Who is getting ready to watch the solar event on Monday? And if you are also looking for fun before the eclipse, there is no shortage of free family-friendly festivals and activities happening again this weekend too. If it’s another hot weekend, we have a great list of waterparks to help keep you cool and we hope you have a fantastic next couple days!
Make sure to also check out these fun ideas around the Northwest
Unique Parks in Washington State
Fairs and Festivals in the PNW
Free camping in the Pacific Northwest
And if you find a fun, frugal event that’s not listed, feel free to leave a comment so we can add that event to our list.
Cheap Event Tickets for Seattle Area
Head to Goldstar and select Family events to easily find these
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Tacoma $7.50 (reg $15)
- Go Dog Go – Seattle $11-19.50 (reg $22-39)
- Kids’ Adventure Challenge – Issaquah Free-$36.80
- Shopkins Live – Seattle $31.50-40.50 (reg $46.24 – 56.76)
- Giant Bicycle Festival – Snoqualmie; $39 (reg $70)
- Mr Popper’s Penguins – Seattle $11-19.50 (reg $22-39)
- Find more Cheap Event Tickets for Seattle area on Goldstar HERE.
Cheap Event Tickets for Portland Area
Head to Goldstar and select Family events to easily find these:
- Portland Timbers 2 Soccer – Portland $6-$15 ($10-20)
- Brickfest Live Lego Fan experience – Portland $15-$29 (reg $29.45-$69)
- Shopkins Live – Portland – $22.50 -$40.50 (reg $35 – 56.55)
- Find more Cheap Event Tickets for Portland area on Goldstar HERE.
Things To Do in Seattle Area
Thursday, August 17th, 2017
Happy 110 Pike Place Market – Seattle; All Day; Free. Celebrate 110 years of Pike Place Market.
Auburn’s Summer Cruise-In – Auburn; 4pm-7:30pm; Free. Stop by Les Gove Park to see great classic cars and live music.
Extraordinary Playscapes Exhibition – Seattle; 10am-6pm; Free. This exhibition at the Center for Architecture and Design is all about play!
Summer at SAM – Seattle; 6pm-8pm; Free. Every Thursday Night this summer, the Olympic Sculpture park has fun and free outdoor events planned. Check the schedule for details.
Gas Station Blues – Issaquah; 7pm-9pm; Free. A community concert series for all-ages; check the schedule to see who is playing this week!
Family Fun Night at Swanson’s Nursery – Seattle; 6pm-9pm; Suggested donation to Whole Kids Foundation. Food, music and family fun.
Alki Beach Bonfire– Seattle; 8pm-11pm; Free. Join Guru Gayatri Yoga around the bonfire for chanting, dancing, marshmallow roasting and watching 100 sky lanterns float into the air.
Crossroads Movies in the Park – Bellevue; 7:30-10:30pm; Free. This week’s movie is “Pete’s Dragon”.
Thursday Concert Series at the Lake – Kent; 7pm-8:30pm; Free. Check the schedule for this week’s artist.
Free Summer Concerts in Kirkland – Kirland; 7-8:30pm; Free. Every Thursday in Marina Park until August 17th you can stop by for a summer concert. Bring a blanket and enjoy this week’s concert (you can check the listing to see who is playing). There are also free kids’ concerts on Tuesdays: check the schedule for artists and times.
Friday, August 18, 2017
Chief Seattle Days -Suquamish, 9am-5pm; Free. Canoe races start at 11am. See the schedule for other event times and details.
Bonney Lake Days – Bonney Lake; 5pm-Free. Fireworks for this festival start at 9pm.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days – Snoqualmie; 5pm-9pm; Free. Today is the start of a three day festival celebrating the history of this community. Arts in the Park opens from 6-8pm.
Summer Arts Program at Westlake Park – Seattle; 10am-12pm; Free. Every week there will be free activities in the park. This week’s activity will be put on by Kidsquest Museum .
Sail in Cinema – Everett; 9:05pm; Free. Sail in and watch by boat, or watch on land. Tonight’s movie is “Top Gun”. Park activities start at 7pm.
Extraordinary Playscapes Exhibition – Seattle; 10am-5pm; Free. This exhibition at the Center for Architecture and Design is all about play!
Saturday, August 19th, 2017
Summer Bash at Star Center –Tacoma; 5pm-9pm; Free. The Center at Norpoint is celebrating summer with the movie SING. Bring your blankets and folding chairs.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days – Snoqualmie; 7am-4pm; Free. Grand Parade is at 11am today.
Celebrate Woodinville Festival – Woodinville; 8am-5pm. The Community pancake breakfast is at the Fire Station 31 at 8am and the parade starts at 11am.
Sammamish Days– Sammamish; 10am-2pm; Free. Enjoy music and dance performances from all around the world and participate in free face painting and crafts.
