Frugal & Free Activities For Kids / Families in the Northwest 2/14 – 2/20

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February 13, 2020 34 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. We hope you have a fantastic weekend, there’s plenty of fun events and activities to check out!

Make sure to check out these fun ideas around the Northwest:

Portland Staycation Ideas
Seattle Staycation Ideas
NW Weekend Getaway Ideas on a Budget (updated weekly)

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. Some of the tickets sell out fast, so it’s a good idea to buy ahead if you see an event your family would want to attend!

Sky View Observatory – Seattle; $10 (reg. $22)
Seattle Festival Orchestra: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Family Concert – Seattle; $9 (reg. $18)
Little Red – Seattle; $7.50 (reg. $15)
Little Red – Everett; $7.50 (reg. $15)
Little Red – Renton; $7.50 (reg. $15)
Little Red – Shoreline; $7.50 (reg. $15)
Little Red – Kirkland; $7.50 (reg. $15)
The Brunch Show – Seattle; $10 (reg. $20)
ComedySportz – Seattle; $7.75-$15.50 (reg. $15.50)
AMC Yellow Tickets – Various Locations; $9 (reg. $13.50)
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.

Seussical Jr. – Vancouver; COMP – $8 (reg. $15)
Shrek The Musical – Milwaukie; COMP – $8 (reg. $15)
The Jungle Book – Portland; $9.50 – $11.50 (reg. $19 – $23)
Elephant & Piggies: We are in a Play – Gresham; COMP – $11 (reg. $18 – $22)
Elephant & Piggies: We are in a Play – Portland $9.50 – $11.50 (reg. $19 – $23)
Find more Cheap Event Tickets for the Portland area on Goldstar HERE.

Things To Do in Seattle Area

Friday, February 14th, 2020

Hearts & Crafts – Kirkland; 1pm – 2pm; Free; Friends can make Valentine cards together.

Arts & Crafts: Valentine’s! – Seattle; 1pm – 3pm; Free; Make a Valentine for someone special.

Pop-Up Card Making – Kirkland; 4pm – 5pm; Free; Celebrate Valentine’s Day and make your own pop-up card.

The Great Northwest Glass Quest – Various Locations; Varies; Free; Pick up a guide book for tips on where to find a clue ball. Clue balls will be hidden in Stanwood and Camano Island parks and businesses through Feb. 23. Win a piece of glass art if you find one!

Free Dental Health Screenings – Olympia; 10am – 5pm; Free; Kids can get a dental screening at the museum each weekend in February. Check out the link for more details.

Family Skate Night – Seattle; 6:30pm – 8:15pm; $5; Roller skate with the family and enjoy music, races, and fun lights. Bring your own skates or borrow a pair.

Elevated Sportz Hoppy Hour – Bothell; 10am – 12:30pm; $7 for play, $10 for jump, or $12 for both; Jump on trampolines and enjoy the amazing play zone at a discounted rate.

PlayDate SEA Magic Show – Seattle; 6:30pm – 7:30pm; $8 – $12; See fairies, wizards, a unicorn queen and other fun characters at this magic show.

Mommy Matinees – Seattle; 9:30am; Children 5 and Under Free, Adult tickets are Matinee Pricing; Every Friday you can show up with your young children and don’t have to worry about interrupting anyone with a crying or antsy little one. Actually, enjoy yourself, worry-free.

Saturday, February 15th, 2020

Movin’ Around the World with Northwest Folklife – Seattle; 11am – 2:30pm; Free; This weeklong celebration focuses on a different culture or tradition each day, and will get you on your feet and moving

Seattle Home Show – Seattle; 10am – 6pm; Adults $13, Seniors & Military $9, Age 7-15 $3, Age 7 and younger Free; Hundreds of home and garden displays plus daily home improvement seminars. Even a kids zone with special activities for kids.

A Royal Valentine’s Day Party – Issaquah; 10am – Noon; Free; Decorate cupcakes, do some fun arts and crafts, face painting, and meet Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, and jump.

AAAS Family Science Days – Seattle; 11am – 4pm; Free; 2-day public science event that offers an array of hands-on family and child-friendly activities. Also Sunday they’ll have a sensory-friendly hour.

Kids’ Club: Seed Art – Seattle; 10am – 2pm; $5; Create a piece of art using different variants of seeds!

Tukwila Pool: Candyland – Tukwila; 1pm – 3pm; $3.25/swimmer; Candyland themed swim with fun inflatables, games, snacks, and prizes.

Free Family Flick – Tacoma; 10am – Noon; Free; Enjoy a free movie showing of the movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Doors open at 9:30am, seating is first-come, first-served.

AveKids: The Magic of Jeff Evans – Auburn; 2pm – 4pm; $10; One-man sideshow with comedy and magic.

Pier Peer in Tacoma: Fabulous Fish – Tacoma; 7:30pm – 9pm; $10; Aquatic night-time event to explore mysterious marine life. Warm-up after with hot cocoa.

Northwest Folklife Crossroads Cultural Arts Series – Bellevue; 6:30pm – 8:30pmp; Free; Curated, family-friendly cultural arts performances on the Eastside at Crossroads Mall’s Market Stage.

