Good Thursday to you, where did the sun go?
Here's your weekly roundup of the best, unique and, family friendly events happening around the city this weekend. Your kids will thank you. Eventually.
In partnership with
📚 Open House and Free Lattes (Green Lake)
Naiad Preschool is hosting a FREE community open house on Sunday, May 17th from 11am-1pm.
Stop by for handcrafted lattes and snacks on the house while kids explore, create, and play with all the classroom toys and materials. Come for a quick coffee or hang out and meet other local families. Low pressure, high caffeine, good community and happy kids.
p.s ready to partner with us? ⬆️ Fill out THIS FORM!
Friday - May 15
🛶 Free Rowboat Rentals (Seattle)
One and all are encouraged to get on the water on one of our peapod rowboats for free one-hour rentals! These boats can hold up to 4 persons and are perfect for rowers of all experiences. Peapod boats are available by walk-up only, first-come first-served, free boat rental is not guaranteed.
Price: free
⚾ Mariners vs. San Diego Padres (SoDo)
First pitch is 6:40 PM at T-Mobile Park, and the first 20,000 fans get a Hello Kitty Clear Crossbody Bag giveaway. Friday night baseball under the lights is one of Seattle's best family traditions.
Price: $18+
🐐 Seattle Children's Theatre (Seattle)
SCT closes its 25/26 season with three beloved fairy tales brought to life with original music and clever staging, running through May 17. Check the box office for Friday
Price: $20–$38
🎶 West Seattle Community Orchestras Free Concert (West Seattle)
The community orchestra performs at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle St) starting at 7 PM. A wonderful, low-pressure way to introduce kids to live orchestral music.
Price: free
🧱 Lego Engineers at Evergreen Branch (Everett)
Ages 6 to 12 with adult. DUPLO® Bricks available for ages 3-6.
Special session! In honor of George Takei’s role as Lieutenant Sulu on Star Trek, LEGO® Engineers will be featuring a spaceship-themed design challenge.
Price: free
🕺 Open Dance & Play at All That Dance (Seattle)
Open Dance & Play is a fun, free-flowing playtime designed for toddlers and their grown-ups! This open-ended studio time gives little movers the chance to explore the space, climb, tumble, dance, and build confidence in a safe, welcoming environment.
Price: $8
🌁 Ballard Locks Free Public Tours (Ballard)
Free daily tours are offered at 2:00 p.m. each day the visitor center is open between May 1 and Sept 30. Tours last approximately one hour, are open to all and begin from the Visitor Center.
Price: free
🔬 Open Play at Rock Solid Science (Edmonds)
Open Play at the Learning Lab is a time for kids (and their grown-ups!) to explore freely. From gem mining at the sluice to digging in our animated sandbox, and rock collections, the lab is full of hands-on stations that spark curiosity.
Price: $25
together with
🧱 Dads | Brews | Legos (Fremont)
When: May 20th @ 4p
Price: $40 +taxes/fees
🚨 Less than a week away! You build, you drink, you chat with other dads, and whatever you make goes home with you 🙌
🎟️ $40/ticket (get yours, no waitlist)
🍻 2 drinks included
🤗 1 hour of on-site childcare (Rosie's there 5–7pm)
😍 Keep everything you build
Rosie will be on-site from 5–7pm. Rosie will set up a kids zone so that they can play happily while their vetted Rosie pros handle the kids and you can hang with the other dads - all under the same roof but enjoying the night at your own paceactually zone out and build in peace.
Sessions at 4–6pm or 6–8pm. No kids required — but they're welcome (ages 3+)
Don't miss this 👉 Grab your tickets
ready to partner with us? ⬆️ Fill out THIS FORM!
Saturday - May 16
🏴☠️ Family Pirate Cruise (SLU)
Chart your course aboard our legendary pirate ship and embark on unforgettable voyages through the sparkling waters of Seattle! From high-energy Adult Pirate Party Cruises (21+) packed with dancing, games, and cannon blasts, to family-friendly adventures on our Family Pirate Cruises where kids become part of the crew, there’s a journey for every kind of pirate.
Price: $15+
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🌺 55th U District Street Fair (U District)
The annual U District Street Fair kicks off Seattle’s summer event season with a 15 block-long arts and crafts fair that takes over University Way (a.k.a. “The Ave”). The two-day event featured free live music and performances, and over 50 food trucks and booths. This regularly attracts over 90,000 visitors.
Price: free
🌊 Aquatic Sciences Open House (UW)
The 2026 UW Aquatic Sciences Open House will take place on Saturday May 16th at the Fisheries Science Building at the University of Washington!
Price: free
🤖 R2 Builders Club Expo @ Museum of Flight (Tukwila)
The Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club will keep you amused and informed with their robotic creations from the Star Wars universe. It’s a great time for photos, and yet another opportunity to dress up in your Star Wars best.
