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Pier 58 playground. Photo: Meredith Charaba
It happens every year. I blink and the end of summer break is right around the corner. With Labor Day weekend in sight, the pressure is on to make the most of the time off left. But say you didn’t get around to making reservations for a last-hurrah family camping trip or quick getaway for the long weekend? That’s OK, neither did I. So, for those of us sticking around town, I have rounded up all the best things to do during Labor Day weekend around Seattle for families to enjoy.
Explore Jetty Island
Jetty Island is a man-made summer paradise of sand and water. It’s open daily through its last day of the season, Sunday, Aug. 31. Head to the 10th Street Boat Launch in Everett to catch the ferry — the ride takes five minutes — and make it a glorious family beach day.
Cost: $5 per person; ages 2 and younger are free
Visit the new Waterfront Park and Pier 58 playground
Explore Seattle’s newest family-friendly attraction — the brand-new Pier 58 playground located along the redesigned Waterfront Park. Complete with a 25-foot jellyfish climbing structure, your thrill-seeking kids will clamor to make tracks across its many features. Make a day of it and take in the Ocean Pavilion expansion, and the new Overlook Walk connecting the waterfront to Pike Place Market, and don’t forget to pick up some fish ‘n’ chips while you’re at it.
Cost: Free
Go on a train ride
Who doesn’t love trains? It’s a great weekend to hop on a scale mini train on the Great Northern & Cascade Railway, or aboard Kitsap Live Steamers’ mini trains. For a scenic ride, the Northwest Railway Museum is running Labor Day weekend trains between North Bend and Snoqualmie Falls, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad’s steam train journeys from Elbe to Mineral, and the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad’s restored railcars run through the beautiful Chehalis River Valley.
Cost: Varies by location
Take a scenic chairlift to The Summit at Snoqualmie
It’s your last chance this season to catch the amazing summer views of Snoqualmie Pass from the vantage point of a ski chairlift. Hop on at Snoqualmie Summit and ride up and down as many times as you want on your ticketed date. The last day to catch a ride is Sept. 1.
Cost: $23 adults; $17 youth ages 6–12; ages 5 and younger are free
Experience Olympia Harbor Days
Tour the super cool vintage tugboats and tall ships docked at the harbor, then watch the tugs race around Budd Inlet at fun-filled Olympia Harbor Days. Spanning the Olympia waterfront, this three-day festival offers a little something for everyone. From sand carving to makers markets (there will be four in total at the festival) to tugboat tours, there’s always something going on whenever you visit.
Cost: Free
Visit a fair
Fair options abound over Labor Day weekend! Check out the lumberjacks, frolicking goats, carnival rides and Demolition Derby (extra fee) at the last weekend of The Evergreen State Fair.
It’s the opening weekend to “do the Puyallup” at the Washington State Fair, and kids enter for free all weekend. Check out a new farm and food exhibit, in addition to adorable farm animals and arena competitions, such as the rodeo.
For extra Western atmosphere, saddle up and head over the mountains for pro rodeo action and county fair fun at the Ellensburg Rodeo and Kittitas County Fair. There’s a pancake breakfast and parade Saturday, plus families will love historic Frontier Village at the fair. This year, everyone enters the fair for free on Labor Day!
Cost: Varies by location
Bring the kids to Bumbershoot
A Seattle Labor Day weekend tradition held at the Seattle Center, Bumbershoot promises plenty of kid-friendly music and dance performances, visual spectacles and art for all ages. While you’re there, take a dip in the International Fountain, climb the tower at the Artists at Play playground, and marvel at the Space Needle. Tickets can be pricey, but kids ages 12 and younger enter free.
Cost: Single-day tickets cost $125; weekend passes are $150; ages 12 and younger are free but still require a ticket
Go for a family swim
Cannonball! Labor Day weekend is the last open weekend for many of our region’s super outdoor swimming pools, including Seattle’s scenic Colman Pool, Kirkland’s Peter Kirk Pool, Henry Moses in Renton, and Tacoma’s Stewart Heights and Kandle pools (closing dates may change so be sure to check individual pool schedules). A little farther out, but worth the drive, check out the reopened historic Tenino Quarry pool south of Olympia. And if waterslides are your jam, Wild Waves is nearing the end of its summer season and it’s the last weekend of the season at Birch Bay Waterslides north of Bellingham.
Cost: Varies by location
Go to the Bremerton Blackberry Festival
Berries are a staple of our Northwest summer, and the Bremerton Blackberry Festival serves up all manner of delicious family fun on Bremerton’s Boardwalk. In addition to tasting blackberry desserts (and wine for grown-ups), there’s live music, loads of fun family activities and the chance to ride the foot ferry over to Port Orchard.
Cost: Free
Spy salmon at Ballard Locks
Explore the Ballard Locks, one of our area’s top-visited tourist attractions. Go see the humongous salmon swimming through the fish ladder with a trained naturalist and listen to the pleasant sounds of free outdoor concerts, the last few of this season. Musical acts play Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 2 p.m. Tip: Show up for a Van Morrison tribute band on Labor Day!
Cost: Free
Wander around a sunflower field
Sunflowers are abloom and farms across the region offer various ways to experience these sunny blossoms, from U-pick fields to festivals with games, mazes, rides, animals and, of course, plenty of photo opportunities! Many events take place through Labor Day weekend and into September.
Cost: Varies by location
More weekend ideas for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and updated most recently on Aug. 14, 2025, by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara, with new ideas and a fact-check of recurring fun things for families to do over Labor Day weekend in and around Seattle.