Wild Child Weekends at Northwest Trek – Eatonville; 9:30am – 3pm; 2 kids 12 and younger free with each paying adult; Lots of fun things to see and do as a family when visiting this park.

206 Zulu: Homecoming: 16th Anniversary Celebration – Seattle; 4pm – 10pm; Free; Hip hop musicians and supporters from around the country gather in Seattle to celebrate another year of 206 Zulu. Performances, discussions, and celebrations of hip hop culture.

Kindiependent Kids Rock Series – Seattle; 10:30am – 11:30am; $5; Kid-friendly performers. This weekend they’ll have Louie Foxx.

Point Defiance Beach Cleanup – Tacoma; 9am – 11am; Free; Clean up the beach! Dress for the weather. The bags, pick up sticks, rubber gloves, and refreshments provided.

Discovery Days – Des Moines; 10am – 2pm; Free; Checkout over 15 tanks of marine species.

Open Play – Issaquah; 10am – Noon; Free; Enjoy free open play with jumping and snacks.

Sunday, February 16th, 2020

Sensory Time at Imagine – Everett; 9am – 11am; Free; Children with processing sensitivities and their families can play at Imagine Children’s Museum during a quieter time where there are fewer visitors in the Museum.

Fremont Sunday Market – Seattle; 10am – 4pm; Free; Fun European-style street market with food trucks, handcrafts, produce and more.

Ballard Farmers Market – Seattle; 10am – 3pm; Free; Do some shopping, get some fresh vegetables and fruits. Maybe even try some of the food!

Sunday Public Sail – Seattle; 10am – 4pm; Free; Center for Wooden Boats offers 45-minute rides on Lake Union. Sign up in person for a slot. Space limited.

Things to Do in the Portland Area

Friday, February 14th, 2020

V-Day Photo Opp – Portland; 11:30am – 12:30pm; Free; Alpaca kisses and photo ops.

VDay BDay Celebration – Portland; 10am – 5pm; $10; Celebrate Valentine’s Day and when the State of Oregon was founded on the same day by crafting something special. Enjoy a sweet treat afterward as well.

Kids Playgroup – Portland; 10am – Noon; Free; Bring your kids to let them play while visiting with other moms at the same time.

African Film Festival – Portland; Times Vary; Free; Enjoy five weeks of more than 30 films by African directors from 18 countries. You’ll want to show up early as the seats usually fill up quickly.

Messy Art – Portland; 9am – Noon; $9 – $11; Paint, collage, build, get messy! Children and adults create together in our colorful studio.

Tallulah’s Daddy – Portland; 10:30am – 11:30am; $5 per child or $10 per family suggested donation; Fun, energetic, interactive acoustic music for kids and families.

KiLoFriDay Ft. Zazzy Zoe and Mr. Ben – Portland; 5pm – 6pm; suggested donation $10 per family; Enjoy live children’s music.

Saturday, February 15th, 2020

Oaks Park Roller Rink Kids’ – Portland; 10:30am – Noon; $7.50, 1 adult free per paid admission; Indoor family fun for kids 10 and younger with music, skate games, Chipper the Squirrel visit, and more.

Explosions, Inc! – Portland; 1:30pm – 2;30pm; Free; Explore the fuzzy boundaries where natural meets supernatural. Sign up 15 minutes before the program at the Children’s Desk.

Rosie Revere Engineer Day – Vancouver; 10am – 5pm; Free; Participants will be introduced to the engineering design process as they flow through activities during the event.

Diversity Day – Portland; 11am – 2pm; Free; Let kids experience the diversity the world has through crafts, games, and foods from other countries.

Ukulele Party! – Portland; 11am – Noon; Free; With Aaron Canwell of Portland. They’ll have about 25 ukuleles to provide at this fun jam session.

Pearson Field Education Center – Vancouver; 10am – 5pm; Free; Enjoy a free open day at the center.

Sunday, February 16th, 2020

Micah and Me DANCE PARTY at OMSI – Portland; 11am – Noon; Free w/museum admission; Fun energetic kids band dance party. This 45-minute set will also be followed by an instrument petting zoo!

Sensory Sunday – Beaverton; 9am – 11am; $10; A parent-child playtime designed for families of children affected by sensory processing disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, or any other disabilities at the Oregon Gymnastics Academy.

Maggie Rudy Release Party – Portland; 11am – 11:30am; Free; Maggie Rudy will return to Green Bean Books to do a reading of her fairy tale picture book, Sootypaws.

Monday, February 17th, 2020

Legacy of Play Day – Salem; 10am – 2pm; Free; Enjoy free admission day to the Gilbert House Children’s Museum!

National Events:

Great Backyard Bird Count – Global event, register online and help log a variety of birds in your neighborhood. Now through the 17th.

Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime – Enter your zip code to see special storytime events at your local Barnes & Noble store.

Michaels’ Kids Club – every Saturday from 10am-noon; $2 for children ages 3 and up with all supplies included. There are also special projects for spring break. 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.