Frugal & Free Activities For Kids / Families in the Northwest
Week Of 04/29 – 05/05
Here is this week’s list of family-friendly free or frugal events to do with kids for around the Northwest, as well as some events going on around the country. We have decided to go back to the list format as the calendar feature did not turn out to be as user-friendly as we had hoped. Hopefully this list feature will be more helpful for you to find the events quickly that you are interested in! Let us know how you like it & if you have any more feedback on how the Event list is working for you!
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.
Cheap Event Tickets for Seattle Area
Head to Goldstar and select Family events to easily find these:
Seattle Magic Show – Seattle – FREE (comp tickets) (reg $5)
Seattle Storm Basketball – Seattle – $25 (reg $19-$44)
Teatro Zinzanni Rock this Way Family Show – Seattle – $11.75-$14.25 (reg $23.50-$28.50)
Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat – Seattle – $11-$13.50 (reg $22-$27)
Split Second Improv: Family Show – Redmond – $5 (reg $10)
Find more Cheap Event Tickets for Seattle area on Goldstar HERE.
Catch our Full Review of Teatro ZinZanni’s Big Top Rock Family Show!
Cheap Event Tickets for Portland Area
Head to Goldstar and select Family events to easily find these:
Snow White – Portland – $10.50 (reg $21)
Portland Timbers 2 Soccer – Portland – $6-$9 (reg $11-$15)
Junie B Jones – Hillsboro – $7.50 (reg $15)
Disney’s High School Musical Jr – Portland – $7 (reg $14)
Honk! – Milwaukie – $7 (reg $14)
A Year with Frog and Toad – Washougal – $7 (reg $14)
The Legend of Pocahontas – Ridgefield – $7 (reg $14)
Coppelia – Tualitin – $12.50-$15 (reg $25-$30)
Find more Cheap Event Tickets for Portland area on Goldstar HERE.
Don’t forget to check out our Seattle Staycation for more ideas on many local activities and events, if you are looking for a specific event and want to save some money! Or, you can hop on over to our Cheap Weekend Getaways in the Pacific Northwest for all the best deals within driving distance.
Be sure to also take note of our Northwest Spring Consignment Sales round up! There are a few happening this weekend around the Pacific Northwest.
Things To Do in Seattle Area
Friday, April 29, 2016 ~
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival – Mt Vernon; through Saturday, 9:00am-6:00pm Monday-Saturday, 11:00am-4:00pm, Sunday; viewing is FREE, some events $5-6/person, FREE/ages 5 and under. Folks come from all over the country to visit the NW’s tulip festival, which has also been featured on National Geographic’s 10 Incredible Locations for Spring Trips! While viewing the tulips is the main attraction, there are a variety of events featured during the Festival; find them all here. Be sure to check out our Tips on Visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival before you go!
Pay What You Can Fridays at Soundbridge – Seattle; 10:00am-2:00pm; admission by donation. On select Fridays families are invited to touch, see, and play real instruments at Benaroya Hall’s Soundbridge. Come at 10:30am to Musical Storytime for games, song and dancing.
Drop-in Playgroup – Seattle; 10:30am-12:00pm; FREE. Kids ages birth to 5 and their caregivers are invited to have fun with other families, enjoy reading and singing. No cost, but please preregister.
Free Planetarium Show – Bellevue; 6:00pm and 7:00pm; FREE. Enjoy a full-dome video and an introduction the nighttime sky’s brightest stars and constellations. Recommended for ages 6 and older. Please make reservations.
Saturday, April 30, 2016 ~
Kelsey Creek Farm Sheep Shearing – Bellevue; 11:00am-4:00pm; FREE admission. Bring the kids out to watch the sheep be shorn of their winter coats! There will be crafts, tractor and wagon rides, pony rides, food, animal viewing, exhibits and more. Food and some activities have varying nominal costs.
Healthy Hikes – Rockport; 9:30am-11:00am; FREE with Discover Pass. Washington State Parks invites you to take a guided hike through the old growth forest. The 3 mile hike will be at a moderate pace, and hikers are also welcome to visit the trails on their own.
Family Nature Walk – Tacoma; 10:00am-11:00am; FREE. Explore Wapato Hills Park during this free naturalist-led walk. Discover amazing plants and animals and how they adapt to the seasons. Walks are organized and led by Tacoma Nature Center staff. Not recommended for strollers or children under 3. Pre-registration is required.
