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.
Don’t forget to check out Goldstar for Discount Tickets on many local activities and events, if you are looking for a specific event and want to save some money!
ComedySportz: Fast and Funny Improv Comedy Competition (Seattle; 5/9 – 5/31 Fri & Sat; tickets as low as FREE)
Favorite Fairy Tale Motors Into the ’50s Era (Portland; 5/9 – 5/17 various weekend days; tickets as low as $11.00 plus service fee)
Charlotte’s Web: Beloved Children’s Classic Onstage (Portland; 5/16; tickets as low as $6 plus service fee)
School House Rock Live! Jr., a Musical Adaptation of ABC’s Classic Kids Show (Portland; 5/16; tickets as low as $6 plus service fee)
Family Friendly Concert Big Top Rock Featuring Aerosmith Tribute Band Dream On (Seattle; 5/16 & 5/17; tickets as low as $9.50 plus service fee)
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, May 9th :
*Mother’s Day Open House and Plant Sale – Seattle; 5/9 – 5/11; 10:00am – 5:00pm; The annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale offers native plants, bulbs and exotics, plus enjoy garden tours and food trucks. Kids will love building fairy houses, climbing our Wood Wave interactive sculpture, learning about worms, exploring in the garden and making a unique gift for mom. Come at 10 a.m. on May 10 for our free Drama with Your Mama workshop taught by Dandylyon Drama! 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9-11.
*FreeTête-à-têter At Frye Museum – Seattle; 5/9; 11:00am to 5:00pm; Frye Museum entrance and parking are free all the time. You can check their events page here, for a list of weekly events.
*Snap! Shows for Kids – Seattle; 5/9; 11:15am – 11:45am; Snap! is a series of immersive and inspiring performances. This month features String. Performer Mary Margaret Moore takes young children on a journey of discovery with dance, body language, and simple objects. Limited seating. Advanced tickets recommended. $5.
*Bounce House Family Night – Seattle; 5/9; 6:00pm – 8:00pm; Enjoy indoor bounce house fun for all ages. $2.
*PhinneyWood Art Walk – The Big One – Seattle; 5/9 & 5/10; See work from over 150 artists in 80 Phinney/Greenwood locations, plus enjoy food, music, kids’ activities and more. 6 to 9 p.m. May 9, noon to 5 p.m. May 10.
*Free Dance Performances – Seattle; 5/9; 6:30pm & 7:30pm; See dance performances in conjunction with the Phinneywood Art Walk. Enjoy performances in ballet, tap, hip-hop, Irish step, musical theater, contemporary, break dance, and flamenco. A 40 minute program starts at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Come enjoy the performance, then visit neighboring business who will be hosting local artists’ work.
*Young Composers Concert with Seattle Symphony – Seattle; 5/9; 7:30pm; Local teenage composers will have their music premiered by Seattle Symphony musicians as the culmination of the 2014 Merriman Family Young Composers Workshop. FREE, no tickets required.
*Northwest Seaport Chantey Sing – Seattle; 5/9; 8:00pm – 10:00pm; Sea chanteys and other sea songs celebrate our connections to the sea, ships, skippers, and sailors. Sea chanteys are fun and easy to sing and are for all ages. The maritime trio, the Whateverly Brothers, will lead the sing-along aboard the historic steam ferry Virginia V at Lake Union Park. This event also celebrates Seattle Maritime Week. FREE!
Saturday, May 10th :
*Kids Fish-In – Everett; 5/10; 7:30am – 3:30pm; Expert fishing guides will help kids hook their catch. Bring your own rod, bait and tackle; a limited amount will be available to borrow. Fishing equipment donations are greatly appreciated. Ages 4 to 14. Space is limited, pre-register.
*International Migratory Bird Day – Woodinville; 5/10; 9:00am – 12:00pm; The birds are back from their long journey and Brightwater is celebrating International Migratory Bird Day to mark the occasion. We’ll have bird walks for aspiring birders, bird skins to investigate, bird art activities, and we’ll be joined by the bird experts from the Audubon Society. Bring your family, friends, binoculars, and field guides as we learn about migratory birds and why they’re so important.
- Bird walks will leave at 9 and 10:30 a.m. from the education center.
- This event is great for families of all ages.
- This event is free to attend but requires pre-registration on our event website.
*Backyard Wildlife Festival – Tukwila; 5/10; 9:00am – 3:00pm; Arts and crafts, speakers, kids’ area with hands-on activities, entertainment and more.
