It’s May, the month to celebrate moms, grandmas and all other mother figures in your life, so let the pampering begin! But, important as they are, there’s more to May than moms. Our hand-picked best-of list includes hands-on exhibits, fantastic fairs, big rigs, baby animals, free comic books, cultural festivals and more. We’ve even got ideas for Mother’s Day outings the whole family will enjoy. Don’t miss the springtime bonanza happening this month!
- Revel in the season of new beginnings at Maris Farms’ Baby Animals and Blooms Days. Snap seasonal photos by the tulip fields, buy goodies at the farm market and visit baby animals; plus, ride the cow train, jump on the jumping pillow and cruise down the tube slides. Saturday–Sunday, May 4–5 and 11–12. $16–$18; book tickets online.
- Moms, take an hour for yourselves for a can’t-miss talk about why, as caretakers, it’s important to nurture yourselves. You’ll also learn some ways to do just that. Join ParentMap and veteran self-compassion facilitators Yaffa Maritz and Kelly Moore for lessons in self-care, self-awareness and emotional resilience. Preregister and tune in on Wednesday, May 1, 1–2 p.m. Free.
- Need a break from screen time? Score a free comic book and get your family reading. This enticing giveaway happens annually on Free Comic Book Day, when local participating comic book shops give out their goods for free. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 4.
- Delight your railroad fans with a day trip to Skykomish to enjoy unlimited free rides on scale mini trains. Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5 are the first two dates of the season for the Great Northern and Cascade Railway as it welcomes fans of all ages. Trains continue to run on weekends through the last weekend of October.
- Turn up for an old-fashioned good time and celebrate Tacoma’s history during Heritage Preservation Month at the Old Town Craft & Music Fest. Enjoy live music, heritage crafts and family activities. Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Old Town Park. Free.
- It’s a fiesta para la familia! Gather with your friends, family and community to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Downtown Redmond Park on Sunday, May 5. Organizers have seven hours of entertainment lined up starting at 11 a.m., all of it highlighting traditional Mexican culture, including lively music, dancing and lots of delicious food. Free; food for purchase.
- The big rigs, garbage trucks and emergency vehicles roll out Saturday, May 11 for the amusement of young truck enthusiasts. Sammamish welcomes the community back to its free hands-on Rig-A-Palooza event, which also includes bouncy houses, face painting, a balloon artist and more. 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Experience the cultures of Africa through both traditional and modern music and dance at the next Seattle Center Festál series event, Spirit of Africa, on Saturday, May 11. Don’t miss the workshops, interactive exhibits and tech-inspired fashion representing cultures of the African countries and the African diaspora. Free.
- Moms will be delighted to receive a gorgeous bouquet of locally grown tulips, peonies and other blooms for Mother’s Day. Choose your perfect bunch from local farmers during Pike Place Market’s annual flower festival, happening Saturday–Sunday, May 11–12, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Treat Mom to a day at the docks to check out wooden boats of all vintages and sizes at the Olympia Wooden Boat Fair, taking place at Percival Landing Park, Saturday–Sunday, May 11–12, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. There will also be live music, arts and crafts booths, and a boatbuilding activity for kids (Saturday only). Free.
- The Syttende Mai tradition marches on — hipp hipp hurra! Ballard’s beloved 17th of May Parade is back, happening on — you guessed it — Friday, May 17. This special day brings marching bands, elementary kids on unicycles, Scandinavian organizations and the whole neighborhood together. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and runs along Northwest Market Street.
- It’s nonstop fun for kids and it’s all free at the Lacey Spring Fun Fair, taking place Saturday–Sunday, May 18–19. This weekend-long event features free rides, inflatables, live entertainment, a circus train, emergency vehicles, and a car show on Sunday. New this year is a STEM Fair on Saturday — what more could you ask for?
- A Memorial Day weekend tradition that goes back more than 50 years, our community’s iconic Northwest Folklife Festival welcomes all to Seattle Center Friday–Monday, May 24–27. Bring the kids to this free family-friendly festival to take in amazing performances, cultural traditions and ideas, while doing some people-watching.
- Young architects, builders and Lego fans won’t want to miss the Museum of History & Industry’s (MOHAI) new exhibition showcasing the world’s tallest buildings made of Lego bricks. Visitors can erect their own skyscrapers using some of the 200,000 loose bricks at their disposal in construction areas. “Towers of Tomorrow with Lego Bricks” opens May 25 and continues through Sept. 22. Entry included with museum admission; $25 adult, ages 14 and younger are free.
- On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, honor local service members who have died in the line of duty as well as veterans and active military in Arlington’s moving annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and runs along North Olympic Avenue.
Highlighted events for May 2024May 1 | Wednesday May 18–19 | Saturday–Sunday May 25–Sept. 22 |
Editor’s note: This article is updated every month with new family fun adventures. Be sure to come back next month!
