Rhonda's List: Things To Do With Children

Seattle -- Seasonal

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
    Mount Vernon, WA (about 60 miles, about an hours drive from Seattle)
    April-May, "Bloom Dates According to Mother Nature"
    www.tulipfestival.org
    360-428-5959
    Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce: 360-428-8547
    La Conner Chamber of Commerce: 360-466-4778

  • Puyallup Spring Fair
    April 19-22, 2007
    www.thefair.com

  • Wild-N-Woolly Sheep Shearing Event
    April 28, 2007
    www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/sheep_shearing.htm
    at Kelsey Creek Park
    410 130th Pl. SE, Bellevue
    425-452-7688
    www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/kelsey_creek_park.htm
    (See Seattle Places To Go)

  • May
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
    See April listing
  • Opening Day
    Early May
    seattleyachtclub.org/OpeningDay
    "Opening Day, the official opening of Seattle's boating season sponsored by the Seattle Yacht Club, includes a celebration of many kinds of water activities. This year's festivities will include a morning of crew races, a sailboat race, and, of course, the grand Opening Day Boat parade on Saturday, May 5th, 2007."

  • Seattle International Children's Festival
    mid-May (In 2009: May 11-16 Seattle, May 18 Tacoma)
    www.seattleinternational.org

  • 17th May Celebration in Seattle
    Norwegian Constitution Day or "grunnlovsdag," commonly known as "Syttende Mai" or the 17th of May
    In Ballard
    There is a parade, costumes, events, and children's games from Norway and the US
    www.syttendemaiseattle.com

  • Poulsbo Viking Fest
    mid-May
    www.vikingfest.org
    "Poulsbo's Viking Fest is a celebration of Norway's Constitution Day of May 17th (in Norwegian -"Syttende mai"), it is also referred to as Norway's national holiday (independence day is incorrect). In Norway, it is a festival of flags and colorful processions, where children have a central part to play as they walk to the music of marching bands. It is a time when you see traditional Norwegian costumes as a very prominent and natural part of the celebrations. The festivities last from the early morning to late at night. Parties with family and friends featuring traditional food and drinks are common. This is the most important day for the children during the summer."

  • University District Streetfair
    mid-May
    udistrictchamber.org/StreetFair
    "There will be two great music stages, a special children's area with age appropriate events, a live theatre stage, and a wonderful medley of street performers. Unique local and regional arts & crafts and an array of international food will delight you."

  • Northwest Folklife Festival
    Memorial Day weekend (end of May)
    at Seattle Center
    www.nwfolklife.org

  • June
  • Maritime Gig Festival
    Gig Harbor, WA (about 45 miles, about 50 minutes driving from Seattle)
    first Saturday in June
    253-851-6865, 800-359-8804
    www.maritimegig.com

  • Edmonds Waterfront Festival
    Edmonds, WA
    beginning of June
    www.edmondswaterfrontfestival.com

  • Pike Place Market Street Fair
    early June
    Celebrate food, art and music
    Has "Kid's Zone"
    www.pikeplacemarketstreetfestival.com

  • Marysville Strawberry Festival
    Marysville, WA (about 35 miles, about 40 miles driving from Seattle)
    mid-June
    www.maryfest.com

  • Edmonds Arts Festival
    Edmonds, WA (about 20 miles, about 25 miles driving from Seattle)
    mid-June, Father's Day weekend
    www.edmondsartsfestival.com

  • Washington Civil War Association
    Civil War Renactment
    Association
    June 2006 Reenactment

  • Bellevue Strawberry Festival
    Crossroads Park, Bellevue, WA
    425-450-1049
    late June
    www.bellevuestrawberryfestival.com

  • Northwest Garlic Festival
    late June
    Garlic Food and Condiments, Garlic Crafts, and Garlic Games
    "Remeber, it is chic to reek (of GARLIC that is)"
    Ocean Park, WA (about 180 miles, about 3.5 hours driving, from Seattle)
    360-665-4448, 1-888-751-9354, 1-800-451-2542
    click here or click here