*Flower Fest – Seattle; 5/10 & 5/11; 9:00am – 5:00pm; More than 40 tents are set up on the cobblestones of Pike Place to accommodate farmers’ bountiful, eye-dazzling flower displays. Customers can watch inside or outside as local farmers create and sell bouquets of colorful floral works of art. Create free Mother’s Day cards at the Card Making Booth. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10-11.
*Madrona Mayfair – Seattle; 5/10; 9:30am – 1:00pm; Bicycle parade at 9:30 a.m. at Alvin Larkins park, then bouncy houses, pony rides, food and more in the Madrona Playground (34th and Spring). Recess Monkey performs at noon in the Madrona Playfield.
*Teen Action Fair – Seattle; 5/10; 10:00am – 2:00pm; Join the Visitor Center for a youth-led celebration that showcases how young leaders are inspiring positive change. Experience inspiring student speakers, learn about volunteer opportunities, and find your inspiration to give back!
*National Train Day Celebration – Seattle; 5/10; 10:00am – 3:00pm; Explore the beautifully restored King Street Station and climb aboard for a tour of the Amtrak Coast Starlight train, enjoy cooking demonstrations and samples from Tom Douglas, a kids’ train area, a model railroad layout, information booths and more.
*Pet Fair – Redmond; 5/10; 10:00am – 3:00pm; Kids’ dog show for ages 5 to 12 (noon), demonstrations, vendors, pet adoptions and more. Well-behaved, house-trained pets on a six-foot maximum leash welcome.
*Mother’s Day Saturday Sail – Camano Island; 5/10; 10:00am – 4:00pm; Visitors to the Center for Wooden Boats’ Cama Beach location will be able to hitch a ride on Cama’s livery powerboats out to larger vessels, where they will sail or motor back in time. Sign up begin at 10 a.m., sailing begins at 11 a.m
*Richmond Beach Strawberry Festival – Shoreline; 5/10; 10:00am – 5:00pm; Enjoy food from local restaurants, games and activities for kids, local musicians, and of course, strawberry shortcake. Kids Parade in a Seahawks theme for ages 8 and younger (no bikes or pets) at 11:30 a.m. Shuttle available at Richmond Beach Congregational Church located at 1512 NW 195th.
*Celebrate Spring on Mother’s Day Weekend – Redmond; 5/10; 10:00am – 6:00pm; Celebrate Spring at Dr. Maze’s Farm. Take a hayride, walk the herb garden, and shop our botanicals in the farm stand. In the Farmyard try our Human Sundial, solve our mazes, visit farm animals, do a craft, and laugh with the Singing Chickens. Stroll our Lavender Labyrinth. Enjoy an essential oil distillation demo or try one of our classes on herbs or chickens. Don’t forget to bring your camera! Some activities require a small fee.
*Olympia Wooden Boat Fair – Olympia; 5/10 & 5/11; Kids can build their own small wooden boat on Saturday, plus the fair features wooden boats of all types, ages and sizes on display, food and craft vendors, and live entertainment. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11.
*Youth Education & Safety (Y.E.S.) Fair – Renton; 5/10; 11:00am – 2:00pm; This fair focuses on safety resources and education for children of all ages. Activities include free child ID cards; tour the Burien Fire burn house to learn about keeping safe during a fire; CPR demonstrations; hear when you should call 911 and what to say; police and fire specialty vehicles and officers on hand with demonstrations; learn about internet safety; drawings, prizes and snacks; face painting and more. This event is a Take 25 event in support of National Missing Childrens Day brought to you by the 911 community.
*Seattle Maritime Festival Harbor Open House – Seattle; 5/10; 11:00am – 5:00pm; Tugboat races, workboat parade, harbor and vessel tours, chowder cook-off, kids’ activities, and more.
*Spirit of West Africa – Seattle; 5/10; 12:00pm – 8:00pm; Live music and dance from local and touring performers representing West African countries, plus workshops, exhibits, activities and a marketplace.
*Mother Goose Story Time – Seattle; 5/10; 1:00pm – 2:00pm; Bring your kids ages 6 and younger to meet master storyteller Mother Goose for myths and legends, sing-alongs, scavenger hunts and other activities highlighting birds and animals of Seward Park and legends of the Northwest. Guest appearances by Talking Tree, Sasquatch, Owl, Eagle and Bear.
