Looking for something fun to do this weekend with the kiddos? Fireworks may be "so last week" but you're in luck -- the warm weather is finally here and there's still plenty of good stuff to go around. Read on for five of our favorite kid-friendly events for this weekend -- with pirates, gigantic salmon and Shakespeare included! And if you're looking for more events and activities, be sure to check out our full calendar.
Wallingford Kiddie Parade and Street Fair
This Saturday marks Wallingford's 62nd annual Kiddie Parade and Street Fair, and this is one kid-friendly neighborhood fest that is not to be missed. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and children of all ages are invited to sign-up and march through the streets alongside grand marshal Dick Spady (owner of Dick's Drive-In), swashbuckling pirates (arrrrr!), drill teams, dancers and more. The parade will begin on 45th St. at Corliss Ave. and will end at 45th and Woodlawn. (Neighborhood map available on wallingford.org.)
The street fair, open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., will feature inflatables, pony rides, face painting, kids' games and local vendors with foods and crafts. There will also be calligraphy lessons and chopstick races courtesy of Evergreen School and Wallingford Center merchants will be giving out free ice cream sodas and manicures (Oh hai, Mom!).
July 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. // 45th St. in Wallingford // Free // More info
(Photo courtesy of mywallingford.com)
Mercer Island Summer Celebration
Shakespeare and jousters and sword fights, oh my! If your family loves a good renaissance festival, this year's Mercer Island Summer Celebration is the place to be. Beginning on July 9 at 10 a.m. with a parade in Town Square and ending at 10 p.m. with a fireworks display, the celebration takes place in Mercerdale and Luther Burbank parks, and continues into Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Throughout the weekend, there'll be plenty of fun activities for everyone in the family, including magic shows, jousting showdowns, knights on horseback, Kindiependent bands, boat rides, Shakespeare in the Park performances, a car show and a Kids Zone packed with games, inflatables, miniature train rides and more. A wide variety of food and beverages from local vendors will also be available from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.
July 9, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; July 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. // Mercer Island; Mercerdale Park, Luther Burbank Park // Free // More info
DANCE This
Got a young dancer at home with a great appreciation for fancy footwork? The DANCE This annual performances will be taking place on Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at The Moore Theatre. Featuring talented young dancers ages 13-20 and professional choreographers, the DANCE This performance offer up a variety of dance styles, including hip hop, tap, modern, Afro-Brazilian and much more. You just gotta see it to believe it!
July 8, July 9, 7:30 p.m. // The Moore Theatre // $20 // More info
Ballard SeafoodFest
Scoop up your viking helmet and head out for the 37th annual Ballard SeafoodFest! Taking place on Saturday, July 9 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m and on Sunday, July 10 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., this favorite neighborhood festival offers up a variety of family-friendly fun in the heart of downtown Ballard. Activities will include Native American storytellers, live music, clowns, a big slide (new this year!), roving reptiles, a gigantic fish that you can walk through to explore the life cycle of a salmon and much more. And let's not forget about the food -- expect to see lots of local vendors with a variety of Northwest seafood from alder-smoked salmon to crab cakes, scallops and beyond. (Yum!)
July 9, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; July 10, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. // Downtown Ballard // Free // More info
Seafair Pirates Landing
Ahoy, matey! The Seafair Pirates are coming back to Alki Beach for their treasures and they'll be storming the shore at noon on Saturday, July 9. But don't let the pirates' arrival disrupt your day's jolly good times -- this swashbuckling event begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues throughout the day with live bands, dancing, food and pirate-y fun until 2 p.m.
July 9, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. // Alki Beach // Free // More info