Puget Sound Beekeepers Kids’ Day – West Seattle; 10am-2pm; Free. Stop by for live hive demonstrations, scavenger hunts and arts and crafts.
Chief Seattle Days – Suquamish, 9am-5pm; Free. See the schedule for event times and details. Pick up free passes to the Suquamish Museum from the Information booth and participate it in a scavenger hunt for families.
Wing Luke Family Fun Day – Seattle; 10am-4pm; Free. Stop by for a free day of creativity. Acitivites are designed for ages 5 and up.
Chomp! – Redmond; 10am-6pm; Free (parking at Marymoor Park is $5.) Celebrate sustainable living at this annual festival and check out tiny homes, farmer’s markets and an Upcycle Bazaar.
Pacific NW Chalk Fest – Redmond; 10am-6pm; Free. Bring your camera! 14 renowned chalk artists will transform an area of Redmond TownCenter into a work of pastel art.
Big Day of Play – Seattle; 11am-5pm; Free. A whole day of sports and fun at Rainier Playfields and Mount Baker Rowing Center.
Celebrate Shoreline Festival – Shoreline; 12pm-9pm; Free admission and small charge for some activities. Pony rides, petting zoo and fun family activities at this community festival.
Summer Splash at Green Lake – Seattle; 9am-3pm; Free. Try water sports or hop over to the bouncy house at this family-friendly event at Green Lake.
Hands on History at Kelsey Creek Farm – Bellevue; 11am-3pm; Free. Journey back into time with some activities from pioneer days.
Bonney Lake Days – Bonney Lake; 11am-5pm; Free. Check out the Kids’ Zone.
Hounds on the Hill Dog Walk and Street Fair – Puyallup; 9:30am-3pm; registration required for the walk, the street fair is free. The Reptile Man performs from 10:30am-11:30am.
In the Spirit – Tacoma; 10am-5pm; Free. Enjoy free admission at Washington State History Museum and Tacoma Arts Museum and celebrate Native arts and culture. See the schedule for details.
Viking Days – Seattle; 10m-5pm; Free. Stop by the Nordic Heritage Museum to celebrate Nordic traditions.
Fresh Paint Festival – Everett ; 10am-5pm; Free. Purchase freshly painted art right off the easel at this annual Everett event.
Pacific Place Summer Bubble Up Show – Seattle; 4pm and 6pm; Free. Every Saturday at 4pm and 6pm there will be a bubble show at Pacific Place in downtown Seattle..
MaST Center Discovery Days – Des Moines; 10am-2pm; Free. Check out this free mini aquarium on the pier with touchpools and a 38-foot grey whale skeleton.
Summer at SAM – Seattle; 9am-3pm; Free. Outdoor activities at the Olympic Sculpture Park and free yoga at 9am. Bring your mat!
Sunday, August 20th, 2017
Pacific NW Chalk Fest – Redmond; 10am-6pm; Free. Bring your camera! 14 renowned chalk artists will transform an area of Redmond TownCenter into a work of pastel art.
Viking Days – Seattle; 10m-5pm; Free. Stop by the Nordic Heritage Museum to celebrate Nordic traditions.
Bicycle Sunday – Seattle; 10am- 6pm; Free. A portion of Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motorized traffic and open to bikes, walkers and joggers.
BrasilFest – Seattle; 10am-6pm; Free. The 19th annual BrasilFest will be at Seattle Center with dancing, music, food, kids’ activities and drumming.
Fresh Paint Festival -Everett ; 10am-5pm; Free. Purchase freshly painted art right off the easel at this annual Everett event.
Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists at various Seattle beaches- Seattle; 9:30am-12pm; Free. Check the schedule to see the beaches in Seattle where Seattle Aquarium Naturalists will be helping to identify sea creatures and talk about our beaches.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days – Snoqualmie; 8am-4pm; Free.
Shoreline’s Sandcastle Contest – Shoreline;11am-2:30pm; Free. Contestants and Spectators are encouraged to fill the sky with kites this year. More details about the Sandcastle contest through the link.
Afro-Latino Festival – Seattle; 11am-7pm; Free. Live music, dancing, sports activities and food at this family-friendly event in Jefferson Park.
Chief Seattle Days – Suquomish, 9am-5pm; Free. See the schedule for event times and details. Pick up free passes to the Suquamish Museum from the Information booth and participate it in a scavenger hunt for families.
Summer Concerts at the Ballard Locks – Seattle; 2pm-3pm; Free. Stop by the locks to see the fish return through the fish ladder and catch a free concert on the lawn.
Free Henry Art Gallery – Seattle; 11am-4pm; Free. The Henry Art Gallery is Free to the public every Sunday.
Free public Sail at Center for Wooden Boats – Seattle; 10am-4pm; Free. Sign up in person for time slots at the Center for Wooden Boats starting at 10am on a variety of different boats. The boat rides lasts about 45 minutes.
