Weekender: Best Family Events for Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound

The drizzle is coming so we've rounded up a bucketful of mostly indoor family fun ideas for you below. But you can't stay inside all weekend, so suit up for raindrops and head out. May we suggest a rainy-day playground or an in-town nature wander? And hot cocoa afterwards, of course. Enjoy!

Seattle area:

• Sip cocoa, snack on cookies and admire the fanciful holiday train display at this free conservatory open house for families (Friday).
• Craft a lantern and take in the traditions of Diwali at SAM's free family day celebrating India's joyful festival of lights (Saturday).
• Drizzle coming down? Pop into the Seattle Armory for a free family magic show, with two showtimes to choose from (Saturday).
• DIY science zone! Gaming! Speaker panels! Wear your costume! It's time for GeekGirlCon (Saturday–Sunday).

Eastside and environs:

• Oh no! The Gingerbread Man has escaped from granny's kitchen — find out what happens next in this free puppet show for tots (Friday, Sunday).
• Get crafting building a balloon-powered mini hot rod in an art-inspired workshop for kids (Saturday).
• Don your princess or snowman costume and come ready to belt it out at a family “Frozen” sing-along (Saturday).
• Who are we to say it seems kinda early? Turn up for Santa, elves, tree-lighting and a laser show that promises to amaze (Saturday).

South Sound area:

• Play with dead bugs! Well, you can keep a safe distance while the kids go on a free insect safari (Saturday).
• Celebrate the chum returning to Donkey Creek with some fish-tastic crafts and activities, including fish-printing, sea creatures, walking tours and dragon boat races (Saturday).
• Learn about fascinating squid, inspecting some live ones and dissecting some dead ones at Squid-A-Rama (Saturday).
• Welcome back Donder and Blitzen for their annual stint greeting visitors at Watson's Greenhouse (ongoing).

All over:

• Marvel at the talents and antics of the always-amazing Harlem Globetrotters, putting on their show at arenas up and down the Sound (Friday–Monday).

More ideas for weekend fun:

• Revel in Minecraft mania at a world-premiere exhibit at Seattle's MoPop.
• Get your glide on at the seasonal ice rink opening for skating this weekend.
• Witness science in action at a brand-new, super kid-friendly local museum.
• Test drive someone else's Lego at family-fun Lego play spots around town.
• Our fantastic fall family bucket list features so many fun things to do you better get started right now.
• Bookmark our family fun calendar for great activities happening every day of the week.