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Opportunities to get creative and make a free Valentine’s Day craft abound this month. Photo: iStock
Don’t blink — February is sure to fly by! Short but sweet, this month is filled with so many fun activities and occasions to celebrate. I’ve packed my calendar with budget-friendly outings galore and I’m sharing them with you — like Valentine’s Day crafting sessions, Lunar New Year events, Black History Month exhibitions, nature outings and more. Here are my top 25 free things to do around Seattle in February.
Note: Some activities require preregistration and can fill up quickly.
1. Winter Silhouette Show
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Enjoy the quiet beauty of winter as you walk among elegant miniature trees in their leafless winter form at this bonsai display presented by the Puget Sound Bonsai Association. View them at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
2. Black History Month Activities
Date: Daily, Feb. 1–28
The People’s Center in Tacoma has free family activities and events happening all month long in celebration of African American achievement. Kids can take part in daily trivia and open art projects. Don’t miss the Hilltop Healthy Kids and Family Carnival or Black History Luncheon!
3. Black Inventors Scavenger Hunt
Date: Daily, Feb. 3–28
Speaking of Black History Month, take part in an ongoing scavenger hunt at all Tacoma Public Library branches to learn more about the work and contributions of Black inventors and earn a prize!
4. The Reptile Lady
Date and time: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2–3 p.m.
Get up close and personal with all kinds of cold-blooded creatures when the Reptile Lady turns up at the Buckley Library for an educational and entertaining look at these scaled and slithery animals.
5. ‘Feathers, Fossils, and Flight’
Date and time: Ongoing, Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Learn about another one of nature’s fascinating creatures — birds! Check out a hands-on exhibit exploring the history of our feathered friends at Seattle’s Birds Connect featuring ancient fossils, skeletons and a life-size Archaeopteryx reproduction.
6. Free Dental Screenings at HOCM
Date and time: Friday, Feb. 6, 6–8 p.m.; and Saturdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2–4 p.m.
Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? Kids can get free dental screenings and free admission to Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum where they can also play dentist at a special exhibit. Be sure to preregister to save your spot.
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7. World Wetlands Day
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Suit up in boots and jackets and ramble around a local marsh with a ranger, make crafts and do other hands-on activities to observe World Wetlands Day at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center.
8. Game and Puzzle Exchange
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Prepare for your next epic family game night and get new-to-you puzzles and games for winter at a free family exchange at the Ballard Library. Bring a game or puzzle, take a game or puzzle!
9. Monday and Tuesday Afternoon Feederwatch
Date and time: Mondays–Tuesdays, 2–3 p.m.
Gather with other birders and observe winged flyers from a comfortable indoor vantage point at the Tahoma Bird Alliance located in University Place. Participants will contribute to a nationwide community science project. All ages and abilities are welcome to join.
10. Valentine’s Day Crafts and Workshops
Date: Various dates, Feb. 8–14
Get ready for Valentine’s Day by making cards, crafts and STEAM projects to gift to someone special. Local libraries and other organizations have a variety of fun workshops going on to help families get creative and make projects with love.
11. Classical Tuesdays in Old Town
Date and time: Friday, Feb. 10, 7–8:30 p.m.
Introduce the kids to live classical music at a free monthly concert played in Tacoma’s Slavonian Hall. February’s concert features a saxophone quartet playing a variety of American compositions.
12. Elephant and Piggie Book Party
Date and time: Thursday, Feb. 12, 4–5 p.m.
Bring your kids to a book party celebrating a couple of their favorite characters from author Mo Willems: Elephant and Piggie! Have fun with themed games, crafts and storytelling at the Milton/Edgewood Library.
13. Northwest Glass Quest
Date: Feb. 13–22
Embark on a treasure hunt as you comb the lovely terrain of Camano Island and Stanwood for hidden clue balls and win a handblown glass orb. The 10-day annual Northwest Glass Quest is the perfect excuse to get out and explore with the family.
14. Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog
Date and time: Friday, Feb. 13, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Another literary kid-favorite will be at Redmond’s Brick and Mortar Books, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be on hand, ready to meet your crew. Take photos, make a Valentine’s Day card, check out the latest Clifford book and more.
15. Bird Fest
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Bird lovers, swoop into the Burien Community Center to learn about your backyard feathered friends from experts through guided walks, presentations, crafts and other hands-on activities for all ages.
16. Tết in Seattle — Vietnamese Lunar New Year
Date: Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 14–15
It’s the Year of the Horse! Celebrate and learn about the culture of Vietnam and Vietnamese Americans at Tết in Seattle’s annual Lunar New Year Fest featuring music, dance and tasty food at the Seattle Center.
17. Free Entrance to National Parks
Date: Monday, Feb. 16
A day off for many of us, get out on President’s Day and explore one of our amazing national parks for free and enjoy the fresh air.
18. Mid-Winter Break Drop-In Days
Date and time: Wednesday–Friday, Feb. 18–20, noon–4 p.m.
Keep the crew busy during mid-winter break with crafts and fun activities at Auburn’s White River Valley Museum where admission is always free. While you’re there, check out one of the many exhibits, including a staging of Auburn’s train depot in the 1920s.
19. Day of the Accordion
Date and time: Friday–Saturday, Feb. 20–21, 7–8:45 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 22, 12:30–2:30 p.m.
It’s a free squeeze-box music fest all weekend long as fabulous accordion musicians play the Crossroads Market Stage during Day of the Accordion.
20. Seafair Winter By the Water
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 21, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Don’t miss this chance to get out and enjoy Seattle’s new waterfront this winter — no matter what the weather — at a one-day Winter Seafair festival featuring live entertainment, Seafair pirates, clowns, a hydroplane display and more. The event is free with optional ticketed upgrades for tastings, indoor concerts and other activities.
21. Stargazers & Spacewalks
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 21, noon–5 p.m.
Get ready for an out-of-this-world time exploring the wonders of space, from stars and planets to galaxies far, far away with hands-on exhibits, storytelling and more at the Karshner Museum.
22. Lucha Mania
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 22, 3–5 p.m.
If you’re looking for an action-packed weekend event, head to Burlington to witness Lucha Libre’s wrestling showdowns and wild entertainment. Bring the kids and cheer on luchadores.
23. Drop-In Juggling
Date and time: Wednesdays, 5:15–8:45 p.m. through March 25
Drop in weekly to the Ballard Community Center where half the gym will be dedicated to the juggling club and learn this impressive skill.
24. Lake Hills Greenbelt Sunset Stroll
Date and time: Friday, Feb. 27, 6–7 p.m.
Grab a jacket and flashlight and head out for a sunset stroll along the Lake Hills Greenbelt. Learn about the critters that awaken as the sun goes down, from bats and owls to raccoons and coyotes. Preregister.
25. Guided Snowshoe Hike at Lake Easton State Park
Date and time: Fridays and Saturdays, 9–11 a.m., through March 14
Make tracks to a winter wonderland by heading to the snow at Lake Easton State Park. Join a guide on a two-hour snowshoe hike, learning the natural and historical highlights and maybe spotting some wildlife too! Bring your own snowshoes.
More free activities for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in February 2024, and was most recently updated on Jan. 28, 2026, to include 25 new, exciting free things to do in Seattle in February for families by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara. Event dates, times and locations were cross-checked and verified by our editor.
