20+ Magical Fall Performances for Puget Sound Families

As the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, our region’s stages and galleries come alive. Fall doesn’t just mean back-to-school; it’s the beginning of the arts season as well. The creative energy offers dazzling yet kid-friendly performances and eye-opening exhibitions to give families dozens of reasons to get out and explore. We’ve rounded up more than 20 can’t-miss shows and exhibits happening from September through December — so grab your calendar and start planning your family’s most artful autumn ever. 

Musical theater 

“Annie” 

“Annie” fans have two options for local productions of the beloved musical this fall. Ballyhoo Theatre and Seattle’s Performers (with actors ages 6–10) copresent “Annie” in Lynnwood, while Tacoma Musical Playhouse presents its own production of the play for families in the South Sound. 

Sept. 12–Oct. 5, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma 
Dec. 5–19, Edmonds College Black Box Theatre, Lynnwood 

“Brigadoon” 

Described as one of the most romantic musicals of all time (but since it came out in 1947, appropriate for anyone who can handle a Disney movie), “Brigadoon” is a story about two Americans who stumble into a magical Scottish village that only appears for one day every 100 years.

Sept. 16–Oct. 19, Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, Issaquah 
Oct. 25–Nov. 16, Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett 

“13: The Musical” 

After his parents divorce, middle schooler Evan Goldman finds his cool New York City life suddenly replaced by a sleepy Indiana town. He needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order of this strange new social system or risk spending adolescence among the outcasts in this production featuring an adolescent cast. 

Oct. 10–19, Studio East, Kirkland 

“The Lightning Thief” 

Even die-hard fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series hated the movie — but the musical, with its rock music score, got much better reviews. Now your family can enjoy Percy Jackson’s adventures live on Vashon Island. Free admission for kids age 12 and younger (with adult ticket purchase). 

Nov. 14–15, Vashon Center for the Arts, Vashon 

“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” 

Although it’s based on the musical, this Broadway adaptation offers a contemporary take on the story. The songs loved by generations are still there, but the story is updated for a post- “Ella Enchanted” generation. Ella meets a dragon-slaying young prince who is just assuming control of his government and helps spark transformation to empower the disenfranchised in their kingdom. There will be two local productions this fall: the Driftwood Players community theater in Edmonds and Studio East youth theater in Kirkland.

Nov. 21–Dec. 14, Wade James Theatre, Edmonds 
Dec. 12–21, Studio East, Kirkland 

“The Lion King” 

See the Disney cartoon brought to life on stage in the touring production of the Broadway musical “The Lion King.” Hyperbole is common when people talk about Disney’s spectacular live shows, but this one might actually be “The World’s No. 1 Musical.” Pro tip: ParentMap readers get a 10 percent discount. 

Dec. 4–Jan. 4, 2026, Paramount Theatre, Seattle 

Live theater 

“Fancy Dancer” 

An autobiographical story by Larissa FastHorse (whom adults may know as the writer of “The Thanksgiving Play”) describes how she was inspired as a child by prima ballerina Maria Tallchief to become one of only a handful of professional Native American ballerinas. 

Sept. 18–Nov. 2, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle 

“Sesame Street Live: Elmo and Friends Say Hello” 

Your littles will sing, dance and play with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and Elmo’s puppy, Tango, at this touring all-ages live performance. Families will have two chances to see this incredibly popular production — in Seattle and Tacoma — on the tour. 

Oct. 17, Paramount Theatre, Seattle 
Oct. 19, Pantages Theater, Tacoma 

“The Snow Queen” 

Olympia Family Theater collaborates with String and Shadow Puppet Theater to produce this imaginative vision of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale, blending storytelling, puppetry and theater techniques to warm even the coldest heart. 

Dec. 4–28, Olympia Family Theater, Olympia

“Gingerbread Boy” 

Thistle Theatre is back after a hiatus with two public performances of “Gingerbread Boy” scheduled in December. This holiday-adjacent puppet show follows the adventures of a gingerbread cookie who interrupts the production of sweet treats after too much spice is added to his batter. 

Dec. 2, Sammamish Library, Sammamish 
Dec. 8, Seattle Center, Seattle 

Exhibitions 

Mukai Farm & Garden

Take advantage of the last sunny days before the rains return and visit the historic Mukai Farm & Garden for the Japan Festival on Sept. 6. If you miss the festival, open houses are offered to tour the farmhouse and its exhibits that offer a glimpse into the life of the Mukai family before the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans. The grounds are open and free to the public daily. Add a visit to the small but charming Vashon Heritage Museum just around the corner to soak up more of the island’s history. 