Teddy Bear ER – Newcastle; 10:00am-1:00pm; FREE. Come out to the Grand Opening Party for Eastside Veterinary Associates. Take a behind the scenes tour of the new facility, bring your teddy bear in for an ER visit, listen to your pet’s heartbeat, enjoy kids’ activities and prizes! Friendly, leashed dogs and brave cats welcome.
Healthy Kids Day – Various locations; 10:00am-1:00pm; FREE. YMCA locations throughout the Puget Sound area will be celebrating Healthy Kids Day with games, bouncy houses, healthy snacks, crafts, facility tours, pool activities and more. Check out your neighborhood location for more info.
Decked Out: From Scroll to Skateboard – Federal Way; Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am-4:00pm; FREE. Explore the Pacific Bonsai Musuem’s brand new exhibit that combines street art and the ancient art of bonsai plants. Some of the region’s premier urban muralists have painted skateboard decks to replace the scrolls in the bonsai museum. This outdoor space is a unique destination that will introduce children to living artistry.
Small Scale Train Rides – Skykomish; Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am-4:00pm; FREE. It’s opening weekend at the Northern and Cascade Railway! Enjoy FREE unlimited train rides for kids and adults aboard 1/8 scale trains. Open weekends through November 1.
Youth Sailing Open House – Seattle; 11:00am-3:00pm; FREE. Land and water activities abound at this event that’s great for any youth interested in sailing. Program offerings will be showcased for children as young as 5 years old through high school. There will be sailboat rides, knot tying, ladder golf, burgee decorating, and more! Also, there’s a free BBQ lunch!
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Bicycle Sundays – Seattle; 10:00am-6:00pm; FREE. Sundays through September 25, Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motorized traffic to allow for bicyclists and walkers to enjoy a 4 mile stretch through Seward Park.
Children’s Day Festival – Seattle; 11:00am-5:00pm; FREE. Experience the culture of Japan while celebrating children! Enjoy activities such as Japanese dance performances, Yukata dress up, taiko, martial arts, kids’ tea ceremony, food, games, and more!
Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration – Seattle; 11:00am-6:00pm; FREE. Explore the cultures of the Asian-Pacific islands through live performances, activities, food, games, and cultural displays.
Cast Off! Free Public Sail at the Center for Wooden Boats – Seattle; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Free every Sunday; The volunteer skippers and crew take passengers out on Lake Union for tours all around the lake. Sprit boats, steam boats, electric boats, schooners, ketches, yawls, and yachts: available every Sunday to sail them all, year-round, rain or shine for free. {Jen has done this with her family & they had a blast exploring Lake Union in the boats. Make sure to get there early though as you have to sign up & it’s first-come first serve}
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Stars Wars Night at Cheney Stadium – Tacoma; 6:00pm; $5.50-$11.50/person. The Tacoma Rainiers take on the Salt Lake Bees, with special support from the Force with their Star Wars themed uniforms. Kids will be delighted to see Star Wars characters on hand. My family loves to sit on the grassy mound so the kids have room to play when they tire of the game.
Low Sensory Evenings – Belleuve; 5:30pm-7:30pm; FREE. Kids will sensory sensitivities or special needs and their families are invited to enjoy the museum with low ambient noise and low lightning. Pre-regisrtation is required and attendance is limited.
If you’re looking for more things to do in the South Sound, be sure to check out Sounds Fun Mom’s Weekend Kids’ Calendar!
Things To Do in Portland
Friday, April 29, 2016 ~
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival – Woodburn; 9:00am-6:00pm, through Sunday; $5/person over age 13, $20/carload, FREE ages 12 and under. Over 40 acres of tulips in bloom and lots of family friendly activities, including a children’s play area and hay wagon rides.
Ladybug Nature Walk – Portland; 10:00am; $4/child. Bring your kiddos ages 2-5 and take walk through with a trained preschool naturalist, who will show you around Alberta Park.
Music Time at TreeHouse – Portland; 10:00am; FREE. Enjoy an interactive music time with rotating performers Mo Phillips and Chuck Cheesman.
Toddler Time – Portland; 10:00am-11:00am; $5/child. Your toddler can enjoy a special craft time with 2 make and take ornamental crafts.
Preschool Story & Stroll – Portland; 11:00am-12:15pm; FREE. Explore Tryon Creek Park with your preschoolers ages 2-6. The program centers are nature exploration, art, literature, movement and outdoor play. This week’s theme: Listening Walk.
