Photo:
Head to Seattle Center this weekend for a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration. Photo: Alex Garland
Happy Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, Lunar New Year and mid-winter break! Whew, there is a lot to pack into the next week. If you want to ease into the weekend with a warm cuppa, this sweet afternoon outing is the perfect way to spend quality time with the kids.
If you’re looking for another way to connect, take the kids to the awe-inspiring show that just popped up. Cirque du Soleil returns to the Greater Seattle area with “Echo,” a family-friendly performance with incredible circus feats.
My top 10 events will fill the weekend with festivities too, from an epic treasure hunt to a lively parade.
1. Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog
Date: Friday, Feb. 13
Cost: Free
Location: Brick and Mortar Books, 7430 164th Ave. N.E., Suite B105, Redmond
When I was growing up, I loved reading all about the adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog and his owner, Emily. Now I get to share those books with my sweet daughter! This event brings the beloved oversize pup to life with a special meet and greet, Valentine’s Day festivities and the newest book in the Clifford series, “Love From Clifford the Big Red Dog.”
2. Renton High School Multicultural Show
Date: Friday–Saturday, Feb. 13–14
Cost: $5
Location: Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, 400 S. Second St., Renton
Renton High School is celebrating the incredible diversity of its students with a showcase you won’t want to miss. Experience the music, fashion and traditions of Latin America, Vietnam, India, Japan and beyond in this production. It’s a great opportunity for the whole family to experience and appreciate different cultures.
3. Oly Old-Time Festival
Date: Friday–Sunday, Feb. 13–15
Cost: $30; ages 12 and younger free; all workshops free
Location: South Bay Grange, 3918 Sleater Kinney Rd. N.E., Olympia
I am not yet ready to talk about how “oldies” stations are now playing music from the ’90s. When I think of old-time music, I’m much more likely to think of what my grandparents listened to growing up in the Midwest: bluegrass and folk music filled with the sound of banjos and fiddles. Introduce your kids to the magic of folk music at this weekend-long festival, which hosts free daytime workshops, followed by evening concerts and a square dance or two.
4. Northwest Glass Quest
Date: Friday–Monday, Feb. 13–16
Cost: Free
Location: Participating sites throughout Stanwood and Camano Island
The search is on! Northwest Glass Quest kicks off this weekend, and the treasure hunt is the perfect excuse to head north. Clue balls are hidden throughout Stanwood and Camano Island, leading questers to handblown glass orbs (and new favorite parks and businesses). It’s a tradition I look forward to every year.
5. Winter Olympics at Imagine Children’s Museum
Date: Friday–Monday, Feb. 13–16
Cost: Included with admission ($22; ages 24 months and younger are free)
Location: Imagine Children’s Museum, 1502 Wall St., Everett
The Winter Olympics are always an inspiration — take, for example, the Norwegian skier who recently sprinted uphill on skis faster than most people can run in sneakers. The largest children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest is tapping into that excitement with Olympic-themed activities throughout. Take part in challenges and creative prompts, and don’t miss the new airplane launching exhibit!
6. Call To Conscience Museum Opening Ceremony
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14
Cost: Free
Location: Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle
Columbia City Theater has transformed into a museum in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. Following the opening ceremony, you can take a tour through the museum. Featured exhibits highlight the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party, the history of religion in Seattle’s Black communities, Black athletes in the Metro League and more.
7. Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year
Date: Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 14–15
Cost: Free
Location: Seattle Center Armory, 305 Harrison St., Seattle
Welcome the Lunar New Year with one of Seattle’s most vibrant celebrations. Bring the whole family to enjoy live music, lion dances, firecrackers, a fashion show, interactive workshops and traditional Vietnamese food. Don’t miss the kids zone!
8. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s Love at the Zoo
Date: Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 14–15
Cost: Included with admission ($17–$30; 2 and younger free) or membership
Location: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma
Ready for a wild Valentine’s Day? Our favorite critters at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will be treated to heart-shaped treats this weekend. Adding to the fun, there’s a zoo-wide scavenger hunt with a dozen hearts hidden throughout, each with a fun animal fact. And if your kids want to make a card for their favorite zoo animal, there will be a special mailbox inside the zoo’s entrance where they can drop it off.
9. Petit Troll Parade
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
Cost: Free
Location: Fremont Sunday Market, 3401 Evanston Ave. N., Seattle
I know, I know, there are a lot of holidays in the week ahead. But would you mind if we sneak in a Mardi Gras-style celebration, too? The Petit Troll Parade invites families to join the fun, make a creative mini float, and enjoy live music and dancing. Judges will award one float a spot of honor in this year’s Solstice Parade.
10. Free Entrance to National Parks
Date: Monday, Feb. 16
Cost: Free
Location: National parks
We’re lucky to have three incredible national parks (and 14 other public lands and historic sites) to explore any time of year, but it’s especially exciting when there’s no entrance fee. In celebration of Presidents Day, admission to all National Park Service Sites is free. Take advantage of the long weekend and plan an outdoor adventure the whole family (and your wallet!) will love.
More weekend activities:
- Keep the Lunar New Year celebration going with family-friendly festivities (and even a hunt for Monkeyshines!).
- Kick off mid-winter break with a full itinerary: incredible playgrounds, nature walks, fun on wheels and tasty treats.
- Make pizza night one to remember with a deep-dish pie or a rectangular slice piled high with unique toppings.
Our family fun calendar features great community events — every day of the year!
Family fun, direct to your inbox!Sign up for ParentMap’s eNews to receive this roundup of the weekend’s best family adventures in your inbox every Thursday. Don’t miss it! |
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 Feb. 11, 2026. Event dates, times and locations were verified by our editor.
