Weekender: Best Family Events for Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound

Hey everyone, there is so much good stuff on deck for this weekend: We've got Star Wars fun, big truck inspections, orca games, cider-pressing and ways to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Read on for all the ingredients you'll need to make your family fun plan.

Seattle area:

• Partake in a family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration that includes a kids' kazoo parade (just show up), chicken dance and free family 5K run (Friday–Sunday).
• Don your best intergalactic garb and head to Star Wars Reads Day for activities, story time and the chance to meet Star Wars characters (Saturday).
• Join the celebrations — outdoor stuff is free and Sunday is kids' day — as an incredible revamped museum opens its doors (Saturday–Monday).
• Recognize Indigenous Peoples Day at the opening of a new kids' exhibit that showcases local Native cultures (Sunday).

Eastside and environs:

• Venture into the wild at twilight to discover what crepuscular creatures inhabit the park and what they're up to in the dark (Friday).
• Meet first responders and check out their rigs up-close, plus enjoy free hot cocoa at Truck-a-Palooza (Saturday).
• Learn about the language local orcas use to communicate, play some orca games and learn what you can do to help these neighbors survive (Sunday).

South Sound area:

• Dress in your costume, walk the star-lit paths and ride the tram listening for hoots and howls at fantastic Northwest Trek (Friday–Saturday).
• Press apples into cider, snack on a caramel apple and tour a historic mansion at a family cider squeeze (Saturday).
• Head to this small-town harvest fest for the Pumpkin Pals Parade (wear a pumpkin-themed costume to join in), bouncy houses, live music and more family fun (Saturday).
• Wear your costume, get free comics, play board games and enjoy geeky story time at free, family-friendly Tacoma-Con (Saturday).
• Fort Steilacoom Park hosts trucks, tractors and pumpkins and welcomes all kids who love them; don't miss this big rig bonanza (Saturday).

More ideas for weekend fun:

• Find the perfect spot to pick apples right off the tree and pluck your pumpkin right out of the patch.
• Find the just-right level of fright for your fam in our guide to scary and unscary haunted attractions.
• Be a salmon supporter at these salmon-spotting spots around town. Go, salmon!
• Friday is a day off school for some and looks to be sunny and beautiful: head for the hills on a lovely fall family hike.
• Bookmark our family fun calendar for great activities happening every day of the week.