Sunday, May 11th:
*Cast Off! Free Public Sailing – Seattle; 5/11; 10:00am – 4:00pm; Our Cast Off! program allows visitors the chance to sail in classic boats. The boats we use include: Admirable, a Bristol Bay Gillnetter; Amie, a Friendship sloop; Colleen Wagner, an Egret Sharpie; our long-boat Discovery, our New Haven Sharpie Betsy D, or a visiting classic. Before and after your sail take a walk on the docks and discover the boats. Watch the volunteer crews rigging the boats. They’ll be happy to answer any question you might have, and you may even have a chance to help with the rigging!
*Bicycle Sundays – Seattle; 5/11; 10:00am – 6:00pm; The four-mile stretch of Lake Washington Boulevard between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park is closed to motorized traffic 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. several Sundays through September, including May 4, 11 and 18.
*Mother’s Day Social – Bellevue; 5/11; 1:00pm – 4:00pm; Open house at Bellevue Botanical Garden includes light refreshments and music. Donations accepted. Regular parking lot closed; park at Wilburton lot.
Monday, May 12th:
*Pajama Story Time – Seattle; 5/12; 6:45pm – 7:15pm; It is pajama story time at the Queen Anne Branch! All ages are welcome to join us for stories, songs and crafts. You can wear your pajamas!
Tuesday, May 13th:
*Detective Cookie’s Urban Youth Chess Club – Seattle; 5/6; 3:30pm – 5:00pm; Children and teens, ages 7 and up, are invited to join the group. Family and community members are also welcome. Drop by to learn and play chess!
Wednesday, May 14th:
*FREE Drop-In Playgroup – Seattle; 4/14 & 4/16; 10:00am – 12:00pm; Join kids ages birth to 5 and their parents/caregivers every Wednesday and Friday for a drop-in playgroup! Have fun playing with other families, reading, and singing. First-time families will be asked to fill out a registration form. FREE
*Family Nature Club - Seattle; 5/14; 10:15am – 11:30am; Learn about nature through indoor and outdoor activities led by Woodland Park Zoo educators. For children ages 0-5 and their families. Registration is required.
*Story Hour at the Conservatory – Tacoma; 5/14; 11:00am – 12:00pm; Enjoy a story plus art and science activities on the second Wednesday of each month at the conservatory. Free to $3.
*Students Get Free Admission To The Bellevue Art Museum – Bellevue; 5/14; 11:00am to 5:00pm; Students of all ages can explore the Bellevue Arts Museum after school FREE with printable coupon.
Thursday, May 15th :
*What the Griot Said: Stories at NAAM – Seattle; 5/15; 11:00am – 12:00pm; Children of all ages are invited to experience the art of storytelling and the power of stories with a gifted griot (storyteller).
*Half Priced Admission Imagine Childrens Museum – Everett; 5/15; 3:00pm – 5:00pm is half priced ( $3.88)
*$1 Third Thursdays at KidsQuest – Bellevue; 5/15; 5:00pm – 8:00pm; Enjoy $1 admission 5 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
*Third Thursday Art Mingle - Tacoma; 5/15; 5:00pm – 8:00pm; Visit Tacoma’s downtown galleries. FREE, includes the Museum of Glass, Washington State History Museum (free 2 to 8 p.m.) and Tacoma Art Museum.
*Open Studio Night for Teens - Everett; 5/15; 6:00pm – 8:00pm; Teens can get creative with local artists, as well as enjoy glass blowing demonstrations and refreshments.
For more lists of local events in WA check out these websites::
*Sounds Fun Mom - Maegen always has a great list of events local to the South Sound area of WA, as her blog features family fun activities around the South Sound.
*Grays Harbor Deals - Annaliese lists some great events each weekend for Grays Harbor county (Long Beach, Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Moclips, Ocean Shores, Raymond, Elma & more!)
*SnoCo Mom - Emily shares all about Snohomish County family & kids activities on her blog & you’ll find some great weekly events.
PORTLAND AREA:
Here’s our list of weekly events for the Portland area.
Friday, May 9th :
*Free Mother’s Day Stroller Strides Class at Jamison Sq. – Portland; 5/9; 10:00am – 12:00pm; Join FIT4MOM Cedar Mill for our annual Mother’s Day Celebration at Jamison Square! The event will include: A free one hour Stroller Strides workout, Swag bags for the first 40 moms checked in, Awesome prize giveaways, Best deals on new memberships, Fun Fun FUN! Please register online at www.cedarmill.fit4mom.com
-9:00am Registration & Check in
-9:30am Stroller Strides class
-10:30am Prize giveaways, refreshments, activities for the kids & more!
