🐙 Weekend Events (Sept 11–13)

First full back to school weekend, and the calendar is loaded: the Washington State Fair rolls on, lantern and sunflower festivals light up, and cultural fests fill every corner of the metro. Sorted by day and then by where you live.

🚨 Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival (Mukilteo)

Waterfront festival kicks off with a children's area, crafts, a dance party, food, and vendors, 4–7pm at Lighthouse Park. Also runs Sat and Sun. Free
https://mukfest.com/festival-details/

🍺 Edmonds Oktoberfest Family Festival (Edmonds)

Rotary-run fest at Civic Center Park with live bands, vendors, games, and a Kids Korner activity area, gates from around 3pm. Also runs Saturday. Free entry
https://edmondsrotary.com/oktoberfest/

📚 Story Time — SPL Broadview Branch (Broadview)

Free drop-in story time plus hands-on activities for ages 2.5–5, Fridays 11am–12:30pm. Capped at 15 families, so arrive a few minutes early. FREE
https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/fun-and-games/story-time/story-time-calendar

🥁 World Rhythm Festival (Columbia City)

Multicultural drum and dance performances plus all-levels workshops for the whole family, opening tonight at Columbia Park and Rainier Arts Center. Also runs Sat and Sun. Free
https://www.swps.org/world-rhythm-festival

⛸️ Kraken Community Iceplex Drop-In Skating (Northgate)

All-ages public skating on an indoor NHL-grade rink — a strong rainy-day option with afternoon and evening sessions. Around $17 plus rental; kids 3 and under free
https://www.krakencommunityiceplex.com/public-drop-in-calendar/

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

Free drop-in early-learning play and story session for birth to age 5, Fridays 10:30am–12pm. Stories, songs, and open free-play, no registration. FREE
https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/fun-and-games/story-time/story-time-calendar

🎭 Kenyon Hall Cabaret (West Seattle)

An all-ages evening variety and cabaret show — dance, song, and games — at West Seattle's beloved historic hall, 6:30–9pm. A fun family night out for older kids. Ticketed
https://www.kenyonhall.org/events/kh-cabaret-sept26

🎡 Washington State Fair (Puyallup)

The PNW's biggest fair — farm animals, rides, scones, and live entertainment, 10:30am–10:30pm. Runs through Sept 27 (closed Tuesdays); open all weekend. Admission varies
https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-event-details/

📖 Family Story Time — Fall City Library (Fall City)

Stories, music, movement, and rhymes to build early literacy for newborns to age 5 with an adult, 10:30–11:30am. FREE
https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a6cea16f4e5db3d00c5a382

📕 Friends of the Snoqualmie Library Book Sale (Snoqualmie)

Gently-used books at great prices, including kid and family titles, 10am–5pm. A low-key stop that supports library programming. Also runs Sat and Sun. Free entry
https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a6d32abb44674e2601bfe4b

🤩 Grand Opening: Free Classes + Free Ice Cream (Renton)

Renton Highlands has a new kids' gym, and everyone's invited to try it out. Tumbles Renton opens its doors September 12th with a full week of free classes for kids ages 4 months to 10 years. 12p–2p. Free ice cream on opening day. Free https://renton.tumbles.net/

🏮 Burien Arts-A-Glow Lantern Festival (Burien)

Free after-dark light-art festival at Town Square Park: illuminated installations, performers, a night market, and hands-on activities, 7–10pm. Come in costume with a lantern. Free
https://www.burienwa.gov/news_events/featured_events/arts-a-_glow_2026

🇮🇩 Indonesia Day (Tacoma)

Family celebration at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center with traditional performances, dance, a kids craft corner, food, and vendors, 11am–4pm. Free
https://www.asiapacificculturalcenter.org/eventscalendar

🚨 Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival (Mukilteo)

Grand parade at 11am, then a children's area, drone show, Reptile Lady, Bubble Man, food, and vendors, 11am–7pm. Fireworks at 8pm. Free
https://mukfest.com/festival-details/

🚒 Fair on 44th Block Party (Lynnwood)

Street closes for public-vehicle tours, a bike rodeo, Soccer Shots, K-9 demos, drum bands, crafts, and games at the Civic Campus, 10am–2pm. Free
https://www.lynnwoodwa.gov/Community/Community-Events-Calendar/Fair-on-44th

🧗 Kids at the Co-op: A Day of Outdoor Family Fun (South Lake Union)

Free family celebration on the REI flagship terrace, 11am–3pm — Pinnacle climbing wall, hands-on activity stations, face painting, s'mores, and local food vendors. FREE
https://www.rei.com/events/kcof/kids-at-the-co-op-a-day-of-outdoor-family-fun

🎨 Pratt Open House + Jackson Street Jazz Festival (Central District)

Live bronze pour, steamroller prints, free art-making for all ages, and live jazz on two outdoor stages with food trucks, 5–8pm. 50th-anniversary edition. Free
https://www.pratt.org/open-house

🏮 Beacon Arts Street Fair — "Japan on Beacon Hill" (Beacon Hill)

Live music, an art market, family activities, and food vendors, 11am–5pm. This edition honors 50 years of Japanese culture in the PNW. Free
https://www.beacon-arts.org/street-fairs

🏮 Children's Moonlight Festival — Tết Nhi Đồng (Delridge)

Mid-Autumn family celebration at the Vietnamese Cultural Center with lion dance, performances, food, and games, ending in a lantern parade, 2–4pm. Free
https://vietnameseculturalctr.squarespace.com/events/childrens-moonlight-festival-d69jd

