Seattle Family Calendar
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Welcome, October! The spookiest of the ’ber months has arrived, bringing with it a bevy of wonderful weekend activities.
First up: It’s the perfect time to pick your pumpkins! Pumpkin patches across the region are open now, and you can expect to find more than the classic orange squash. Tractor rides, corn mazes, jumping pillows, animal meet-and-greets and more await.
And perhaps it was all the apple cider doughnuts, fresh-squeezed lemonade and mandatory stop at the gift shop that made my family’s recent pumpkin patch visit a splurge, but I have to admit I’m looking for ways to save this month. That’s where this fantastic list of free things to do comes in handy.
My top 10 weekend events welcome the new month too. “Bluey” comes to life on the big stage, salmon make a triumphant return and Hammerschlagen gets a seasonal twist.
‘Bluey’s Big Play’
Date: Friday–Sunday, Oct. 2–4
Cost: Starting at $55.10
Location: The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle
The Heeler family has saved me more than once, so you can consider me a “Bluey” fan for life. This live theater show brings larger-than-life puppets and master puppeteers to the stage. From that magic xylophone to adorable gnomes, it’s a chance to experience the usual shenanigans in a brand-new way (rather than, say, watching all 154 episodes again).
Spooky Science at the Burke Museum
Date: Friday–Sunday, Oct. 2–4
Cost: Included with admission ($16–$24); ages 3 and younger are free
Location: Burke Museum, 4303 Memorial Way N.E., Seattle
Spooky, scary … stuffed animals? Head to the Burke Museum for creepy, crawly science activities all month long! On the second floor, you’ll find ways to piece together stuffed animal body parts and even craft your own bat to take home. On the third floor, you’ll discover glowing minerals and scary creatures.
Tacoma Honk Fest
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Cost: Free
Location: McKinley Hill Business District, McKinley Avenue and East Division Lane, Tacoma
The absolute joy of Honk! Fest is undeniable. Drum lines, marching bands, brass bands and more take to the streets for a full day of music. Groove alongside them, check out the community booths, snag some merch and have a blast.
Kelsey Creek Farm Fair
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Cost: Many free activities; select activities have a small fee
Location: Kelsey Creek Farm, 410 130 Pl. S.E., Bellevue
Ready for a fun fall day on the farm? This beloved community event gives kids a chance to meet farm animals, take a tractor-pulled wagon ride and explore a pumpkin patch. Snack on kettle corn or grab lunch from one of the food trucks and make a day of it!
Ching Garden Grand Opening
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Cost: Free
Location: Ching Garden, 16034 Greenwood Ave. N., Shoreline
This sweet community garden honoring the Ching family has been in the works for a few years, and it is finally opening to the public! Hear the story behind the food forest, take a tour, and even take home some perennials and seeds. There will be kids activities too.
Fiesta del Maíz
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Cost: Free
Location: Crossroads Park, 999 164th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
Celebrate Mesoamerican Indigenous cultures at this free fiesta. Special presentations bring history and traditions to life, and you can expect to learn traditional ways to cultivate and prepare corn. There will also be dance performances, colorful artwork, storytelling, crafts and more to enjoy.
Little Beats Concert Series
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Cost: $5 per show; $18 for 3-show series pass
Location: McGilvra Elementary School, 1617 38th Ave. E., Seattle
This little concert series is back for its third season! It kicks off on Saturday with Brian and the Good Buddies, so put on your dancing shoes and get ready to sing along. (And mark your calendars for Highlight Quartet on Nov. 7 and The Harmonica Pocket on Feb. 6.)
Issaquah Salmon Days
Date: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 3–4
Cost: Free
Location: Historic Shell Station & Downtown Issaquah, 232 Front St. N., Issaquah
This beloved local festival kicks off on Saturday morning with a grand parade, and then a flurry of festivities continues through the weekend. You can expect DockDogs performances, arts and crafts, inflatables, mini golf and more activities, all in celebration of the triumphant salmon that have returned for the season.
Pumpkin Chomp & Stomp
Date: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 3–4
Cost: Included with admission ($17–$32; ages 2 and younger free) or membership
Location: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, 11610 Trek Dr. E., Eatonville
My daughter loved seeing animals snack on pumpkins last year at Northwest Trek, and we can’t wait to visit again this fall. The annual Pumpkin Chomp & Stomp includes special keeper chats and pumpkin treats for the otters and raccoons and bears (oh my!). Wear your costumes, walk the trails and enjoy the incredible park. Just plan for extra time on the playground.
Oktoberfest Kid’s Day
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
Cost: Free
Location: Ounces Taproom & Beer Garden, 3809 Delridge Way S.W., Seattle
One of our favorite breweries invites the whole family to get into the Oktoberfest spirit with fun activities. Kids can craft a pretzel necklace, compete in a coloring contest and get their face painted. Plus, the brewery is putting a twist on the classic game of Hammerschlagen — with pumpkins.
More weekend activities
- Admire the changing leaves on a family-friendly fall hike.
- Craft to your heart’s content at one of these unique local art studios.
- All aboard! Chug along on a classic train adventure that will thrill the whole family.
Our Greater Seattle Family Calendar features great community events — every day of the year!
Editor’s note: Each week ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, updates The Weekender with her favorite weekend activities around Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound. It was originally published years ago and was most recently updated on Sept. 30, 2026. Event dates, times and locations were verified by our editor.