*Music with Miss SaraMag at Rain City Coffee – Portland; 5/9; 10:00am – 11:00am; Miss SaraMag loves to sing, dance, play, inspire, and teach. Miss SaraMag sings and plays the piano, as well as incorporating sign language and dance for interactive fun! $5 suggested donation
*Micah and Me Singalong! at A Children’s Place Bookstore – Portland; 5/9; 10:30am; Micah and Me Singalong with rollicking kid’s songs! Donations appreciated.
*Weekly Storytime + Craft Activity at The Craft Factory – Portland; 5/9; 10:30am – 11:00am; Now you can listen to picture books while crafting the morning away at The Craft Factory’s weekly Friday morning storytime. Picturebooks are on loan from Annie Bloom’s Books right next door. Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m. and is free for everyone to attend. We offer a $5 storytime craft special for your choice of 2 ornamental craft bases that we can turn into magnets or ornaments for you once you’ve finished decorating them. Regular craft bases remain at their everyday $12 price.
*Music From Mr. Hoo from The Alphabeticians – Portland; 5/9; 11:00am to 12:00pm; Mr. Hoo will be singing songs with and for kids. He’ll play his guitar and sing some original songs, some Alphabeticians songs, some classic kid songs and Hoo knows what else? $3 suggested donation pp.
*Story Time with Olive and Dingo @ Pie Spot – Portland; 5/9; 3:00pm – 4:00pm; Full of comedy, songs, stories, balloons and laughter. Sure to get the jumpers jumping, the dancers dancing, wigglers wiggling and the noise makers cooing. Balloons twisting and fellowship is at the end of the show. Cost: $5 per child for balloons and entertainment
*Family yoga and dance at Treehouse Children’s Boutique – Portland; 5/9; 6:00pm – 7:00pm; Life spirals yoga presents Sun dance yoga for the family. Come join us to get your strech on and your heart pumping. Sun dance yoga is a belend of hatha, vinyassna yoga and belly dance inspired. Get your exercise and family bonding time in. Cost: $10 per family
Saturday, May 10th :
*Safety Saturday at the Historic Belmont Firehouse – Portland; 5/10; 9:00am – 3:00pm; Head to the Firehouse for a monthly open day of operation. Drop in during open hours to see the exhibits and learn about safety for you and your family. No appointment is necessary.
*Women in Trades Career Fair - Portland; 5/10; 9:00am – 3:00pm; Hands-on workshops and activities to introduce girls and women to the building, mechanical, electrical and utility trades.
*Presto the Magician A Benefit Show for Lift Urban Portland – Portland; 5/10; 10:00am; Presto the Magician will dazzle, amaze and make you laugh. His shows always contain amazing magic, hilarious comedy and tons of audience participation! Lift Urban Portland is a community of volunteers who lift up neighbors in need. Visit lifturbanportland.org to find out more. Child’s Play Toys and Santa Fe Taqueria will be donating a portion of sales from 10am-2pm on May 10th to Lift Urban Portland. Cost: Suggested donation of $10 per family
*Rain City Rock Out! at Rain City Coffee – Portland; 5/10; 10:00am – 11:00am; Mo Phillips jams his originals, classic family jams, and supa sweet familiar pop tunes to charge up your Saturday! $5 suggested donation
*Guided Nature Walks at Tryon Creek– Portland; 5/10; 10:00am-11:30am; Free guided nature hikes exploring the forest and stream ecosystems and natural history at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Topics will vary from week to week but will be appropriate for all ages. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes.
*National Train Day at Union Station – Portland; 5/10; 10:00am – 4:00pm; Trains of all shapes and sizes from scale models up to the real thing- Amtrak’s new Talgo train, an historic Union Pacific caboose and the star of the show the S P & S 700 Steam Locomotive. Kid’s activities including the Chuggington Kids Depot, face painting & entertainment by the Rose Festival Character Clown Corps. Musical entertainment by The Marvins, Americana duo, the local bluegrass group Cascadia Crescendo and the Dixieland sounds of The Mudtown Stompers. This event is free and fun for all ages.
