Every Family’s Northwest Bucket List

Long days, short years

When you’re raising kids, the days are long, but the years are short, so you’ve got to plan carefully to hit some of our area’s signature annual events while your littles are still young enough to want to go with you. From spotting eagles at their local gathering grounds to quirky festivals to holiday delights, here in the Pacific Northwest we know how to celebrate all year round.

To help you make the most of the best yearly events, we’ve gathered a bucket list of festivals, happenings, out-of-the-ordinary holidays and more to put on your family calendar.

January

• Eagle watching in the Skagit Valley. Day trip alert! Visit the Bald Eagle Interpretive Center at Howard Miller County Park in Rockport, Washington, then join a free guided nature walk during weekends, Jan. 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 24–25. There are scads of kid-friendly hiking trails around the area, too.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at local events. The annual King Day celebration at the Northwest African American Museum will have notable speakers, inspirational performances, kids activities and giveaways on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
• Moonlight Beach Walk. Dress for the weather and don’t forget your boots! Explore the beach at Seahurst Park alongside naturalists from the Environmental Science Center during a low tide evening, Jan. 2, 30 and 31. What fascinating critters will you spot with your headlamps? Don’t forget to preregister!

February

• Kids ‘n’ Critters Weekends. This winter special entices families to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville by offering two free kid admissions (ages 12 and younger) with each paying adult, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February. Admire the bears, spot the bobcats and don’t miss the epic Kids’ Trek playground.
• Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Each February, Seattle’s legendary garden show plants itself at the Seattle Convention Center. Admission is free for kids ages 12 and younger, and if you think it’s a bad idea to drag your kids to a garden show, don’t worry. You’ll find lots to look at and plenty of activities to keep them engaged, such as the annual kids treasure hunt.
• Guided snowshoe hike at Lake Easton. On Friday or Saturday join a free guided snowshoe hike at Lake Easton. Interpretive Ranger Lorena will guide the hike, which lasts around two hours and covers about 1.5 miles of moderate terrain. Ranger Lorena will share natural and historical highlights of Lake Easton, and be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife!
• Great Backyard Bird Count. Have fun and be a scientist right in your own neighborhood. Citizen science needs you! Put your observation and counting skills to the test by tallying all the birds you see (or hear!) — from your yard, the park or any other locale —
  during one 15-minute time span, then log your findings with the Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday–Monday, Feb. 13–16.
• Lunar New Year. The Year of the Horse will gallop into the new year, starting Feb. 17, 2026. One of our region’s main celebrations takes place outside the Wing Luke Museum. Plan for lion dances, firecrackers and more festive fun. Another popular new year celebration, Tết in Seattle, takes place each year at the Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion.

March

• First viewing at Seattle Japanese Garden. Typically held on the first Sunday in March, the annual opening celebration of the enchanting Seattle Japanese Garden features a Shinto blessing and kid-friendly performances.
• Holi. Known as the “Festival of Colors,” Holi is joyously celebrated in India on the day after the full moon in March. Kids love to throw the colored powder. Look for celebrations at various regional locales.
• Pi Day. Why not celebrate this special day? It’s an opportunity to bake a pie for someone special, look for pie deals and talk with your kids about what the number 3.141592… signifies.
• Lacey’s Cultural Celebration. This free fest showcases a variety of cultural traditions through music, art and dance, and features fun activities for kids, inspiring a true spirit of community. Head to Saint Martin’s University on March 7, 2026.

April

• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Visiting Skagit Valley’s Technicolor fields during the month of April is also a chance to tour some of the small-town gems in the valley.
• The Daffodil Festival. South Sound communities celebrate spring with a gorgeous street parade that moves through Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting all in one day.
• Sheep shearing at Kelsey Creek Farm. Every April, Bellevue’s urban farm invites families to watch sheep be shorn, and to enjoy spinning demonstrations and other family activities.
• Seattle Cherry Blossom and Cultural Festival. Admire the cherry blossoms in hot spots such as the University of Washington’s campus. Follow that up by celebrating Seattle’s Japanese heritage and the change of the seasons at this annual Festál event at Seattle Center.
• Washington State Spring Fair. This more low-key version of the September extravaganza features rides, entertainment, activities and animals at the Washington State Fairgrounds.
• Independent Bookstore Day. What could be more Northwest than this celebration of our best bookstores? During this event, held on the last Saturday of April, participating bookstores offer activities, deals and an incentive to visit as many of the stores as possible in one day. But really, any day is a great day to visit an awesome independent bookstore!

May

• Free Comic Book Day. On the first Saturday in May, pick up a free comic book at one of many participating shops around Puget Sound.
• Opening Day of Boating Season. Watch the parade of decorated boats as it travels through the Montlake Cut in Seattle to mark the official start of the boating season.
• 17th of May Festival. Also called Syttende Mai (say “SOOT-un-da my”), May 17 is Ballard’s big day. The Seattle neighborhood flies its Scandinavian colors high at this popular and historic parade, one of the largest outside of Norway.
• Northwest Folklife. This iconic Memorial Day weekend festival celebrates 55 years in 2026. Mark your calendar for the incredible lineup of music and dance performances, activities for kids and terrific people-watching.

June

• Free Fishing Weekend. Always on the first weekend after the first Monday in June, Washington state waives its fishing license requirement for the weekend.
• Juneteenth. While this is a newer 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.
• Fremont Fair and Solstice Parade. This famous artsy-quirky festival stars a free-spirited parade (be prepared for some questions about naked cyclists), plus there’s a pooch parade, music, art cars and kids activities.
• Seattle Pride. Pride events around the region celebrate the lives and stories of LGBTQ+ people and families in a wild and colorful fashion. Celebrate all types of families and all manner of love at Seattle signature community Pride celebrations happening around town.
• Greenwood Car Show. There are a bundle of car shows around the region, but this one is extra kid-friendly, with cars lined up for admiration and lots of fun for families. It’s typically held the last Saturday in June each year.

