Looking for fun (and free!) ways to keep the kids entertained this weekend? Whether you’re hoping to burn off some energy at a local park, explore a new museum exhibit, or catch a family-friendly event, the greater Seattle area is packed with activities that won’t cost a dime. Each week, we round up the best free events and outings for families so you can make the most of your weekend, without breaking the bank. Here’s what’s happening this weekend!
🌟 signals our Editor’s Picks, the most exciting and noteworthy events on our radar
Events happening all weekend
🌟50th Anniversary Pig Roast | July 18-19 | Hours vary | Danny Woo Community Garden | Free | All ages | Celebrate with them through food, performances, a night of roasting, and a community potluck.
🌟Sandsations: Sand Sculptures & Competition | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Long Beach, WA | Free to watch | Sandsations is a multi-day celebration of creative sand sculpting held in July each year. Take lessons and get an up-close view of the creation of these public works of art. It’s fun for all!
Indian Days Powwow (Photo courtesy: Seafair.org).
🌟Seafair Indian Days Powwow | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center | Free | Come and enjoy dance, music, Native arts and crafts, and traditional foods as the tribes proudly celebrate and share their culture.
Kla Ha Ya Days | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Downtown Snohomish | Free | The City of Snohomish’s Kla Ha Ya Days, is a “good, old-fashioned” summer fair that includes a pancake breakfast, a Frogtastic Kids Fair, a parade, a balloon glow, a Street Fair and much more.
MLT Festival | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Downtown Mountlake Terrace & Evergreen Playfield Complex | Free | Welcome to the MLT Festival, a weekend packed with fun events including live entertainment, a parade, pancake breakfast, a fun run and much more. The parade will be on Friday, July 18 at 6:45 p.m.
Shakespeare in the Park: Mucho Ado About Nothing | July 18 – August 16, 2025 | Various hours | Fri, Sat, Sun | Multiple parks | Free | Join Shakespeare in the Park by Greenstage! Don’t miss ‘Mucho Ado About Nothing’. Learn more about the story of ‘Mucho Ado About Nothing’ here.
🌟Vashon Island Strawberry Festival | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Downtown Vashon Island | Free | This old-time tradition is perfect for the family. It is just a ferry ride away and has live music, a parade, a car show, family and kid zones, and more!
Strawberry Festival (Photo courtesy: Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce).
🌟Sequim Lavender Festival | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Carrie Blake Park, Sequim | Free | Sequim celebrates all things lavender and offers the local community and the many visitors free lavender farm tours, a street fair with artisan booths, live music, and food and community events.
Alki Beach Art Fair | July 18-20 | Hours vary | Alki Beach Park | Free | All ages | Alki Beach comes to life with artist booths, live music, interactive kids’ activities, food carts, and more at this family-friendly art fair. The art fair offers lots of fun and creative activities for kids.
As You Like It Wooden O Production Shakespeare in the Park | July 18-20 | 7 p.m. | Multiple Parks in the Seattle area | Free | All ages | Free Wooden O production for the summer will be William Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy, As You Like It. Grab a picnic, bring your family, and join for some Shakespeare in the parks!
Northwest Raspberry Festival | July 18-19 | Hours vary | Historic Downtown Lynden | Free | All ages | Participate in the many activities in town, including basketball tournaments, Kids Zone, local berry farm tours, winery tours, a car show, vendor markets, and more!
Bon Odori Festival | July 19-20 | 2 to 8 p.m. | Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple | Free | A traditional summer festival that features Japanese food booths and refreshments, live music, taiko and martial arts performances, and craft exhibits and demonstrations.
Covington Days Festival | July 19-20 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 27100 169th Pl SE, Covington | Free | The festival kicks off with a parade, and then festival grounds come alive with arts and crafters, family activities, on-stage entertainment, inflatable toys, a watermelon eating contest, and more.
Arab Festival at the Seattle Center (Photo courtesy: Seattle Center/Flickr).
🌟Seattle Arab Festival at Seattle Center | July 19-20 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily | Seattle Center Armory Hall | Free | all ages | Visitors will also be delighted by Arabic music, singing, dancing and other stage performances. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series. It is free and open to the public.
🌟SandBlast Festival of the Arts | July 19-20 | Hours vary | McCormick Park, Duvall | Free | All ages | Showcase of the talent of a master sand carver. The festival also features a lineup of local musicians performing live on the main stage. And while you’re grooving to the music, be sure to check out the local artist booths.