Price: Included with admission ($21–$29; ages 4 and under free) or membership
🐧 Pancakes with Penguins (Phinney Ridge)
Pancakes with Penguins is a breakfast experience like no other, where guests can enter the zoo early and enjoy a delightful spread of fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, and tasty toppings—all with a front-row view of the Humboldt Penguin Exhibit.
Price: Adult $72 (13+), Child $54 (3-12) (includes fees)
🛼 A Full Day of Junior Roller Derby (Seattle)
Join Seattle Derby Brats, Mob City, and Tomorrowland for a full day of junior roller derby in North Seattle. Enjoy brats, burgers, vendors, bake sale, event merch, and a raffle.
Price: $10-$40
🍚 Walk for Rice (Seattle)
Walk for Rice bring communities together to support the ACRS Food Bank in Seattle's Chinatown-International District and raise awareness about food insecurity in Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities.
Price: free, donations accepted
🐠 Koi Day at Seattle Japanese Garden (Seattle)
Koi at the Seattle Japanese Garden are waking up from their winter hibernation and ready to eat. For our May Family Saturday on May 16th, 11:00am-2:00pm, we’ll have free koi food, a koi presentation and Q & A by the Washington Koi & Water Garden Society, and a thunderous taiko drum performance by Kokon Taiko at 1:30pm.
Price: Free for youth 12 and under; $6–$10 for ages 13 and older
🥁 The Littles Workshops (Seattle)
Join Michelle Becker at Seattle Drum School of Music for group music exploration for kids ages 2-4!
Price: $25
Sunday - May 17
🏠 Naiad Open House and Free Lattes (Green Lake)
Stop by for handcrafted lattes and snacks on the house while kids explore, create, and play with all the classroom toys and materials. Come for a quick coffee or hang out and meet other local families. Low pressure, high caffeine, good community and happy kids.
Price: free
🚧 Dozer Day Seattle (Puyallup)
Dozer Day is like going to the fair, only our rides are real heavy construction equipment and big rigs. Kids hop in the operator’s seat and actually operate dozers, excavators and other heavy equipment with a professional operator at their side.
Price: $12; children under age 2 are free
🧁 Cooking With Friends Pop-Up Class (Seattle)
Celebrate the magic of spring in this joyful, hands-on cooking class designed just for little chefs! We’ll create simple, delicious recipes using the season’s freshest ingredients—think bright colors, sweet flavors, and garden-inspired treats.
Price: $50
🤩 Family Fun Fair 2026 (Beacon Hill)
Join CDCC (Community Day Center for Children) for a morning of family fun at Kimball Elementary! Kids will enjoy live music from beloved children's performer Alleyoop, field day-style games, snacks, crafts, and more. While kids play, grown-ups can get in on fun raffle prizes or bid in the silent auction.
Price: $5; ages 2 and younger are free
🚤 Classic Workboat Show (SLU)
Every year we gather a group of visiting tugboats, fishing boats, and emergency response vessels at Lake Union Park for you to come see, step aboard, and experience. Some are retired classics and others are still on the job, moving cargo, keeping our waterways safe, or bringing home the catch.
Price: free
💎 Seattle Mineral Market (Magnuson)
Join us for our annual show, third full weekend in May. We have over 60 dealers in Minerals, Fossils, Gems, Jewelry, Mineral Art and more! Door prizes, Free Rocks for Kids, Free parking. Admission is $7.00 at the door. Free admission for children 14 and under.
Price: $7; ages 14 and younger are free
🐶 Bulldog Races at Emerald Downs (Auburn)
The first dog day of the year – adorable pups, big energy, and a race day you won’t forget! The Bulldog Races will have separate heats for both the English and the French Bulldogs.
Price: $10; ages 12 and younger are free
📄 Pokémon Origami (Kent)
Catch creativity in this fun and hands-on Pokémon origami class! Participants will fold their favorite Pokémon characters while exploring the math behind the popular card trading game and origami, including symmetry, shapes, and step-by-step problem solving.
Price: $10
Quick links to support Kid Friendly
🍻 Dads and Legos - check out our first Dad event at Fremont Brewing
🫧 Bubble Planet - an immersive experience, surround yourself with bubbles like never before (use code KIDFRIENDLYSEA10 to save 10%)
🏔️ Kid Friendly Eastside - find the best family happenings from Bothell to Issaquah
👕 Parent Swag - show everyone how great of a parent you are with our merch
💰 Sell out fast - Get your family friendly event sold out when you promote with Kid Friendly!
📅 Put it on the Cal - Jam merges your family’s schedules, plans and lists in one easy app everyone can use together
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