Veterans Day is a time to honor and celebrate the brave people who have served our country, both past and present. Across the Seattle area, families can participate in meaningful events that pay tribute to these veterans, from community parades and ceremonies to museum exhibits and family-friendly activities that help children understand the importance of service and sacrifice. Here are some Veterans Day events where we can come together as a community to show appreciation and respect for those who have served our country.
Photo credit: Woodland Park Zoo
Celebrations of veterans, active military and first responders
Annual Veterans Parade & Observance – Auburn| Saturday, November 7, 2026 |11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Main Street, Auburn | Free | All ages | Auburn hosts one of the largest Veterans Day Parades west of the Mississippi. The parade typically features over 200 units and nearly 5,000 parade participants, including 20 or more marching bands, military vehicles, veterans’ units, honor guards, and more. Spectators will enjoy the military entries, as well as the antique military vehicles and equipment. A variety of veteran units are always crowd pleasers. The day kicks off with a Community Breakfast on at the Auburn American Legion Hall from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ($12 per person), followed by a Remembrance Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. Help Auburn celebrate six decades of honoring veterans.
Veterans Appreciation Days at Point Defiance Zoo | November 11-15, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma | Free for U.S Military/Veteran, 1/2 off for family members | Tickets at the entrance only, no online purchase| U.S. military veterans and active duty members can enjoy the wonder of the Zoo for FREE during Veterans’ Appreciation Days. Immediate family members receive half off the general admission price. Offer valid at the Zoo admission window. The offer is not valid for online purchases. Proof of military service is required.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park |November 11-15, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville| Free for U.S Military/Veteran, 1/2 off for family members | Tickets at the entrance only, no online purchase| U.S. military veterans and active duty members can enjoy the wonder of the Zoo for FREE during Veterans’ Appreciation Days. Immediate family members receive half off the general admission price. Offer valid at the Zoo admission window. The offer is not valid for online purchases. Proof of military service is required.
Veteran’s Day Freedom Run |November 14, 2026 | Wave A: 7:30 a.m., Wave B: 8:00 a.m., Wave C: 8:30 a.m. | Lincoln Park in West Seattle | $42 for 5K, $30 for 1-mile family walk | Commemorate Veterans Day with a walk or run celebrating freedom by joining this 5K, 10K, or Half-Marathon. Families welcome to join in this meaningful way to show deep gratitude Veterans who have sacrificed protect the country’s freedom. Your family can also use the race to raise funds for a charity of choice. All net funds raised will go towards your cause.
General George Washington will be portrayed by re-enactor Vern Frykholm (Photo courtesy George Washington Speaks)
Events on Veteran’s Day, November 11
Eastside Veterans Day Ceremony | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Funeral Home Chapel | Free | All ages | Here’s a chance of a lifetime! Hear a speech by General George Washington (portrayed by re-enactor Vern Frykholm), the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Event includes posting of colors by the University of Washington Air Force ROTC Color Guard. Army, recognition of veterans and first responders and Navy and Marine Corps representatives in colonial attire.
3rd Annual Poulsbo’s Veterans Day Parade | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Front Street and Downtown Poulsbo | Free | All ages | Join the Poulsbo’s 3rd Veterans Day Parade on Front Street to commemorate this day.
Free entrance to State Parks and National Parks | November 11, 2026 | 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. | In honor of Veterans nationwide, State Parks and the National Parks Service have made November 11 a free day to get into the parks. Enjoy the great outdoors with your loved ones as you reflect on the Veterans who serve our country, past and present.
Veterans Day Ceremony – SeaTac | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 11 a.m. | SeaTac Community Center |Free | All ages | The SeaTac Veterans Memorial pays tribute to men and women military veterans of the past and present for their service. The memorial incorporates engraved paver tiles as a lasting way to remember the loved ones who have served. Names given in 2024 will be read out loud.
Veterans Day Parade – Mill Creek | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 9-10 a.m. |Library Park | Free | Join Mill Creek for their Veteran’s Day Parade. The parade will feature military and high school bands, color guards, vintage and military vehicles, and community organizations, including Veterans and their families. There will be a ceremony at 9 a.m. before the parade at Liberty Park.
Gig Harbor Veterans Day Celebration | Wednesdayt, November 11, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Gig Harbor Aero Museum | Free for Veterans, active duty military and first responders, $17.85 for General admission | Tickets here | Veterans, active duty, family members and the community are invited to this event. This year, they are celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Army, Navy, and Marines. Join this event filled with military pagentry, music, guest speakers.
Other ways to celebrate and remember veterans
There are many ways to show gratitude for the military members, first responders and veterans in our community who work to keep our country safe.
- Listen for the ferries tribute at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, all operating Washington State Ferries that are underway will sound their whistles in a special tribute to military veterans.
- Visit the region’s national cemetery—Tahoma National Cemetery—where thousands of military veterans are buries to pay respects. Keep in mind, a visit can be overwhelming to kids beginning to understand the permanency of death, so take a moment to explain to your child what they will see.
- Visit your local cemetery with kids on Veteran’s Day and look for military gravestones or grave markers. Consider leaving flowers or small flags as a gesture of thanks.
- It’s great to say thank you. When you are out in public with your child and see someone in military attire, it’s nice gesture to say “Thank you for your service.”
- Read a book to young kids. Your local library or book store is likely to have plenty of books on veterans or military service Check out Library Learners for good optioms.
- Have a dinner table discussion about freedom and sacrifice. The website Care.com suggests parents ask kids “What freedoms do you enjoy?” Then explain how how veterans are connected to our everyday liberties they have thanks to veterans.
- Visit a veteran. There’s not better way to celebrate Veteran’s Day than spending time with a veteran. Contact a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, the American Legion or Disabled American Veterans to see if there are veterans who would enjoy a visit from kids or if they have other information on ways you can support veterans locally.
Most important of all, listen when your child wants to talk about Veterans Day or what it means to be a veteran. While they may be young, their emotional intelligence is high. Using kid-friendly, age-appropriate language and activities to teach them about respecting and honoring our veterans — and appreciating the freedoms we enjoy as Americans — will go a long way toward instilling a sense of patriotism and empathy.