🌟Summer Free Play at the PlayGarden | July 18-August 23 | 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Friday/Saturday | Seattle Children’s PlayGarden | Free | Each session offers seasonal and culturally relevant activities such as gardening, cooking classes, music classes, dance, movement activities, art, construction, and more.
Waterfront Park Market | July 18 – September 2025 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Thursday-Sunday | Waterfront Park Promenade | Free | Items to purchase | Designed as an open-air marketplace along the historic waterfront promenade, Waterfront Park Market features dozens of vendors from across the city and region.
Thomas Family Farm Summer Series | July 18 – August 31, 2025 | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Thursday-Sunday | Thomas Family Farm, Snohomish | Free entry | Features fun activities for the whole family, including a kids park, gem mining, food trucks, pickleball courts, yard games, and more! Some activities cost, but entry to the venue is free.
🌟Seattle Spray Parks Open! | July 18 – September 1 | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily | Multiple Seattle Parks | Free | Spray parks are perfect for an afternoon out or quick, post-playground cool-offs. They will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, throughout the summer. See the complete list of spray parks that will be open here.
North Acres Spray Park (Photo Seattle Parks and Red:Flickr)
Free Guided Garden Tours | July 18 – October 26, 2025 | 12 to 1 p.m. | Every Saturday/Sunday | Bellevue Botanical Garden | Free | All ages | These general tours will introduce the plants and gardens at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, and offer interesting information about the Garden and its history.
Green Lake Park Wading Pool | July 18 – September 1, 2025 | 12 to 7 p.m. daily | Wallingford Ave N. and, East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98115 | Free | Only open when it is 70 degrees or hotter outside | With the playground, boat rentals, and ice cream all within walking distance. Be sure to check the website and or call before arriving in case of closures due to weather or other factors. Check out more wading pools in the Seattle area.
Shakespeare in the Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream | July 19 & 20 – August 16, 2025 | Hours vary | Weekends | Location varies by date | Free | All ages | They will be offering Backyard Bard showings, which is a stripped down production of Shakespeare’s plays, one hour long and performed by a small ensemble of versatile actors.
Friday, July 18
🌟Seafair Clown Arrival | Friday, July 18 | 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Seattle Aquarium | Free | Join the celebration as the Seattle Seafair Clowns will provide entertainment for children of all ages with stickers, buttons, balloons, and candy.
Springwood Park Grand Opening Celebration | Friday, July 18 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Springwood Park, Kent | Free | All ages | They will have volleyball, badminton, PLINKO, ladder ball, cornhole, Jenga, Connect 4 (giant edition!), and KanJam. Additionally, in the multi-use sport court area, they will have basketball and soccer games underway!
Des Moines Waterland Kids’ Festival | Friday, July 18 | 1 to 5 p.m. | Des Moines Field House Park | Free | All ages | An afternoon full of excitement, games, and activities for kids of all ages! There will be crafts, live entertainment, games, activities, treats, and more.
Fridays on 1st Street | Friday, July 18 | 4 to 10 p.m. | Space 802, Snohomish | Free | All ages | This FREE concert & mini festival will feature live local bands, a beer garden, magicians, balloon animals, face painting and much more.
Aqui Mercado at Waterfront Park | Friday, July 18 & July 25 | 4 to 10 p.m. | Fridays | Pier 62 | Free | All ages | This is a Pop-Up Mercado focused on the Latinx and Queer communities in Seattle!
Community Access Night (Photo courtesy: Imagine Children’s Museum).
🌟Community Access Night at Imagine | Friday, July 18 | 5 to 9 p.m. | Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett | Free | All families with children ages 12 and under* are invited and can bring the whole family. Discover one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits that promote playful learning!
Northgate Community Center Anniversary Party | Friday, July 18 | 5 to 7:30 p.m. | Northgate Community Center, Seattle | Free | All ages | Come enjoy live music, class demonstrations, games, and browse local vendors. Free cake and beverages.
PhinneyWood Art Walk | Friday, July 18 | 6 to 9 p.m. | Phinney Center & Greenwood Business | Free | All ages | Celebrate the vibrant arts community of Phinney Ridge and Greenwood at this two-day event, featuring local artists and makers in a unique, neighborhood-wide art walk.