July

• Jetty Island. Trust us: A visit to Everett’s 2-mile-long sandy beach gem, which you reach by an inexpensive foot ferry in July and August, should be on your summer bucket list every year.
• Seafair. An iconic Pacific Northwest tradition, Seafair is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Among its family-favorite attractions: the Torchlight Parade and the Blue Angels. Seafair neighborhood parades and activities sprawl from July into August.
• King County Fair. This county fair at the Enumclaw Expo Center is the oldest county fair in the United States west of the Mississippi. It offers inexpensive and old-fashioned fun, with free entertainment, rides and plenty of farm animals. Dates for 2026 are July 16–19.
• Mosaic. This awesome celebration of Pierce County’s cultural diversity, held at Wright Park, includes performing and visual arts, crafts and food from cultures around the world, plus events just for kids. Check the website for 2026 dates. 

August

• Watching salmon at the Ballard Locks. From July to October (best viewing in August and September), the fish ladder at the locks offers a spectacular view into the life cycle of our iconic fish.
• Chambers Creek Kite Festival. The kite-flying fun at Chambers Bay stretches across six months, but the most fun is during the August fest, which features demo kits, food trucks and especially high flying. Check the website for 2026 dates.
• Umoja Fest. This community festival celebrates the local music, food, dance and fashion of families with roots and cultural traditions from the Black diaspora. Check the website for 2026 dates.
• Pierce County Fair. Saddle up for old-fashioned county fair fun at the Pierce County Fair in Graham. This fair showcases local kids and families and their animals, the present and future of Pierce County’s agricultural community. Dates for 2026 are coming soon, check the website for updates.
• The Evergreen State Fair. In late August, the fair in Monroe revs into action with animals on display, midway rides and a rodeo. The fair is held every year for 11 days, ending on Labor Day.

September

• Bumbershoot. Seattle’s iconic music fest has been revived and reimagined with plenty of fun for the whole family. Head to the Seattle Center where you’ll find incredible art, music and immersive experiences from more than 100 artists.
• Bremerton Blackberry Festival. This Labor Day fest in berry fun Bremerton features blackberry treats, a fun run, fly-ins and more family fun on the boardwalk. Dates for 2026 are Sept. 5–7.
• BrickCon. Got some Lego lovers in the house? This festival held in Bellevue (the longest-running Lego fan exhibition in the world!), with thousands of model displays and group builds, has everything. Dates for 2026 are Sept. 12–13.
• Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias. This fest celebrates the various cultural traditions, music and cuisines of Latin America that are represented in our local community. Dates for 2026 are Sept. 19–20.

• Washington State Fair. Bring on the elephant ears! “Doing the Puyallup” in September is an annual rite of passage for many families, with carnival rides, animal encounters, the rodeo, monster truck jams and great entertainment for kids. Check the website for 2026 dates.

October

• Issaquah Salmon Days Festival. The Issaquah Salmon Days celebrate our region’s iconic fish with a parade, music, a kids obstacle course, dock dogs and more. Dates for 2026 are Oct. 3–4.
• Oktoberfest Northwest. At the Puyallup Fairgrounds, parents can sip the region’s newest brews, while kids go on rides and frolic in the root beer garden. Check the website for 2026 dates.
• St. Demetrios Greek Festival. Fulfilling all of your baklava dreams, the beloved St. Demetrios Greek Festival welcomes families to join in for delicious Greek food, music, dancing and other cultural festivities.
• Pumpkin patches and haunted houses. Find the perfect pumpkin and level of terror (even if that level is zero, like mine!) this year. Local farms pull out all the stops for fall fun and frights.

November

• Day of the Dead. Honor your family’s dearly departed and experience the cultural traditions of this important day at events around Seattle, including at Seattle Center, Tacoma Art Museum and the Phinney Neighborhood Center.
• Winterfest. Beginning on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Seattle Center’s awesome holiday celebration features free entertainment at the Armory, a huge model train layout and other signature events.
• Holiday season in Bellevue. Snowflake Lane, Garden d’Lights and Downtown Park’s covered ice-skating rink are three reasons Bellevue shines brighter than ever during the holidays, Thanksgiving through December. 

• Trip the lights fantastic. Get some glowing oohs and aahs from your family this season by visiting one of the many spectacular winter light displays around the region. 

December

• Christmas Ship Parade of Boats. Gather on a dark beach for live music broadcast to shore from decorated ships and (if you’re lucky) enjoy a bonfire. Boats pass by locations all around Puget Sound, Dec. 1–23. You can book a tour on the boat, but it’s free to stand on the shore, watch the parade of ships and enjoy the music.
• Gingerbread Village. This beloved cookie-and-candy fest takes place at the Sheraton Grand Seattle. The best things about this holiday tradition are that it’s free, it’s open nearly all of the time (even on Christmas Day), and its creations are brand new every year. Sweet!
• Santa Train excursions. Make some ho-ho-holiday memories by riding in a train to meet Santa. Trains typically run weekends from late November through mid-December. Buy your tickets early, as they often sell out.
• Model Train Festival. More trains! The Washington State History Museum has one of the largest model train displays in the region, and it celebrates all things choo-choo during this December festival — with Santa himself in attendance on select days.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and was updated most recently on Jan. 5, 2026, by ParentMap’s content editor, Kari Hanson. New details were added, and all information received a thorough fact-check for your 2026 adventures.