🐙 Weekend Events (Sept 4–6)

Labor Day weekend! The last big hurrah before school. Two state fairs open, Bumbershoot takes over Seattle Center, and it's your final shot at Jetty Island and the outdoor pools. Sorted by day and then by where you live.

🎡 Evergreen State Fair (Monroe)

The region's late-summer fair opens today, 10:30am–9pm, with lumberjacks, farm animals, carnival rides, and grandstand shows. Runs all weekend plus Labor Day. Kids 5 and under free, admission around $7–13
https://www.evergreenfair.org/

🏖️ Jetty Island Days (Everett)

Catch a free foot-ferry to Everett's man-made sand-and-water island for the season's final days, 10am–6:30pm. Bring sunscreen and shovels; sailings end Sunday. Free entry, ferry fare $4–7
https://www.portofeverett.com/460/Jetty-Island

🌻 Sunflower Experience at Bob's Corn & Pumpkin Farm (Snohomish)

U-pick sunflower fields plus farm fun, 10am–6pm, running through Sept 13. Wear boots for the rows and bring cash for your stems. Admission fee at the gate
https://bobscorn.com/

⛳ Mini Golf at Olympic Sculpture Park (Belltown)

Pop-up mini golf winds among the sculptures on the downtown waterfront, noon–8pm, through Sept 7. An easy, breezy stop with skyline and Sound views. Ticketed through the museum
https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/olympic-sculpture-park

🎮 PAX West (Downtown)

Four days of video-game demos, indie showcases, panels, tournaments, cosplay, and concerts at the Seattle Convention Center, through Labor Day Monday. Great for tween-and-up gamers. Badge required
https://west.paxsite.com/

📚 Play & Learn Story Time — SPL Columbia Branch (Columbia City)

Free drop-in play-and-learn for babies to age 5, Fridays 10:30am–12pm, at the Columbia Branch — stories, songs, and open free-play. No registration. FREE
https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/columbia-branch/columbia-branch-events

🎨 Vashon First Friday Gallery Cruise (Vashon)

The island's monthly art walk fills the town core, 5–9pm, as galleries and shops unveil new work. Low-key, strollable, and worth the ferry ride. Free
https://www.vashonevents.org/events

🎪 HPIC's Final First Friday (Highland Park)

The Highland Park Improvement Club's last First Friday of the year, 5:30–8:30pm, with live bands, a food truck, a cookie exchange, and a "Big Dark" resource swap. Family-friendly. FREE
https://hpic1919.org/

🌱 South Seattle College Garden Center (West Seattle)

The student-run garden center on the north side of campus is open 10am–3pm — browse and buy plants while landscape-horticulture students help you plan your garden. Free to visit
https://southseattle.edu/programs/landscape-horticulture

🎡 Washington State Fair (Puyallup)

The state's biggest fair opens today with rodeo, farm animals, a new dog stunt show, and fair food galore. Kids 5 and under free; BECU Free Kids Weekend Sept 4–7
https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-tickets/becu-discounts/

🚠 Scenic Chairlift Ride at The Summit (Snoqualmie Pass)

Ride the ski chairlift for big mountain views on its final days through Sept 7. Bring layers—it's cooler up top. Around $24 adult, $17 youth 6–12, under 5 free
https://summitatsnoqualmie.com/

🌻 Rutledge Family Farm Sunflower Festival (North Bend)

Sunflowers, farm animals, and games at this family festival, 10am–4pm, running Sept 2–7. A pretty, low-stress morning with photo ops galore. Admission fee at the gate
https://www.rutledgefamilyfarm.com/

🐮 Kelsey Creek Farm (Bellevue)

A free drop-in city farm where kids meet barnyard animals—goats, sheep, cows, and ponies—9am–3pm. Bring a stroller and let little ones roam the pastures. Free
https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/parks/community-centers/kelsey-creek-farm

🧺 Edmonds Museum Summer Market (Edmonds)

Downtown Edmonds fills with produce, crafts, and food vendors, 9am–2pm, hosted by the historical museum. Park once and stroll to the waterfront a few blocks away. Free to browse
https://historicedmonds.org/edmonds-museum-summer-market/

🎡 Evergreen State Fair (Monroe)

