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The arrival of spring is blossoming with opportunities for fun outings. Photo: iStock
March is abloom with opportunities to celebrate the arrival of spring — even on a budget. I, for one, am excited to get the kids outside to soak up some vitamin D at a parade (or two!), trek out to spy cheery daffodils or take a spin at a bike rodeo. As luck would have it, we can do all this and more at my top 25 free things around Seattle in March.
Note: Some activities require preregistration and can fill up quickly.
1. Sunday Story Time: Holi
Date and time: Sunday, March 1, 1–1:30 p.m.
Young readers can discover the traditions of Holi through stories, music, movement and rhymes in Hindi and English at a special Holi story time hosted by the Sammamish Library.
2. La Conner Daffodil Festival 2026
Date: Daily, March 1–31
Gather the family to chase spring all the way to the fields of Skagit Valley to find over 500 acres of the very symbol of spring itself — cheery yellow daffodils — at the La Conner Daffodil Festival. Check the Bloom Map for field locations.
3. Black Artists Exhibition
Date: Tuesday–Friday, through March 13
Catch the last days of Tacoma Community College’s Black Artists Exhibition held at the school’s Gallery, featuring paintings, photographs, glass sculptures and other works of art by more than 20 artists.
4. Feeding Frenzy
Date and time: Ongoing, Wednesday–Sunday, 4–4:30 p.m.
Drop into the Harbor Wildwatch Marine Life Center and witness resident sea creatures scramble for food during the daily feed. Naturalists will be on-site to field questions and offer insights.
5. Living Voices: Winning Her Wings
Date and time: Thursday, March 5, 5:30 and 7 p.m.
Part of the Museum of Flight’s free first Thursday programming on March 5, catch a performance by Living Voices about a Jewish American pilot who joins the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. The multimedia live theatrical presentation takes place twice, at 5:30 and 7 p.m.
6. Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra Side-by-Side
Date and time: Friday, March 6, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Attend a free musical performance for the community where the Seattle Symphony performs side by side with Renton High School’s orchestra at the Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center. Book tickets in advance.
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7. Bike Rodeo
Date and time: Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m.–noon
Pack up the kids, bikes (or trikes and scooters) and helmets, and let them loose on the bike rodeo course at Victory Heights Playground. Decorations are encouraged!
8. Penn Cove Musselfest
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, March 7–8, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Pile into the car and head to Coupeville for a fun fest where the whole family can celebrate our region’s amazing seafood. There’s plenty for kids to do, from fishing off a pier to meeting mermaids and making arts and crafts. Entry is free with food and extra experiences like boat tours for purchase.
9. KidsQuest Little Labs at the Renton Library
Date and time: Monday, March 2–30, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Bring your preschooler to the Renton Library and join KidsQuest for a weekly story time and hands-on fun exploring numbers and playful characters.
10. Toddler Tuesday at South Hill Mall
Date and time: Tuesday, March 10, 10–11 a.m.
After a brief hiatus, Toddler Tuesday is back! Head over to the kids play area at South Hill Mall for a fun-filled hour with singing, crafting, reading and more. Each gathering brings a brand-new, themed experience so plan to turn up every second Tuesday of the month.
11. Bugs Burien Scavenger Hunt
Date: March 12–April 3
Hop over to participating locations and hunt for Bugs Burien hidden around shops in town for a chance to win a special prize in this fun scavenger hunt for all. Make sure to get a form, collect signatures and drop completed forms in the special mailbox to enter.
12. Drop-In Art Activities at Frye Art Museum
Date and time: Thursdays, March 12 and 26, 5–7:30 p.m.
Bring your budding Picasso to the Frye Art Museum on the second or fourth Thursday of the month to be inspired by works of art during drop-in drawing and studio sessions with teaching artists. Youth (when accompanied by an adult) can explore their creativity — materials provided!
13. A Quest for Fairies and Gnomes
Date and time: Friday, March 13, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
With spring just around the corner, there’s no better time to embark on a quest for fairies and gnomes and discover their magical miniature world. Tromp around the North Meadow of Chambers Creek Regional Park for hands-on activities and playful exploration.
14. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date and time: Saturday, March 14, 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Stake out your spot along the Seattle Waterfront and watch the procession of floats, bagpipes and performers go by during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Keep the green celebration going all weekend and be immersed in the music, food, dancing and history of Ireland at the Irish Festival held at the Seattle Center Armory.
15. Science Dome: Pi Day Celebration
Date and time: Saturday, March 14, noon–4 p.m.
Celebrate Pi Day at the Pierce College Science Dome with hands-on math and science activities and showings of the video, “Chaos and Order: A Mathematical Symphony.” Preregister to save your seat for the video.
16. Children’s Bird Outing With Birds Connect Seattle
Date and time: Sunday, March 15, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Bring your little bird lover to the Seward Park Audubon Center for a half-mile stroll, where you’re likely to spot mallard ducks, Canada geese, chickadees and more. There will also be a break for a story and a snack.
17. Park Pop-Ups at Cross Park
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Head to Cross Park in Tacoma for some outdoor St. Patrick’s Day fun from shamrock games and crafts to a pot-of-gold scavenger hunt and other activities that highlight the traditions of Ireland.
18. Free to See at Cascadia Art Museum
Date and time: Thursday, March 19, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Enjoy free admission to Edmond’s Cascadia Art Museum every third Thursday of the month and take in exhibits highlighting Northwest visual arts and design during the period of 1860–1970.
19. Spring Into Art
Date and time: Friday, March 20, 5:30–8 p.m.
Bellevue’s Northwest Arts Center invites families to its spring open house where both kids and adults can explore the center, take part in mini art sessions and complete make-and-take crafts.
20. March of the Vegetables Parade
Date and time: Saturday, March 21, 3–6:30 p.m.
Spectate as a carrot, sweet pea or other favorite as vegetable-clad participants stroll along the route of the March of the Vegetables Parade in Duvall, starting at the Houston Barclay parking lot, to Depot Park where live music and kids activities await. Lettuce go!
21. Seattle’s French Fest
Date and time: Sunday, March 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Learn about the music, dance, foods and traditions of varied French-speaking cultures from across the globe at French Fest, part of the Festal cultural series at the Seattle Center, and experience some joie de vivre with your crew.
22. Comics Club: ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’
Date and time: Wednesday, March 25, 3–4:30 p.m.
Calling all kids who love comics and graphic novels! Join this monthly club at the Kirkland Library where you can take part in fun themed activities. March’s meeting will focus on fan-favorite “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”
23. Community Nights at Crossroads: Bingo Night
Date and time: Friday, March 27, 6–8 p.m.
Take a break from screens and instead head to Crossroads Community Center for bingo night with the crew! Each month the center hosts a different activity for a community fun night. Preregister.
24. Everett Mathfest
Date and time: Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m.–noon
Get your kids excited about math at a fest held at Cascade High School in Everett with activities, games and prizes geared toward ages 3–8 years old and help them build confidence in math.
25. Family Day: Cultures of the Valley
Date and time: Saturday, March 28, noon–4 p.m.
It’s family day at Auburn’s White River Valley Museum so drop by with your crew to explore Japanese and Marshallese cultures through fun activities and crafts and find out how these cultures have helped shape our area.
More free activities for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in February 2024, and was most recently updated on Feb. 25, 2026, to include 25 new, exciting free things to do in Seattle in March for families by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara. Event dates, times and locations were cross-checked and verified by our editor.
