Weekender: Family Fun Ideas for Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound

This pandemic is an opportunity to practice compartmentalizing. Can you shelve your some-people-aren't-wearing-masks and school-will-likely-suck stress for the weekend? It's still summer! Set sail to Bainbridge for ice cream, try one of the activities on our August bucket list or browse top weekend events below for a fab family weekend. 

10 ideas for family fun this weekend and beyond:

1. Get out on the water with The Center for Wooden Boats; it is offering free rowboat rentals for family fun (Wednesday–Sunday).
2. The cows, piggies, bunnies and entertainment of the Pierce County Fair are going online this year, so tune in to see everything (Thursday–Sunday).
3. Park the kids on a Zoom with local kindie music fave Eli Rosenblatt whose tunes take tots around the world (Friday).
4. Check out this creative update to the Jetty Island Float Find; this year, search parks for special orange Frisbees that you can then trade in for a float (Saturday).
5. Dust off your wheels (bikes, skates, scooters) and get rolling on a family scavenger hunt along a local trail; you could win a prize (Saturday–Sunday).
6. If you haven't done it yet this summer, take one of your last handful of chances to visit charming Mary Olson Farm (Saturday–Sunday).
7. This edition of the Virtual Sundae Sermon celebrates Black women and showcases Federation Forest State Park (Sunday).
8. Head to the dock for a cruise around Lake Union spotting houseboats and sea planes while you savor an ice cream treat (Sunday).
9. Register and get moving with your pooch — or cat! — and log your miles to raise money for local animals in this year's virtual PAWSwalk event.
10. Mark your calendar and join ParentMap and Seattle Children's pediatrician Dr. Kronman for an update and Q&A for families on COVID-19 (Tuesday, Aug. 11).

More any-time fun ideas:

• Peruse our guide to fun with kids around town during the remaining days of our weird pandemic summer.
• Thinking of escaping the city for an on-the-fly camping trip? Check our guide to no-reservation-required camping.
• If you've got reluctant hikers in your crew, try one of these hikes for kids who hate to hike — there are "prizes," of sorts.
• For easier social distancing, try a kid-friendly nature walk along a wider trail.
• If you fancy a dip in a lake, choose your beach carefully (some Lake Washington beaches are closed due to high levels of bacteria), or try out a fun swimming hole (and keep water safety top of mind).

Our family fun calendar now features great virtual events alongside returning in-person events! There are plenty of engaging activities to fill your days with fun. If you do go out, please stay safe — which includes mandatory wearing of face coverings in public spaces.