* Kids Saturday Morning Skate Session At Oaks Park – Portland; 5/10; 10:30am – 12:00pm; For $6 children 10 and under can skate (skates included). Parents free with paid child admission.
*May Faire – Portland; 5/10; 10:30am – 12:30pm; Join Wild Lilac for our annual May Faire celebration! We’re excited to share this seasonal celebration with you…. Craft and Children’s Activities, Music, Plant Sale, Maypole Dance, Bake Sale, Puppet Show, Food. Wild Lilac Child Development Community provides child-centered and developmentally appropriate care and education for children from six weeks to six years of age, as well as support services for children and their families.
*Free Kids Admission at Treemendous Second Saturday – Portland; 5/10; 10:30am – 2:00pm; The World Forestry Center Discovery Museum is offering free admission to kids 18 and under on Saturday, May 10 as part of their Treemendous Second Saturday event series. Kids will have the opportunity to make the perfect gift for Mom at no additional cost, including a hand decorated flower pot planted with fresh flowers, and Mother’s Day cards. Crafts and games where kids will learn about trees, will take place between 10:30am and 2pm. Cost: Free for ages 0-13
*Nature Days in the Park: Pioneer Park – Beaverton; 5/10; 11:00am – 3:00pm; Just a couple blocks from the busy Sunset Hwy, this park offers quiet forest trails through recently restored habitat. After learning about the park’s resident animals, explore the forest and fields in serach of wildlife evidence. Education staff and volunteers will lead interactive, nature-based activities. Park rangers will be available to answer your questions. A free event, suitable for all ages.
*Second Saturday at the Water Center: Public Works – Vancouver; 5/10; 1:00pm – 3:00pm; Learn about some of the many interesting and fun things the City of Vancouver’s Public Works Department does for you and your community. Celebrate Public Works Week from May 12 – 24. Kids must be accompanied by a grown-up.
*Oregon Pacific Railroad Train Rides at Rail Heritage Center – Portland; 5/10; 1:00pm – 5:00pm; The Oregon Pacific Railroad is offering round trip diesel locomotive powered passenger train rides from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, located near OMSI. Passenger trains will operate on Saturdays and depart the Oregon Rail Heritage Center at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 4:30 pm. Locomotive cab rides are available for an additional fee. Cost: $5
*Kidlit Trivia with Kidlit Authors at Green Bean Books – Portland; 5/10; 2:00pm – 3:00pm; It’s our first middle grade author panel. Join us Saturday, May 10th, 2pm, as we welcome a trio of talented writers who’ll talk about their new books in a lively, Jeopardy-style, fun fact format. Free.
Robin Herrera: Hope is a Ferris Wheel
Mary Elizabeth Summer: Trust Me, I’m Lying
Chris Struyk-Bonn: Whisper
*Northwest Children’s Theater at Oaks Park – Portland; 5/10; 4:00pm – 5:00;
SERENDIPITOUS SIBLINGS This fun loving show jumps for joy, with the adventures of being a Sibling! Our brothers and sisters will sing favorites; We Are Family, Lean on Me, and Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better. Through acting, song and dance they will demonstrate the trials and joys of sibling life.
ONCE UPON A TIME Follow this talented troupe of kids into the woods! This fairytale takes you behind the scenes of what happened before Prince Charming met his Princess, before Jack sold Milky White for magic beans, and before Hansel and Gretel came across that tempting gingerbread house. This musical review is filled with acting, singing, dancing and is sprinkled with a touch of fairy magic.
Sunday, May 11th:
*The David Show! at Rain City Coffee – Portland; 5/11; 10:30am – 11:00am; Musical variety show for children of all ages and their families, now on Sundays. Free, donations appreciated
*Curious Garden at the Curious Comedy Theater – Portland; 5/11; 10:30am – 11:30am; The Curious Garden is back! Come see our old friends Razzie the Fairy, Daisy the Flower and Jojo the Lawnjockey – and meet our new garden friends Ribbit the Frog, Dottie the Ladybug and Flappy the Chicken! The Curious Garden is a show for all ages – especially kids 0-8. Every month on the second Sunday at 10:30am. And remember each episode ends with an open mic where you can sing, dance, tell a joke and show off your talent at the Curious Garden. $5 suggested donation.