Rec N Roll – Mobile Recreation Program | July 18-August 22, 2025 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Monday-Friday | Free | Various Parks in Auburn | The parks department created the Rec N Roll program to bring fun recreation. Join this free drop-in program, featuring sports, crafts, games, activities, special presenters, and more. See location here.
Summer Lunches and Playground Activities | July 18 – August 22, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Monday-Friday | Multiple Seattle Parks | Free | Ages 0-18 | Seattle Parks & Recreation’s FREE Summer Meals program. Visit their summer playground for free summer sack lunches and playground activities. See park locations here.
Friday Community BBQs | July 18 – August 29, 2025 | 5 to 6 p.m. | Fridays | International District Community Center | Free | All ages | You will head to Donnie Chin Park, where kids can play while we have free BBQ, music, dancing, games, water play, and arts & crafts.
🌟Outdoor Movies at Cal Anderson Park | July 18 – July 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Fridays | Cal Anderson Park | Free | Check movie rating | Join the Seattle Parks and Recreation Movies in the Park and enjoy free movies for the family. Note: The July 25 movie is rated R.
[Read more: Family-friendly outdoor summer movies in the Seattle area]
Rainier Beach Late Night for Teens | July 18 – August 30 | 7 p.m. to midnight | Every Friday/Saturday | Rainier Beach Community Center | Free | Ages 13-19 | Late Night is a safe and supportive environment for teens. This recreation-based program is held on Friday and Saturday evenings with a focus on positive teen interactions and engagement.
Backyard Bard 2025. (Photo courtesy: Green Stage Shakespeare in the Park).
Shakespeare in the Park: The Taming of the Shrew | July 18 – August 16, 2025 | Hours vary | Multiple parks | Free | All ages | The Backyard Bard shows, shortened versions of Shakespeare’s plays (one hour each) are sometimes shown back-to-back with a generous break in between.
Free Outdoor Movie Night | July 18 – September 12 | 8 to 11 p.m. | Fridays | StoneHouse Cafe | Free | All ages | Every Friday night, they will be featuring movies on the lawn. Visit the website for the list of movies!
Friday Night Movies in the Park – Burien | July 18 – August 8 | 8:30 p.m. | Fridays | Burien Town Square Park | Free | Join the free, family-friendly movies at Burien Town Square. Be sure to bring blankets, snacks and low-height chairs. Movies will start right after sunset (approximately 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.). Dogs on leash are welcome.
Saturday, July 19
Car Show 4 Kids | Saturday, July 19 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | O’Reilly Auto Parts Distribution Center (Puyallup) | Free | All ages | Stop by this fun car show for kids, featuring goody bags, door prizes, raffles, music, food trucks, and more!
Exotics Car Show | Saturday, July 19 – October 25 | 9 to 11 a.m. | Every Saturday | Redmond Town Center | Free | All ages | Weather dependent | Join this weekly car gathering, comprised of exotic and rare cars, drawing owners and spectators together for mutual enjoyment of all things car-related.
Redmond Exotic Car Show. (Photo courtesy: Jason Turner).
Treatment Plant Tour – Woodinville | Saturday, July 19 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Brightwater Treatment Plant, Woodinville | Free | Register here | Ages 9+ | Visit King County’s newest treatment plant, and learn how they transform wastewater into valuable resources.
Lowes Free Kids’ Workshops | Saturday, July 19 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Multiple Lowes Locations | Free | Register here | Messi Soccer Shootout | Families can register online in advance (recommended) and then get ready to build something together. Every month, there will be a new project that the family can work on together with a helpful instructor.
Newcastle Art Fair | Saturday, July 19 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Newcastle Commons | Free | All ages | . From art and activities for adults, children, and pets, there’s something for the entire family. Along with the artists, the event will include community organizations, refreshments, music, and activities for kids.
Olde Burien Block Party | Saturday, July 19 | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Olde Burien | Free | All ages | This block party offers live music, food, bounce house/family fun zone, a beer garden and much more. Check the full schedule here.
🌟Maple Valley Kids Festival | Saturday, July 19 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Lake Wilderness Park | Free | Featuring over 20 booths with crafts, dance parties, music, performances, educational experiences, sports, games, and giant inflatable toys.
