Hello, June! Please launch us tout de suite into real summer! While many local kids have school all of the way to the very end of the month, we’ve got the goods to get a jump on summer family fun. Cultural festivals, dinosaurs, Father’s Day and Juneteenth events will fill your days with summer-style activities and joy. Let’s get to it!
- Celebrate the Eastside’s agricultural past and present at Duvall Days, kicking off with a fun run on Friday evening and culminating in the Grand Parade, kids’ zone, music, a car show and fireworks on Saturday. Join the festivities Friday–Saturday, June 2–3. Festival activities are free except for the fun run.
- Head for the hills on National Trails Day! Explore on your own or join an organized hike. National Trails Day encourages families to spend time in nature, help preserve green spaces and ensure access for all to the outdoors. Saturday, June 3.
- Visit Seattle Center for the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, which celebrates the culture and traditions practiced among our region’s strong Filipino community. Enjoy music, dance and crafts from the Philippines while gobbling up delicious lumpia and other tasty eats, Saturday–Sunday, June 3–4. Free; food for purchase.
- Head to a local beach on extra-low-tide days to inspect all kinds of marine critters that normally live undercover of seawater. Walk and touch gently, and learn more about what you see from beach naturalists. Programs take place at beaches up and down Puget Sound, June 3–7 and 16–19. Free.
- Join ParentMap on Tuesday, June 6, 1–2 p.m., for key insights into anxious parents and anxious kids from author Lenore Skenazy. Called the “World’s Worst Mom” for letting her son ride the NYC subway alone, Skenazy will make you think seriously about prevailing parenting ideas of today — and laugh until you cry. Free; preregister.
- Holy stegosaurus, dino fans! You do not want to miss this dino-tastic live arena show stomping into town and playing at two venues. The Jurassic World Live Tour features 24 life-size animatronic dinosaurs, human actors and a thrilling storyline. Wowza! Snag your tix for shows at the Accesso ShoWare Center, Friday–Sunday, June 9–11, and at Climate Pledge Arena, Friday–Sunday, June 16–18. Tickets cost $30 and up; tots ages 1 and younger enter free.
- Honor Seattle’s original inhabitants and their descendants still living here today at Seattle Center’s Indigenous People Festival. Celebrate through art, dance and food, and learn about the Indigenous knowledge that keeps individuals and communities healthy. Saturday, June 10; free entry.
- Go fish! Free Fishing Weekend is the perfect time to teach the next generation how to catch a fish. During the weekend of Saturday–Sunday, June 10–11, adults can fish without a fishing license (youths ages 14 and younger can always fish without a license), though some rules still apply. Gear up and reel one in at a lake near you!
- Will we get early summer weather or will we experience the dreaded June-uary? Either way, our fabulous Washington state parks welcome families for a frolic on three fee-free days. On June 10, 11 and 19, visitors to our state parks can park their car without a Discover Pass. Get out and play!
- What could be a sweeter combo for kids than baby animals and berries? Swan’s Trail Farms, in Snohomish, celebrates the beginning of summer by welcoming families to meet young farm critters and pick strawberries from the berry fields (pay by the pound for berries you pick). June 10–11, 17–18 and 24–25. Book tickets in advance, $18 per person, ages 3 and older; tots ages 2 and younger enter free.
- Slide down the pole and scamper over to Fire Day at MOHAI! Meet Seattle Fire Department firefighters, try on firefighter gear and learn about fire safety, Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Fire Day activities are free; regular MOHAI (Museum of History & Industry) admission is not included or required.
- This is a good bet for celebrating your favorite dad! Dust off your families’ bikes (or scooters), gather up your helmets and roll out on a pleasant bike ride along the lake. You could even pack a picnic to enjoy at the park. June Bicycle Weekends, when a section of Lake Washington Boulevard is closed off to cars, take place Saturday–Sunday, June 17–18 and 24–25. Free.
- While Juneteenth is a newer federal holiday, a full understanding of this important day is critical to getting a more complete picture of U.S. history. Round up the kids and join one of many family celebrations, ceremonies and events taking place around the region. Most events are free and take place Saturday–Monday, June 17–19.
- Lots of dads and grandpas love cars. For a special Father’s Day outing that will suit dads of all generations, cruise on over to Fenders on Front Street in Issaquah. Admire classic cars, trucks and motorcycles, and partake in kids’ activities and food-truck fare. Sunday, June 18, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
- Celebrate all types of families and all manner of love at Seattle signature community Pride celebrations, Saturday–Sunday, June 24–25. On Saturday, join PrideFest Capitol Hill, and on Sunday, watch the Pride Parade and party at PrideFest Seattle Center. The parade winds from Fourth Avenue and Pike Street toward Seattle Center. Free.
