How are you spending your first summer weekend? It looks like it’s going to be a hot one and there are a ton of free, frugal and fabulous family-friendly events going on too. So here’s to celebrating summer in the Pacific Northwest and hope you have a great weekend everyone!
Make sure to also check out these fun ideas around the Northwest
Free camping in the Pacific Northwest
Where to get Discount Silverwood Tickets
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
- Disney’s Little Mermaid – Tacoma $15.50 (reg $31)
- Once Upon a Mattress – Snoqualmie Falls $10 (reg $20)
- Shopkins Live – Seattle $31.50-40.50 (reg $46.24 – 56.76)
- 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)
- Portland Thorns FC – Portland $10-$15 (reg $14-20)
- 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
Friday, June 23rd, 2017
Seattle Aquarium Naturalists at the Beach – Seattle; 9:30am-1 pm; Free. Volunteer Beach Naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium will be at Sout Alki beach among other beaches in the area helping to identify creatures on the beach. This is the lowest summer tide! Check the listing for other beaches and times.
Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze – Westport; 12pm-6pm; Free. There will be tall ships, food vendors, kids’ activities, face painting and PIRATES at this annual event.
Taste of Tacoma – Tacoma; 11am-9pm; Free. Park at Tacoma Community College for a free shuttle to this festival of food, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment.
Auburn Kids’ Day – Auburn; 11am-4pm; Free admission. Welcome in summer in Auburn with live entertainment, rides and face painting.
Saturday, June 24th, 2017
Bellevue Strawberry Festival – Bellevue; 10-8pm; Free. Strawberry Shortcakes, agricultural displays, touch-a-truck and other family friendly and strawberry-themed activities abound at this annual Bellevue Festival.
Taste of Tacoma – Tacoma; 11am-9pm; Free. Park at Tacoma Community College for a free shuttle to this festival of food, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment.
Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze – Westport; 10am-6pm; Free. There will be tall ships, food vendors, kids’ activities, face painting and PIRATES at this annual event.
Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist – Seattle; 10am-2pm; Free. Volunteer Beach Naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium will be at Sout Alki beach among other beaches in the area helping to identify creatures on the beach. This is the lowest summer tide! Check the listing for other beaches and times.
Fire Rescue Spectacular – Olympia; 11am-3pm; included with admission. Visit the Hands on Children’s Museum for a spectacular summer splash event. Olympia’s emergency rescue fleet including fire trucks, medic one, a fire boat and a police motorcycle will be at the museum and the street in front of the Museum will be closed to make more room for the event too. Kids can join in the Junior Firefighter challenge and all activities are free with Museum admission-street activities are free to the public.
Basketball with the Seattle Storm – Seattle; 11am-12pm; Free. Head to Occidental Square where some Seattle Storm players will be there to shoot hoops with YOU!
Spirit of Indigenous People Festival – 11am-5pm; Free. Come to this collaborative celebration that showcases American Indian and Alaskan Native traditions and culture.
Orca Awareness Celebration – Seattle; included with admission. Learn about orcas at Seattle Aquarium through hands-on activities, find out how ocean debris impacts these whales and meet a 20-foot-long inflatable orca. Check the link for schedule and events.
Seattle Tacoma Pet Con – Puyallup; 11am-5pm; Free. Check out agility and obedience demonstrations and you can even bring your pet too! Check through the link for all the details before you go!
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.
Sunday, June 25th, 2017
Taste of Tacoma – Tacoma; 11am-8pm; Free. Park at Tacoma Community College for a free shuttle to this festival of food, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment.
Orca Awareness Celebration – Seattle; included with admission. Learn about orcas at Seattle Aquarium through hands-on activities, find out how ocean debris impacts these whales and meet a 20-foot-long inflatable orca. Check the link for schedule and events.
Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze – Westport; 10am-5pm; Free. There will be tall ships, food vendors, kids’ activities, face painting and PIRATES at this annual event.
Bellevue Strawberry Festival – Bellevue; 10am-6pm; Free. Strawberry Shortcakes, agricultural displays, touch-a-truck and other family friendly and strawberry-themed activities abound at this annual Bellevue Festival.
Bicycle Sunday – Seattle; 10am-6pm; Free. This weekend is one of a bunch of Sundays between now and September where a portion of Lake Washington Blvd will be closed to motorized traffic and open to bikes, joggers and walkers.
Seattle Tacoma Pet Con – Puyallup; 11am-4pm; Free. Check out agility and obedience demonstrations and you can even bring your pet too! Check the link for all the details before you go!
Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist – Seattle; 10:30am-2:30pm; Free. Volunteer Beach Naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium will be at Sout Alki beach among other beaches in the area helping to identify creatures on the beach. This is the lowest summer tide! Check the listing for other beaches and times.
Free Summer Concerts at Ballard Locks – Seattle; 2pm; Free. Today’s group is the Kirkland Civic Orchestra.
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.
Tuesday June 26th, 2017
Summer $1 movies – various theatres; 10am; $1; check out the listing to find out if your nearby Regal Cinema is participating. This week’s movies are Trolls and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.
Things to Do in the Portland Area
Friday, June 23rd, 2017
Festival of Balloons– Tigard; 10am-11pm; $7 for a three day pass at the gate or $5 through the link. Children under 6 are free. Balloons launch between 5:45 and 6:15am.
Video Game Truck at Holladay Park – Portland; 2-4pm; Free. Players off all ages are invited to play at the video game truck.
Saturday, June 24th , 2017
Festival of Balloons Tigard; 10am-11pm; $7 for a three day pass at the gate or $5 through the link. Children under 6 are free. Balloons launch between 5:45 and 6:15am.
Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival – Lincoln City; 10am-4pm; Free. See some of the most colorful “big” kites in the world at a festival where kids can make kites and watch kite performances.
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, June 25th, 2017
Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival – Lincoln City, 10am-4pm; Free. See some of the most colorful “big” kites in the world at a festival where kids can make kites and watch kite performances.
Festival of Balloons Tigard; 10am-11pm; $7 for a three day pass at the gate or $5 through the link. Children under 6 are free. Balloons launch between 5:45 and 6:15am. Balloons launch between 5:45 and 6:15am.
Rose Festival Milk Carton Boat Race – Portland; 11am; Free. Watch boats made from milk cartons compete in 9 categories at Westmoreland Park.
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
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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.