  • Seattle Pride Parade and Festival
    Gay, Lesbian , Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration
    www.seattlepride.org
    http://www.seattlepridefest.org
    late June

  • Midsommarfest
    late June
    "Midsommarfest, as presented by Skandia Folkdance Society, is a traditional Swedish celebration of the summer solstice, recreated in as authentic a manner as possible...."
    www.skandia-folkdance.org/Midsommarfest/midsommarfest.html

  • Taste Of Tacoma
    "Tacoma's Ultimate Family Festival"
    end of June-beginning of July
    www.tasteoftacoma.com

  • Seattle Seafair
    See August listing

  • July
  • Seattle Seafair
    See August listing

  • Capital Lakefair
    Olympia, WA
    mid-July
    www.lakefair.org

  • Tacoma Tall Ships Festival
    in early July every third year (2005, 2008, 2011, 2014)
    253-272-5650 info, 253-272-1372 tickets
    info@tallshipstacoma.com
    www.tallshipstacoma.com

  • Seafair Indian Days Powow
    Native American singing, dancing, and drumming. Vendors offer jewelry, beadwork, artwork, music recordings, food and more.
    Non-Indian visitors welcome.
    Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Discovery Park
    Mid-July (July 18-20, 2008)
    206-829-2221
    jguthrie@unitedindians.com
    www.unitedindians.org
    www.seafair.com/events/community

  • Chinatown Seafair Parade
    Includes dragon and lion dancing, and a 100 foot Chinese dragon!
    206-949-4868
    dtsaia@msn.com
    www.seattlechinesechamber.org
    www.seafair.com/events/community

  • Seattle Bon Odori Celebration
    Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
    1427 South Main St, Seattle
    206-329-0800
    seattlebetsuin.com
    2007 Poster
    "Taiko and Martial Arts Performances
    Traditional Japanese Dress, Music, and Dancing
    Craft Exhibits and Demonstrations
    Food and Beer Garden"
    July 21-22, 2007

  • Sequim Lavender Festival
    Sequim, WA (about 63 miles, about 2 hours driving & ferry from Seattle)
    July 20, 21, 22, 2007
    www.lavenderfestival.com

  • King County Fair
    late July
    www.metrokc.gov/parks/fair

  • Bite of Seattle
    late July
    http://www.biteofseattle.com

  • The 6th Street Fair, downtown Bellevue
    "The original work of more than 130 artists in an open-air showcase of sculpture, jewelry, home décor, wood and glass work, fabrics and more."
    www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/sixth_street/index.htm
    425-453-1223
    last weekend of July (July 27-29, 2007)

  • Ethnic Fest
    end of July
    Tacoma
    253-305-1076
    www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/arts/ethfest.htm
    www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=724
    "With special events just for kids, it's great (free) family entertainment!"

  • Annual Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games and Clan Gathering
    end of July
    Enumclaw
    206-522-2541
    scots4ever@sshga.org
    www.sshga.org
    "North American Scottish Athletics Campionship, US West Coast Drum Corps Campionship, NW Regional Harp Finals, individual Piping and Drumming, Pipe Bands, Highland and National Dancing -- you will see and experience it all, plus much, much more .... [Y]ou will be able to sample a wide variety of delicious and traditional Scottish foods. ... [P]erformances include ... choreographed stage combat using real steel weapons including broadswords, axes, and staves. ... [D]elve into your Scottish ancestry and heritage. Observe the fine workmanship of Scottish artisans ...."

  • Camlann Medieval Village
    Summer festivals (see their calendar)
    10320 Kelly Road NE, Carnation, WA (about 30 miles from Seattle, about 30-40 minutes driving)
    425-788-8624
    www.camlann.org

  • August
  • Seattle Seafair
    "Seattle's traditional summer festival. A month-long, region-wide barbecue, that brings an entire community together in celebration."
    www.seafair.com
    June, July, and August
    Many, many events throughout the city. Two of the biggest are the hydroplane races (August 3-8, 2007) and the Blue Angels airshow (August 4, 2007).