🌟West Seattle Grand Parade | Saturday, July 19 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 4556 California Ave SW, Seattle | Free | The West Seattle Grand Parade includes pirates, clowns, marching bands, drill teams, floats, pageantry, community organizations, and the fun of summer!
West Seattle Grand Parade (Photo courtesy: Seafair.org).
Lakewood’s Summerfest | Saturday, July 19 | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood | Free | All ages | SummerFEST has it all: food trucks, beer gardens, flying trapeze, live music, fire dancers, a pop-up skate park, a car show, a balloon glow, and interactive sports and arts for all ages.
ESC’s 25th Anniversary Celebration | Saturday, July 19 | 12 to 4 p.m. | Seahurst Park, Burien | Free | All ages | Enjoy hands-on activities, local treats, and stories from the heart of 25 years of environmental education and stewardship.
🌟PhinneyWood Art Walk | Saturday, July 19 | 12 to 5 p.m. | Phinney Center & Greenwood Business | Free | All ages | Celebrate the vibrant arts community of Phinney Ridge and Greenwood at this two-day event, featuring local artists and makers in a unique, neighborhood-wide art walk.
Summer Fest Family Fun | Saturday, July 19 | 1 to 4 p.m. | Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens, Everett | Free | All ages | Organizations come together at the Arboretum for this outdoor afternoon packed with activities, music, and community spirit. Enjoy a bilingual interactive sing-along session, jump rope demo, and free ice cream coupon, plus complimentary popcorn.
Everett Fire Sprinkler Days | Saturday, July 19 | 3 to 4 p.m. | Wiggums Hollow Park | Free | All ages | Get ready to cool off at Everett Fire’s Sprinkler Days! Grab your swimsuit and flip-flops, and they will bring the fire engine and hose to turn up the fun.
Waterland Parade | Saturday, July 19 | 5:45 to 7 p.m. | Marina District, Des Moines | Free | Join this fun Seafair-sanctioned event with a Grand Parade and a Junior Parade, featuring vibrant floats, lively bands, Seafair Pirates, clowns, boats, and more.
Chamber Music in the Park | Saturday, July 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Bellevue Downtown Park | Free | Featuring their world-class Summer Festival musicians from all over the world, these performances are a true gem when paired with the beautiful setting that Seattle summers offer.
Free Wheelchair Basketball | July 19 – August 2 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Saturdays | Seattle PlayGarden | Free | All ages | Children and youth of all ages and abilities welcome. Extra chairs and balls will be provided. Join coach Nick, other wheelchair basketball players, and coaches, and give the sport a try.
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Magnolia Neighborhood Farmers Market | July 19 – October 11 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Saturdays | Magnolia | Free | The market takes place on Saturdays and will feature kid-friendly activities and events on select days during the summer season.
Storywalk at Magnolia Farmers Market | July 19 – August 31 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Saturdays | Magolia Farmers Market | Free | All ages | A StoryWalk® is an outdoor reading experience: A picture book is installed on signposts along a walking route, where families can read along as they walk and enjoy the outdoors.
🌟Free Summer Concerts | July 19 – September 1 | 2 to 4 p.m. | Saturdays/Sundays | Ballard Locks | Free | Enjoy a free outdoor summer concert. Chairs are not provided, so bring your chairs or a blanket. In the event of heavy rain, please call the Visitor Center at 206-783-7059.
Live concerts in the mountains. (Photo courtesy The Summit at Snoqualmie)
Music in the Mountains – Snoqualmie Summit | July 19 – August 23 | 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Saturdays | Summit West, Snoqualmie Mountain | Free | All ages | Live music is back! Grab your friends and join every Saturday afternoon this summer to catch hand-picked local talent perform in the plaza.
Madison Park Farmers Market | July 19 – September 27 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Saturdays | Madison Park | Free | Featuring 20-25 vendors of organic produce and food artisans from Washington State, most of whom are within 50 miles of Seattle.
South Lake Union Saturday Market | July 19 – September 27 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Saturdays | 2100 6th Ave, Seattle | Free | Featuring over 100 booths from makers, vintage boutiques, food purveyors, and food trucks at their new location.
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Discovery Park Free Shuttle to the Beach | July 19 – August 30 | 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Saturdays | East/North/Beach parking lots at Discovery Park | Free | The shuttle loops between the East, North, and Beach parking lots at Discovery Park, arriving at each location approximately every 30 minutes.
