King) – Portland; 9/25; 10:00am – 2:00pm; Free cooking classes for kids. “Kids can cultivate their culinary skills and experience a cornucopia of farm-fresh foods though these free drop-in classes. Each month will center on a featured market ingredient. September = Terrific Tomatoes!
*Sixth Annual Green Sprouts Festival- Peninsula Park; 9/25; 9:00am to 5:00pm. This event celebrates the nurturing of life through nature from pregnancy to childhood. There will be 90+ exhibitors, workshops, music, entertainment, and family fun. Free! Thanks PDX Kids Calendar!
Monday September 26th:
*Washington County Museum Free Admission – Portland; 9/26; 10:00am to 4:30pm; Admission is free to this museum every Monday.
*Mondays On The Mall – Portland – Downtown Central Transit Mall; 9/26; Various Times; Free events all day including Wii play, caricatures, the original photo booth and entertainment.
Wednesday September 28st:
*Honeybee Happenings – Portland – Leach Botanical Society; 9/28; 10:00am to 11:00am; Weekly nature-related story time and craft activities for young children (Ages 1-6)and their parents with short outdoor explorations if weather permits. $2 per child. No pre-registration required.
NATIONAL EVENTS:
*Smithsonian Free Museum Day – Saturday 9/24; Get free admission to Museums across the United States from the Smithsonian Magazine. You can request your free ticket for you and one guest here.
*National Parks Free Entrance Day – Saturday 9/24; Get free admission to all National Parks on this day, including parks that usually charge admission fees. You can find a list of National Parks to visit here.
*Lowes Build And Grow Clinic - Saturday9/24; 10:00am; Come join Lowes Build and Grow Clinic to make and Fire Truck. Register here.
*Bass Pro Shops Redzone Football Event – Saturday; 9/24;11:00pm to 4:00pm; Red Zone Weekend Event with FREE activities, crafts and more. Plus, the 1st 100 kids to join in the Tailgating Game fun will score a FREE foam Football.
*Pottery Barn National Geographic Little Explorers – 9/24; 10:00am; Kids age 3 and up will learn about lions, tigers and other big cats through hands on activities, songs and more.
*Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores – Sat. 9/24; 11am to 3pm; Kids can come to this free craft time and make an Autumn pop-up card.
*Barnes and Noble Free Storytime – Sat. 9/24; Times and events vary by location. Check your location for specific story’s available this weekend.
{ 3 comments }
The Fair released a $2 off coupon for this weekend only on adult admission. There is one coupon per person and you must have the coupon (or so it says). :)
http://www.thefair.com/_assets/managed/files/413de263f8861ced1c58c27bae8fef9d_PF11_Coupon_LastWeekend.pdf
THanks Shelly – I had mentioned the coupon but had the wrong link in there, so it’s fixed now! :)
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