Sept. 6, Mukai Farm & Garden, Vashon Island 

Selma is Now: The March For Justice Continues 

This new exhibition of historic photos by James “Spider” Martin, a then-25-year-old staff photographer for the Birmingham newspaper, documents the 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches. Not in living color, but poignant and powerful in black and white, Martin’s photos inform a new generation about early events in the ongoing struggle for a fair and just America. 

Current Exhibit, Northwest African American Museum, Seattle 

Origin Stories

Like generations of her family before her, American multidisciplinary artist Nina Katchadourian spent her childhood summers on the Finnish island of Bodö, where most of the work in this exhibition was developed. Scattered throughout the museum, her multimedia artworks explore the passions and preoccupations of her childhood. 

Through Oct. 26, National Nordic Museum, Seattle 

The Things They Brought Home: Memories of Washington’s Vietnam Veterans 

Marking 50 years since the United States pulled out of Vietnam, the Washington State Historical Society’s exhibit honors Vietnam veterans and their wartime experiences through stories, objects and film with a unique focus on the objects soldiers deliberately brought home to remember the war. 

Through Nov. 16, Washington State History Museum, Tacoma 

Seahawks 50: A Legacy in Blue and Green 

If you missed it over the summer, football season is an even better time to check out MOPOP’s special exhibition covering 50 years of football history in honor of the Seahawks’ 50th season.

Through Jan. 1, 2026, MOPOP, Seattle 

DISplace 

Wing Luke Museum presents DISplace, an exhibition that sheds light on the often-overlooked histories and movements connecting Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. From the arrival of the first documented Native Hawaiians to the West Coast in 1787 to now, DISplace features visual art by Native Hawaiians, family stories and ephemera, historic photographs and archival objects. 

Through Jan. 4, 2027, Wing Luke Museum, Seattle 

Music and dance performances 

Koo Koo

For those not already in the kindie know, Koo Koo is a family-friendly dance-along musical comedy show. Performers Bryan and Neil perform with an iPod, two mics, a giant rainbow, gold sneakers and an all-ages audience that already knows all the dance moves thanks to YouTube. 

Sept. 7, Kirkland Performance Center, Kirkland 

Jewels 

Parents are commonly advised to introduce children to ballet through one of the fairy tales, but the truth is, dance is the most visceral, direct — and as result, accessible — art form. Kids will have no trouble enjoying the high concept Jewels program that introduces viewers to three different ballet traditions as gemstones: elegant French Emeralds, jazzy American Rubies and the grandeur of Russian Diamonds. 

Sept. 26–Oct. 5, McCaw Hall, Seattle 

Nrityagram Dance Ensemble 

The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble is India’s foremost Odissi dance company. Odissi, a traditional Indian dance style that originated as a sacred ritual dedicated to the gods more than 2,000 years ago, is presented in a program called Khankanā, “the sound of dancing feet,” created by choreographer Surupa Sen. 

Oct. 11, Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds 

“The Pirates of Penzance” 

When one of the nation’s top opera companies produces a show that’s usually considered musical theater, adults may be inclined to examine the very definition of opera. But kids will simply enjoy the G-rated silliness, tongue-twister lyrics (in English) and pirate-themed adventures of what is arguably Gilbert and Sullivan’s greatest hit. On Oct. 26, Family Day, tickets start at $25. 

Oct. 18–Nov. 1, McCaw Hall, Seattle 

Grand Kyiv Ballet’s Don Quixote

The Ukrainian national ballet in exile presents Don Quixote, a story ballet that combines picaresque comedy with some of the world’s most technically challenging choreography. The story diverges from Cervantes’ lengthy narrative to focus on Quixote as a matchmaker, helping the young lovers Kitrig and Basil overcome parental disapproval to reach their happily ever after. 

Oct. 19, Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds

“The Magical Music of Harry Potter in Concert” 

The Magical Film Orchestra & Choir presents captivating illusions and a special appearance by a guest star from the Harry Potter films (hint: it’s one of the Weasleys) in a concert performance that blends storytelling with music from the movies. 

Dec. 6, Rialto Theater, Tacoma