Day two of Monroe's fair, 10:30am–9pm — carnival rides, farm animals, lumberjack shows, and grandstand entertainment. An evening visit beats the afternoon heat. Kids 5 and under free, admission ~$7–13
https://www.evergreenfair.org/

🎪 Bumbershoot (Seattle Center)

Seattle's iconic arts-and-music festival takes over Seattle Center today and Sunday—music, comedy, dance, skate, and the fountain and playground on campus. Kids 12 and under free (ticket still required)
https://bumbershoot.com/

🎷 Concerts at the Ballard Locks: WA State Letter Carriers' Band (Ballard)

A free garden concert at the Locks, 2–4:30pm, with boats locking through as built-in entertainment. Bring a blanket and let kids wander to the fish ladder. Free
https://www.seattleschild.com/events/free-summer-concert-at-the-ballard-locks/

🎨 Saturdays at SAM (Downtown)

Free drop-in, hands-on artmaking plus music in the Seattle Art Museum's Brotman Forum, noon–3pm, inspired by the collection. A cool, indoor break downtown. Free
https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

🖖 Star Trek 60th Anniversary at MoPOP (Seattle Center)

The Museum of Pop Culture marks 60 years of Star Trek with a special celebration among its sci-fi galleries and props — a fun stop for young trekkies. Included with admission
https://www.mopop.org/

🥬 Vashon Island Farmers Market (Vashon)

Island produce, prepared food, art, and live music at the Village Green, 10am–3pm. Grab lunch and let kids roam the grassy green. Free to browse
https://www.vigavashon.org/market

🏊 Colman Pool (West Seattle)

The heated outdoor saltwater pool at Lincoln Park opens for its final postseason weekend, with swim sessions from noon. A perfect last splash of summer. Drop-in fee
https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/colman-pool

🎮 Super Smash Saturdays at Fourth Emerald Games (West Seattle)

Weekly Super Smash Bros. tournament at the Junction game shop, 6:30–10pm — enter the Friendlies or Competitive bracket, or just watch. Registration required; best for older kids and teens
https://fourthemeraldgames.com/

🎨 Cartoon Mess Live at Kenyon Hall (West Seattle)

An interactive, live-drawn animated show — audience word suggestions become talking, singing cartoons on screen — at cozy Kenyon Hall, 7:30pm (doors 7). $20, students/seniors $10
https://kenyonhall.org/

📚 Story Time — SPL High Point Branch (West Seattle)

Free drop-in story time for ages 0–5, Saturdays 10:30–11am, at the High Point Branch — stories, rhymes, songs, and movement. Arrive early; seating is limited. FREE
https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/high-point-branch/high-point-branch-events

🥕 Kent Farmers Market (Kent)

Downtown Kent's Town Square Plaza market runs 9am–2pm with produce, food, crafts, and live music. A solid South-county Saturday stop with room for kids to roam. Free to browse
https://www.kentwa.gov/

🎡 Washington State Fair (Puyallup)

The state's biggest fair is in full swing — rodeo, rides, animal barns, and legendary scones. It's BECU Free Kids Weekend (Sept 4–7); kids 5 and under always free
https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-tickets/becu-discounts/

📓 Youth Nature Journaling Club (Bellevue)

Ages 6–14 sketch and observe at Bellevue Botanical Garden, noon–1:30pm—an indoor prompt then outdoor journaling. Younger kids need a chaperone. Bring curiosity. Free
https://bellevuebotanical.org/event/youth-nature-journaling-club-3-3/

🌻 Snoqualmie Valley Sunflower Festival (Carnation)

U-pick sunflower fields with photo ops in the Snoqualmie Valley, 10am–5pm, open daily through Sept 15. Wear boots for the rows and bring cash. Admission fee
https://carnationchamber.org/snoqualmie-valley-sunflower-festival

📖 Issaquah Library Story Stroll (Issaquah)

A self-guided outdoor story stroll for young readers, up during library hours (Sat 10am–6pm). Walk the pages, then explore the shelves inside. Free
https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?q=story%20stroll&branches=issaquah

🥕 Everett Farmers Market (Everett)

About 120 vendors line the Everett waterfront, 10:30am–3pm, with produce, prepared food, and crafts. Stroller-friendly and easy for a Sunday lunch. Free to browse
https://everettfarmersmarket.com/

🎡 Evergreen State Fair (Monroe)