🥬 Delridge Farmers Market (Highland Park)

Neighborhood market with produce, prepared food, and makers, 10am–2pm. Sixth season at a new 2026 site on 9th Ave SW at SW Henderson. Free entry
https://westseattleblog.com/2026/05/preview-heres-who-youll-find-when-delridge-farmers-market-starts-season-at-new-location-saturday/

🏊 Colman Pool (Lincoln Park)

Historic heated outdoor saltwater pool, open postseason weekends only — one of the last chances to swim this season. Swim sessions through the day. Public-swim fee
https://www.seattle.gov/parks/pools/colman-pool

📚 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

🌻 Snoqualmie Valley Sunflower Festival — Sunflower Saturday (Carnation)

Vendor Village, food trucks, live music, a "Where's Sunny?" scavenger hunt, and sunflower photo fields at Tolt Commons, 10am–3pm. Free street fair
https://carnationchamber.org/sunflower-festival-2026/

🎪 Snoqualmie Street Fair (Snoqualmie Ridge)

Community street fair on Center Blvd SE with vendors, food, live entertainment, and family activities, 11am–4pm. Free
https://business.snovalley.org/events/details/2026-snoqualmie-street-fair-saturday-sept-12th-25075

🐶 See Spot Splash (Kirkland)

End-of-season dog swim and off-leash play at Peter Kirk Pool plus vendor booths, 10am–3pm — a fun family spectator event. $10 per dog, spectators free
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/Community-Events/Parks-and-Community-Services/See-Spot-Splash

🧱 BrickCon 25th Anniversary (Bellevue)

Thousands of LEGO creations, robot battles at the Bot Box, open play, a mosaic wall, and vendors at Meydenbauer Center, 9am–4pm. Also runs Sunday. Around $19; ages 4 and under free
https://brickcon.org/

✈️ Kenmore Oktoberfest — Kenmore Air Family Day (Kenmore)

Free lakeside family day with discounted seaplane scenic flights, a kids' balsa-glider contest (12 & under), a food truck, non-alcoholic beer garden, lawn games, and an Inglemoor band set. FREE
https://findkenmore.org/oktoberfest-kenmore-oktoberfest/

🚨 Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival — Final Day (Mukilteo)

Last day of the waterfront festival: children's area, entertainment, food, and vendors, 11am–5pm at Lighthouse Park. Free
https://mukfest.com/festival-details/

🎶 Welcoming Week: Musical Trip Around the World — Shoreline Library (Shoreline)

All-ages family performance with duo Miho and Diego — songs from Latin America and Japan, rare instruments, and clap-along fun, Sunday 2:30–3:15pm. FREE
https://kcls.org/locations/shoreline/

🌺 Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival (Queen Anne)

Hula, live Hawaiian music, a 60-plus vendor Makeke, lei-making, and a Keiki Korner with kid activities at Seattle Center, 11am–6pm. Free
https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/event-calendar/live-aloha-hawaiian-cultural-festival

🌱 Swansons Nursery Kids' Club — Fall Rain Boot Planter (Crown Hill)

The season's final drop-in Kids' Club: kids plant a fall flower in an adorable rain boot for the porch, 10am–1pm. $10 activity fee
https://www.swansonsnursery.com/kids-club-calendar

🎶 Columbia City Beatwalk — Season Finale (Columbia City)

Art-walk-style concert series across Ferdinand Festival Street and venues, family-friendly early evening from 4pm. The season finale. Free
https://beatwalk.org/

🥁 World Rhythm Festival — Final Day (Columbia City)

Closing day of multicultural drum and dance performances and all-levels workshops at Columbia Park and Rainier Arts Center. Free
https://www.swps.org/world-rhythm-festival

⛸️ Kraken Community Iceplex Drop-In Skating (Northgate)

All-ages indoor public skating on an NHL-grade rink — an easy rainy-day plan with Sunday sessions. Around $17 plus rental; kids 3 and under free
https://www.krakencommunityiceplex.com/public-drop-in-calendar/

🍑 West Seattle Farmers Market (Junction)

Year-round Sunday market at California Ave SW and SW Alaska St with around 70 peak-season vendors, 10am–2pm. A family-friendly outing. Free entry
https://seattlefarmersmarkets.org/wsfm

🏊 Colman Pool (Lincoln Park)

Heated outdoor saltwater pool at Lincoln Park, open for one of its final postseason weekend swims of the season. Public-swim fee
https://www.seattle.gov/parks/pools/colman-pool

🎡 Washington State Fair (Puyallup)

Animals, rides, scones, and live entertainment on full Sunday hours, 9:30am–9:30pm at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Admission varies
https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-event-details/

🧱 BrickCon Public Exhibition — Day 2 (Bellevue)

Massive LEGO exhibition, robot battles, open play, and vendors at Meydenbauer Center, 10am–4pm. 25th-anniversary year. Around $19; ages 4 and under free
https://brickcon.org/

🌻 Snoqualmie Valley Sunflower Fields — U-Pick (Carnation)

Wander blooming sunflower fields for photos and u-pick stems near Carnation, open daytime through around Sept 15. U-pick fee varies
https://carnationchamber.org/sunflower-festival-2026/

📚 Family Story Time — Mercer Island Library (Mercer Island)

Stories, music, movement, and rhymes for ages 0–5 with a grown-up, plus play time after, Sunday 11:15am–12pm at the Mercer Island Library. FREE
https://kcls.org/locations/mercer-island/

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