Free Soccer Stars Class – Portland; 1:00pm-2:00pm; FREE. Kids ages 3-6 are invited to try out a FREE Soccer Stars class and see if they’re a little kicker. Register in advance via email to Sarahp@rosecityfutsal.com
Olive and Dingo Storytime – Portland; 4:00pm; suggested $5/child. Enjoy a sweet treat while taking fun show from clowns Olive and Dingo. There will be comedy, songs, stories, and balloons!
Saturday, April 30, 2016 ~
Canby Farmers Market Opening Day – Canby; 9:00am-2:00pm; FREE. Celebrate farmers’ market season with live music, organic shave ice, kids’ scavenger hunt, face painting, balloon artist and more!
Arbor Day Celebration – Portland; 8:30am-2:00pm; FREE. Take historic tree tours, enjoy music, stories, and lots of family fun during the Arbor Day Celebration at the Portland Farmer’s Market.
Avenue of the Roses Parade – Portland; 9:30am; FREE. Celebrate the diversity of the Avenue of the Roses with a parade, classic car cruise-in, community fair and carnival!
Storytime at Hoyt Arboretum – Portland; 10:00am-11:30am; FREE. Join the folks at the arboretum for a reading of Jason Chin’s Redwoods followed by a tour through the redwoods.
Community Floral Arranging – Portland; 10:00am-1:00pm; $10.75/person. Join artist in residence Jen Richardson-Greene at the Portland Children’s Museum to create a floral arrangement that will become a part of a larger collaboration.
Portland Camp Fair – Portland; 10:00am-3:00pm; FREE. Check out some great summer camps in the Portland area. There will activities such as outdoor skills, story adventures, folk crafts, archery, and more!
Sunday, May 1, 2016 ~
$2 Days at OMSI – Portland; 9:30am-5:30pm; $2/person. Explore the OMSI for only $2 on the first Sunday of each month. Submarine tours, theater, and planetarium are only $5 on the first Sunday.
Preschool Story & Stroll – Portland; 10:00am-11:15pm; FREE. Explore Tryon Creek Park with your preschoolers ages 2-6. The program centers are nature exploration, art, literature, movement and outdoor play. This week’s theme: Listening Walk.
Children’s Day at Portland Japanese Garden – Portland; 10:00am-12:00pm; $9.50/adults, $6.75/youth, FREE/ages 5 and under. Celebrate the Japanese annual tradition dedicated to the health and well being of children. There will be drum performances, origami, dancing, Yukata costumes to try on, koi to observe and a scavenger hunt. Recommended for children ages 3-12.
Art Pollard Day – Wilsonville; 11:00am-4:00pm; $10/adults, FREE/children 12 and under. Take a behind the scenes view of the racing world at the World of Speed Museum. Celebrate racer Art Pollard with music, fun, games, bubbles and cars!
Classical Up Close – Beaverton; 2:00pm and 3:30pm; FREE. Enjoy a blitz concert from Oregon Symphony musicians crafted just for kids!
NATIONAL EVENTS:
Michael’s Kids Club – Saturdays; 9:00am-3:00pm. Kids can make and take a Tissue Paper Tie-Dye Art craft. At just $2 per child, they get 30 minutes of creative craft fun, supplies included. Ages 3 and up. Sessions start every half hour from 10 AM – 11:30. See a store associate to sign up.
Guitar Center – Saturday; 10:15am; FREE. Group ukulele workshop at local Guitar Center locations.
Barnes and Noble – Saturday; 11:00am; FREE. Storytime and activities featuring Derek Jeter’s new book Night at the Stadium.
Babies R Us – Saturday, 11:00am-12:00pm; FREE. Celebrate your baby’s first birthday in the store with fun activities, giveaways and ideas for your child’s first birthday.
Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores – Saturdays; 11am to 3pm. Kids can come to this free craft time each week for a new craft. This week: Thanks a Bunch Bouquet Craft.
Toys R Us – Sunday, 3:00pm-4:00pm; FREE. Geoffrey’s Birthday Club members receive a special surprise, including a book and plush toy. Stick around for fun activities like story time.
Free National Park Admission for 4th Graders – As part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative, all 4th graders and their families have free admission for a year to America’s national parks.
Frugal & Free Activities For Kids / Families in the Northwest! is a post from Thrifty NW Mom