Monroe's fair rolls on, 10:30am–9pm, with rides, animals, fair food, and grandstand shows (plus one more day on Labor Day Monday). Go early for shorter lines. Kids 5 and under free, admission ~$7–13
https://www.evergreenfair.org/

🎻 Concerts at the Ballard Locks: Third Harbour (Ballard)

A free garden concert at the Locks, 2–4pm, featuring a Seattle Celtic and Irish ensemble—fiddle, flute, cello, and mandolin. Bring a blanket and watch the boats lock through. Free
https://www.seattleschild.com/events/free-summer-concert-at-the-ballard-locks/

🚲 Bicycle Weekend on Lake Washington Boulevard (Mount Baker)

A three-mile stretch from Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park goes car-free all day for biking, scooting, and strolling. Season's last, and the lake's right there. Free
https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bicycle-program/bicycle-weekends

🎪 Bumbershoot (Seattle Center)

Final day of Seattle's arts-and-music festival — live music, comedy, dance, skate ramps, plus the campus fountain and playground for kids. Kids 12 and under free (ticket still required)
https://bumbershoot.com/

🏈 Apple Cup: Huskies vs. Cougars (Montlake)

For the first time ever, the Apple Cup is on a Sunday — UW hosts WSU at Husky Stadium, 1pm, with youth skills events. Ticketed
https://gohuskies.com/

🕹️ Seattle Indies Expo (Downtown)

A free showcase of independent video games at the Hilton Motif — play dozens of local and indie titles hands-on, running alongside PAX weekend. Free
https://www.seattleindiesexpo.com/

🍑 West Seattle Farmers Market (West Seattle Junction)

A year-round Sunday market on California Ave SW at Alaska St, 10am–2pm, with strong late-summer produce and prepared food. Coffee shops line the Junction. Free to browse
https://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/wsfm

📚 StoryWalk at Lake Wilderness Arboretum (Maple Valley)

A children's book installed page-by-page along the Arboretum's Main Loop trail, 9am–5pm—read as you walk. A gentle, free outing among the gardens. Free
https://lakewildernessarboretum.org/

🎡 Washington State Fair (Puyallup)

Another day of rodeo, rides, scones, and animal barns at the Puyallup fairgrounds. BECU Free Kids Weekend runs through Labor Day Monday; kids 5 and under free
https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-tickets/becu-discounts/

🚂 Northwest Railway Museum Train Excursion (Snoqualmie)

Hop a vintage train for a two-hour round trip through the Snoqualmie Valley, with departures at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. $28 adult, $14 child 2–12, under 2 free
https://trainmuseum.org/visit/ride-the-train/

Bonus day off — here's what's still open.

🎡 Evergreen State Fair (Monroe)

The fair's final day, 10:30am–9pm — rides, farm animals, lumberjack shows, and grandstand entertainment to close the long weekend. Kids 5 and under free, admission ~$7–13
https://www.evergreenfair.org/

🚲 Bicycle Weekend on Lake Washington Boulevard (Mount Baker)

The three-mile car-free stretch from Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park stays open Labor Day for biking, scooting, and strolling. The season's last day. Free
https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bicycle-program/bicycle-weekends

🏊 Colman Pool (West Seattle)

The heated outdoor saltwater pool at Lincoln Park runs its final postseason day, with holiday swim sessions from noon. One last splash of summer. Drop-in fee
https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/colman-pool

🎡 Washington State Fair (Puyallup)

The last day of BECU Free Kids Weekend at the Puyallup fairgrounds — rodeo, rides, scones, and animal barns. Kids 5 and under free
https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-tickets/becu-discounts/

🚠 Scenic Chairlift Ride at The Summit (Snoqualmie Pass)

The ski chairlift's final day of the season, with big mountain views up top. Bring layers — it's cool at elevation. ~$24 adult, $17 youth 6–12, under 5 free
https://summitatsnoqualmie.com/

🌻 Snoqualmie Valley Sunflower Festival (Carnation)

U-pick sunflower fields open daily through Sept 15, 10am–5pm — a bright, easy Labor Day stop. Wear boots for the rows and bring cash. Admission fee
https://carnationchamber.org/snoqualmie-valley-sunflower-festival

p.s you can always reply to these emails with ideas, feedback, events or anything. I read and reply to every email!