Free Outdoor Movies at Juanita Beach | July 19-26 | 6 to 10 p.m. | Saturdays | Juanita Beach Park | Free | All ages | Bring a blanket, dinner, and some pillows to enjoy the double features in Kirkland from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The movies will start at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. See the movie lineup here.
Sunday, July 20
🌟Sensory Time at Imagine Children’s Museum | Sunday, July 20 | 9 to 11 a.m. | Imagine Children’s Museum, Everett | Free | Register here | Sensory Time is a special Sunday program for families with children on the autism spectrum, children with sensory processing disorders, and children with other special needs.
Tukwila Farmers Market | Sunday, July 20 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Tukwila Community Center | Free | All ages | The market is open on select Sundays and features live music, crafts and artisans, vendors with vegetables, fruits and flowers, and much more.
🌟Summer at SAM: Free programs for all ages | July 20 – August 3 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Sundays | Olympic Sculpture Park | Free | All ages | Sundays are activity days! Join them for movement classes, hands-on art activities to inspire your creativity, music, sculpture tours, plein air drawing, meet-ups, and tabling partners.
Storytime at the Garden for K-2 | Sunday, July 20 | 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | Bellevue Botanical Garden | Free | Kindergarten aged kids | Join a Storytime at the Bellevue Botanical Garden with a reading of a garden-related book and a brief activity.
Chinatown Seafair Parade |Sunday, July 20 | 7 to 9 p.m. | Chinatown International District | Free | The Seattle Chinatown Seafair Parade is a vibrant celebration of culture, featuring rich ethnic traditions, a spectacular 100-foot dragon, and the Chinese Community Girls Drill Team dressed in elegant Chinese opera costumes.
Edmonds Outdoor Concerts at City Park | July 20-August 24 | 3 to 4 p.m. | Sundays | Edmonds City Park | Free | Al ages | The EAC presents free-admission summer concert programs in city parks each year featuring a variety of musical stylings from Puget Sound area groups and ensembles.
Music in the Park | July 20 – August 24 | 5 to 6:30 p.m. | Sundays | Marvista Park | Free | Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair and enjoy this fantastic summer lineup in 2025. Free Music Every Sunday afternoon at Marvista Park.
Shakespeare in the Park: The Taming of the Shrew | July 20 – August 16, 2025 | Hours vary | Multiple parks | Free | All ages | The Backyard Bard shows, shortened versions of Shakespeare’s plays (one hour each) are sometimes shown back-to-back with a generous break in between.
Free All Ages Zumba (Photo courtesy: Friends of Waterfront Park).
Free All-Ages Zumba on the Waterfront | July 20 – September 28 | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | Sundays | Pier 62 | Free | Register here | All ages | Enjoy free Zumba® classes on Pier 62 on Sundays. Classes focus on all elements of fitness: cardiovascular, muscular conditioning, flexibility, and balance.
Ballard Farmers Market | Sunday, July 20 | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Every Sunday, year round | Ballard | Free | The market is open rain or shine year round, in the heart of Ballard. Features live buskers, local vendors, and shopping! Some vendors offer free samples that are perfect for the little ones to try something new.
West Seattle Farmers Market | Sunday, July 20 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Every Sunday, year-round | West Seattle | Free | Nestled in the heart of the West Seattle Junction between Alaska and California Avenues, the West Seattle Farmers Market is a beloved Sunday ritual and weekend destination.
[Read more: Best Seattle-area farmers markets for a family excursion]
A little girl is ordering food at a vendor during the West Seattle Farmers Market. (Image courtesy Seattle Farmers Markets)
Mercer Island Farmers Market | July 20 – September 28 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Every Sunday | 7700 SE 32nd St, Mercer Island | Free | All ages | Live music is an integral part of the Mercer Island Farmers Market. They have a full schedule of musicians starting on opening day.
Alki Point Lighthouse Tour – West Seattle | July 20 – September 1 | 1 to 4 p.m. | Every Sunday | Alki Point Lighthouse | Free | The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides a Sunday afternoon tour through Labor Day weekend. Children under the age of 6 may go to the landing, but not to the very top of the lighthouse.
Seattle’s Child editorial assistant, Yulia Fiala, contributed to this article.