  • Festival at Mount Si
    North Bend, WA (about 30 miles, about 0.5 hours driving from Seattle)
    mid-August
    festivalatmtsi.org

  • Pierce County Fair
    Graham, WA
    mid-August
    www.piercecountyfair.com

  • Seattle Quilt Show / QuiltFest
    Early-mid August, biennial (2008, 2010, 2012)
    August 8, 9, 10, 2008
    Washington State Convention and Trade Center
    425-558-1983
    info@apnq.org
    www.seattlequiltshow.com
    www.apnq.org

  • Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire
    Belfair, WA (about 75 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Seattle)
    info@washingtonrenfaire.com
    www.washingtonrenfaire.com
    1-888-233-3895
    early August

  • Railroad Days
    in Snoqualmie, WA
    www.railroaddays.com
    425-654-1947
    early August (August 3-4-5, 2007)
    Grand Parade, Pet Parade, train rides, helicopter rides, food, children's entertainers, car show.
    "Railroad Days is the annual community festival celebrating our spirit and origins as a railroad and logging town."

  • Sand in the City -- Sand Scuplture Competition and Celebration
    4th weekend in August (August 24, 25, 26th 2007)
    Port Plaza, Olympia (about an hour's drive from Seattle)
    www.hocm.org/sitc/html/index.html
    Benefit for the Hands On Children's Museum (see listing in "Seattle -- Indoors, Further Away From Central Seattle")
    "Cheer on your favorite teams!
    Watch master sculptors at work!
    Experience fascinating activities and free art and science projects for kids of all ages!
    Enjoy live entertainment and fun foods!
    Build your own sand castle!"

  • Camlann Medieval Village
    Summer festivals (see their calendar)
    See July listing

  • Evergreen State Fair
    late August - early September
    Monroe, WA (about 30 miles, about 0.5 hours driving from Seattle)
    360-805-6700, 24 Hour Event Line 360-805-6700
    evergreenfair.org

  • September
  • Evergreen State Fair
    See August listing

  • Seattle Tilth's Harvest Fair
    Early September
    September 6, 2008
    Meridian Park behind the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford: 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle WA 98103 between Sunnyside and Meridian Ave N
    harvestfair@seattletilth.org
    206-633-5045 ext 1
    seattletilth.org/events

  • Puyallup Pro Rodeo
    September 7-9, 2007
    www.thefair.com

  • Portland Pirate Festival
    late September
    Cathedral Park, Portland, OR 97203
    503-853-1497
    kate@portlandpiratefestival.com
    www.portlandpiratefestival.com

  • Harvest Celebration Farm Tour
    late September
    "Featuring hayrides, kids' activities, farm animals, fresh produce, live music, and Chefs in the Field cooking demonstrations."
    www.king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/HarvestCelebration.html

  • October
  • Woodland Park Zoo Pumpkin Prowl
    www.zoo.org/pprowl/pprowl.html
    Halloween time

  • November
  • Ice skating rink, downtown Bellevue
    See December listing

  • Seattle Center Winterfest
    See December listing

  • Bellevue Magic Season, downtown Bellevue
    See December listing

  • December
  • Seattle Center Winterfest
    206-684-7200
    www.seattlecenter.com
    November 28 - December 31, 2008
    Ice skating rink, Winter Train and Village

  • Ice skating rink, downtown Bellevue
    425-453-1223
    www.magicseason.com/events/icearena.html
    November 28, 2008, through January 11, 2009
    Skate rentals provided

  • Bellevue Magic Season, downtown Bellevue
    magicseason.com
    Ice skating arena (see separate listing); Bellevue Galleria Tree Lighting Ceremony; Craft Show; Snowflake Lane; Celebration Lane; Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden; theater, ballet, and music at The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center

  • Holiday Lights Cruises Aboard the Virginia V
    "The Holidays aboard a classic steamship! Friends, food, beverages and a long blast on the whistle. The perfect way to celebrate!"
    206-624-9119
    tickets@virginiav.org
    www.virginiav.org/ride.html