*Ruckus in the Lobby at Artist Rep – Portland; 5/11; 11:00am – 4:00pm; Traveling Lantern Theatre two-person family-friendly play every Sunday morning at 11 am. Includes a Q&A with the cast afterward. Tickets are only $5 for all who attend over 5 years old, and can be purchased at the door or at www.artistsrep.org.
May 11 Johnny Appleseed
May 18 Bilbo
May 25 Johnny Appleseed
Monday, May 12th :
*Micah and Me Singalong! at Warehouse Cafe – Portland; 5/12; 10:00am; Micah and Me Singalong! at Warehouse Cafe Enjoy rollicking kid’s songs by a baby (Micah, our manager) and two stay at home dads (Aaron and Ryan). $5 suggested donation
*Tallulah’s Daddy at Rain City Coffee – Portland; 5/12; 10:00am – 11:00am; Come sing, dance and play with Tallulah’s Daddy as he plays guitar, bass and cajon. They start with musical storytime, then sing songs, and we leave a little bit of extra time for the kids to get their hands on some percussion instruments! No cover charge, donations appreciated.
*The David Show! at Cafe au Play – Portland; 5/12; 10:30am – 11:15am; Fun, interactive musical variety for the whole family! Donations accepted.
*Music Class with Johnny Keener at The Treehouse – Portland; 5/12; 12:00pm; He will craft music for kids that is exciting and fun, as well as artistically satisfying. He is committed to inviting kids into the musical process providing them with a musical experience they won’t forget! Best for ages 0-6. Cost: $5 per child
Tuesday, May 13th :
*Story Time with Olive and Dingo @ Warehouse Cafe – Portland; 5/13; 10:00am – 11:00am; Fun for all. Not your average story time. Full of comedy, songs, stories, balloons and laughter. Sure to get the jumpers jumping, the dancers dancing, wigglers wiggling and the noise makers cooing. Balloons twisting and fellowship is at the end of the show. Cost: $5 per child for balloons and entertainment
*Preschool Play and Skate at Oaks Park – Portland; 5/13; 10:00am – 11:30am; This special roller skating session is just for your littlest skaters. Children 6 and under enjoy games, songs, blals, a 15 minute group lesson, snack time, and more. Conventional skate rental included. Shoes and strollers welcome on the skating floor. Adults free with paid children’s admission. Cost: $6.00
*Chuck Cheesman at Cafe au Play – Portland; 5/13; 10:30am – 11:15am; Chuck Chessman makes music for children and with children, and he thinks it is probably the best job on the planet. Sometimes parents come to him and say, “Mr. Chuck, I can’t sing.” His reply? “Cookie Monster and Bob Dylan have had hit records. You can sing. Everybody can sing!” And that is the message Chuck Cheesman is pouring into this world. We can all make music together, and we (the boring old grown-ups!) owe it to our children to share with them a love for the arts, music, and dancing. Chuck appears every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Cafe au Play.
*Micah and Me Singalong at Rain City Coffee – Portland; 5/13; 3:00pm; Micah and Me Kids Singalong at Rain City Coffee Tuesdays at 3pm. We will be singing the favorites including Dan Zanes’ new one, “Let’s Dance.”
Wednesday, May 14th :
*Red Yarn at Village Ballroom – Portland; 5/14; 10:00am – 10:45am; Audiences will sing, dance, act, and experience the joy of community during Red Yarn’s interactive shows. Stick around for open playtime after the show, also hosted by Woodlawn Swap’n’Play! $5/family suggested
*African World Music at Rain City Coffee – Portland; 5/14; 10:00am – 11:00am; Kids of all ages and adults are welcome to join this fun, upbeat music hour of drumming, singing and jamming. Bring your children and come and dance and play along with us and try some of our handmade African kids drums while playing along to the African rhythms.
*Tadpole Tales at Columbia Slough Water Quality Facility – Portland; 5/14; 10:00am – 11:00am; Children aged 3-5 with their parents are invited to a short story and guided nature walk. This program runs each Wednesday March-May. Event runs rain or shine. Families are welcome to bring a snack. Cost: $3 per child, adults-free
*Wondrous Wednesday’s At The World Forestry Center – Washington Park; 5/14; 10:00am – 5:00pm; Reduced admission for The Discovery Museum. Get in for $3 on the first Wed. of each month.