Things to Do in the Portland Area
Friday, August 18th, 2017
Return of the Burn – Portland; 10am-4pm; Free. Meet Smokey Bear and celebrate the history of the Tillamook State Forest. Smokey visits at 11am and 2pm.
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – Portland; 2-3pm; included with Children’s Museum Admission.
Free Open Play Swimming – Portland; 1:45pm-4:30pm; Free. This event happens every Friday at Pier Pool this summer. Check the listing for more details and for other free pool times at local area pools.
Free Music and Movie at Dawson Park – Portland; 6:30pm-Come hear live music followed by the movie Willow. Music starts at 6:30pm with free popcorn and the movie starts at dusk.
Saturday, August 19th, 2017
Dallas Celebration on the Square – Dallas; 10am-8pm; Free. Dallas will be celebrating the Total Eclipse with music, eclipse science lectures and other festivities.
Return of the Burn – Portland; 10am-4pm; Free. Meet Smokey Bear and celebrate the history of the Tillamook State Forest. Smokey visits at 11am and 2pm.
Festival Latino at Glenhaven Park – Portland; 4-11pm; Free. Start with a soccer tournament from 4-6pm and then come hear live music followed by the movie Moana. Games for the whole family start at 6pm and th movie starts at dusk.
Family Game Day in Holladay Park -Portland; 12pm-4pm; Free. Pop by the park with your family for games and crafts.
Lego Lab – Oregon City; 10:30am-11:30am; Free. Stop by the Lego Lab at Oregon City Public Library every week for a Lego challenge.
Open Saturday at Pearson Field – Vancouver; 1pm-5pm; Free. Stop by to see historic airplanes and learn about flight.
Kids’ Storytime at Powells Books – Portland; 11am; Free. (Kids’ story time is every Saturday at 11am!)
Sunday, August 2oth, 2017
Dallas Celebration on the Square – Dallas; 10am-8pm; Free. Dallas will be celebrating the Total Eclipse with Eclipse science lectures and other festivities.
Return of the Burn – Portland; 10am-4pm; Free. Meet Smokey Bear and celebrate the history of the Tillamook State Forest. Smokey visits at 11am and 2pm.
Sunday Funday at Dairyville Portland; 1-4pm; Free. Check out Dairyville, a pioneer-themed ‘town’ families can visit on Alpenrose’s 52-acre farm.
National Events:
Michaels’ Kids Club – every Saturday from 10am-noon; $2 for children ages 3 and up with all supplies included. Check your local Michael’s store to see if they are participating in this weeks’ project.
Lakeshore Learning Stores– every Saturday from 11am-3pm there are fun free crafts at Lakeshore Learning Stores for ages 3 and up. Check with your local store to see if they are participating.
Thank u, thank u, thank u for going back to original format- took no time at all to check and plan. I am one of your biggest advertisersn- I tell all the school moms about your site – love it.
Hi, Thrifty NW Mom! Thanks for featuring our Thundereggstravaganza event. I’d like to share a couple of small corrections: our event runs from 10 AM through 5 PM, not 11 to 1. (We are having talks at 11 and 1). Also, please note that children 4 and under are free!
Thanks for letting us know – we will get those updates made asap!
I agree with Lori! I haven’t been to your site in a while because I found the other style to difficult to use. I just came back and am thankful you changed back. So much more user friendly. Thank you!
Thank you for the feedback, Sarah! We’re sorry it was a frustrating experience, please always tell us if you’re having any frustrations and we will work on solutions. We definitely want this as user-friendly as possible!
Tacoma Concert Band: Clarinets and Brass at the Museum of Glass
2pm Saturday Aug 6th FREE, just outside the Museum of Glass in Tacoma.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1783589378579421/
Here’s the info from their e-mail
—————————–
Tacoma Concert Band presents…
Clarinets and Brass
at the Museum of Glass!
Free and fun for the whole family!
TCB band members are performing a free summer concert featuring a clarinet choir (12 clarinets) and a brass quintet, on the terrace of the Museum of Glass.
Join us on Saturday afternoon, August 6th, at 2:00 p.m.
for a delightful hour of music, played by members of the Northwest’s premier symphonic band.
You’ll also have a chance to learn about the TCB’s upcoming season, which will feature, among others, world-class guest soloists on clarinet (Robert Spring) and brass (trumpet virtuoso Allen Vizzutti and saxophone soloist Erik Steighner).
Bring the whole family. The weather should be great, the setting beautiful, and the music sublime.
See you there!
I’m taking my kids to see Willu Wonka Jr with Youth Theatre Northwest this weekend.
Hello! We appreciate the shout-out but did want to mention that our name was changed last October to Living Computers: Museum + Labs.