*Honeybee Hikes at Leach Botanical Gardens – Portland; 5/14; 10:00am – 11:00am; Weekly nature-related activities for young children and their adult caregivers. Discover the secrets of the Garden and its critters through stories and outdoor explorations. Dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes for unpaved, uneven walkways that could be muddy. Strollers limit where we can explore, so carriers are ideal for little ones. No pre-registration required. Best for ages 1-6. Cost: $2 per child
*Miss SaraMag at Treehouse Boutique – Portland; 5/14; 10:30am; Miss SaraMag loves to sing, dance, play, inspire, and teach. During the show, you will sing and dance along as Miss SaraMag sings, plays the piano, and incorporates percussion and American Sign Language. Feel free to bring your favorite instrument and play along! Cost: $5
*Story Time with Olive and Dingo @ Pieper Cafe – Portland; 5/14; 3:00pm – 4:00pm; Fun for all. Balloons twisting and fellowship is at the end of the show. Cost: $5 per child for balloons and entertainment
*Mo Phillips Party Time! at Oregon Public House – Portland; 5/14; 5:00pm – 6:00pm; Join Mo for some excellent family rock out dinner action
Thursday, May 15th:
*Free Story Time at Art Ala Carte – Portland; 5/15; 9:15am – 9:45am; Guess what? Story time is returning! Our awesome Friend Jane will return every Thursday morning for a free story time and art project. 9:15-9:45 then stay for open studio after for a discounted rate of $3 off!
*Tallulah’s Daddy at Warehouse Cafe – Portland; 5/15; 10:00am – 11:00am; Tallulah’s Daddy plays fun, energetic and interactive acoustic music for kids, and brings lots of percussion goodies for kids of all ages to play with! Cost: donation
*Story Time with Olive and Dingo @ Cafe au Play – Portland; 5/15; 10:30am – 11:30am; Fun for all. Not your average story time. Full of comedy, songs, stories, balloons and laughter. Sure to get the jumpers jumping, the dancers dancing, wigglers wiggling and the noise makers cooing. Olive and Dingo are bright and cheery, cartoony characters who love inspiring kids and families to be silly, to love imrove and creative performance and to be the best audience members Portland has ever known! Balloons twisting and fellowship is at the end of the show.
$5 per child for balloons and entertainment
*Nature Program at Powell’s Cedar Hills – Beaverton; 5/15; 1:00pm; Preschool nature program led by a local naturalist. This month students will discover the world of wise owls and learn what makes an owl different from other birds and where to look for owls in the dark. We will read Whoo Goes There? by Jennifer Ericsson. This program is produced by Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
*Story and Stroll at Tryon Creek Park – Portland; 5/15; 1:00pm – 2:15pm; This program integrates nature exploration, art, literature, music, movement, and outdoor play. It is geared toward families with young children (preferably ages 2-6) but all are welcome. Thursdays and Fridays. This is a free event for ages 2-6 years with guardian. Reservations required.
*Micah and Me Singalong! at Milagros Boutique – Portland; 5/15; 2:00pm; Come join us for well-known kids songs plus some new fun ones you may have not heard before! Lots of chance to jump up and down, move around and get the wiggles out! Even some songs that the adults will enjoy! Cost: $5 per child
*Heart in Hand Preschool Presents Puppet Plays at Green Bean Books - Portland; 5/15; 3:30pm – 4:00pm; Enjoy a delightful production of Pelle’s New Suit by Ms. Yvonne of Heart in Hand Preschool on Thursday, May 15th, 3:30pm. Free.
For more lists of local events in western OR check out::
* PDX Kids Calendar - this is a comprehensive events-based website for families in the Portland area.
NATIONAL EVENTS:
*Free Craft Activities at Lakeshore Learning Stores– Sataurdays; 11am to 3pm; Kids can come to this free craft time each week for a new craft (plus print a $5 off $25 coupon).
*Bank Of America Museums On Us Free Entrance – ; Bank Of America card holders can get free entrance to Museums Nationwide. Check website for participating museums in your area.
*Home Depot Kids Workshop – ; 9:00am to 12:00pm; Kids can participate in free building projects the first Sat. of the month.
*Lego Stores Mini Models Build – Tuesdays ; 5:00pm; Monthly model build event, one free for kids 6-14 while supplies last. 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
*Barnes and Noble Free Storytime - Times and events vary by location. Check your location for specific story’s available this weekend.
Fun & Frugal Family Events 5/9 – 5/15 is a post from: Thrifty NW Mom
The post Fun & Frugal Family Events 5/9 – 5/15 appeared first on Thrifty NW Mom.