Top 15 Seattle-Area Family Activities for September 2026

Summer break may be over, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. While I will miss leisurely schedules and sleeping in, I look forward to the onset of my favorite season with the promise of crisper fall days ahead. Want to make the most of blue skies and shorter days? How about an outdoor excursion with the entire crew to a farm, sunny sunflower field or the fair? Make it a month to remember and head to a cultural fest, BrickCon or even a big-rig show. There are plenty of ways to welcome fall.

1. It’s a wonderland of towering blooms at Bob’s Sunflower Experience in Snohomish.  As you frolic in the fields, snap the perfect seasonal selfie and let the kids play all day. Admission includes a wagon ride, big slides, sand pit, huge playground and more kids activities. Open daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through Sept. 13. Admission is $7.95 weekdays, $10.95 weekends; kids younger than 2 are free.

2. It’s time to do the Puyallup at the Washington State Fair. Brave the carnival rides, savor fair treats, admire animal exhibits and more. The Fair takes place Sept. 4–27 (it is closed every Tuesday, as well as Wednesday, Sept. 9). Gate admission is $13–$15; ages 5 and younger are free; shows and rides extra. Discounts and additional deals are available. Pro tip: Catch a Blippi show at the fair on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and your tickets include fair admission!

3. Affectionately known as MukFest, the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival returns with fun kids activities, live music, a parade and tons of entertainment for all ages, Friday–Sunday, Sept. 11–13. Simply follow the beacon that leads you to Lighthouse Park. Free.

4. Back for a third year, Kenmore’s Oktoberfest returns with Bavarian sing-alongs, games for families, wiener dog races and, of course, beer for grown-ups at multiple locations around town. Join all the merriment of this autumn tradition, Saturday, Sept. 12 and Thursday–Sunday, Sept. 17–20. Free to attend, some activities have a fee.

5. Behold thousands of creations at BrickCon, the longest running Lego fan convention in the world. Brought to you by fellow devotees, you’ll be sure to find inspiration for your own creations. It all happens at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 12–13. Tickets are $19–$24; ages 4 and younger are free.

6. Motor on over to a truck lover’s paradise happening at Sprinker Recreation Center. At this free Touch-A-Truck event, kids get to climb on, “drive” and honk the horns of many of the awesome big rigs they see out on the roads. Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. –1 p.m. (horn-free hour is noon–1 p.m.).

7. Our local flagship fish are returning home to the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. View these impressive swimmers up close at the Salmon on Sunset Celebration. Join in themed activities for the whole family including arts and crafts, fly casting demos, painting projects and hourly rubber duck derbies. Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free.

8. Celebrate the cultural traditions and cuisines of Latin America in our local community. Commemorating the independence of Latin American countries, Fiestas Patrias welcomes all for food demos, kids activities, folkloric performances and more. Join the party at Seattle Center, Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 19–20. Free.

9. Renton has a snazzy, brand-new outdoor arts and culture hub for community gatherings in Legacy Square. Check it out this fall at the first-time Renton Harvest Festival Extravaganza. Gather with friends, family and neighbors to celebrate the season with live music, harvest games, a market and more. (Adults can sample local brews.) Saturday, Sept. 19, noon–9 p.m. Free.

10. Located in the heart of Seattle, the Rainier Beach Urban Farm brings agriculture to urban dwellers. Stop by for a community fest celebrating local food, city farming and healthy living. Entry is free, food for purchase, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

11. Bring something light or bright and join the gorgeous Luminata lantern procession around Green Lake to mark the start of fall on Saturday, Sept. 19 starting at 7:30 p.m. Purchase a lantern from the Fremont Arts Council, bring your own or make one at a free workshop leading up to the big event. Whichever you choose, it will be an illuminating and magical night. Free.

12. Crisp, juicy apples from Snoqualmie Valley orchards are ripe and ready. At the Fall City Apple Festival you can press apples into cider, hop on a horse ride and enjoy other fun autumn activities. Held at the Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center, proceeds support equine therapy for veterans, and summer camp scholarships for kids. Sunday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free entry; food and some activities for purchase.

13. The internet’s most entertaining and relatable couple is kicking off our 2026–27 ParentMap Talks series. On Thursday, Sept. 24, noon–1 p.m., join Kim and Penn Holderness of The Holderness Family for a spirited live discussion sure to produce some chuckles along with practical parenting advice. Sign up today for $10, or $50 for the entire ParentMap Talks series (and receive the recording to watch anytime!). Members of partner schools can join for free.

14. When it comes to helping the planet, kids are leading the way. Bring yours to the Loyal Heights Community Center for the Sustainable Ballard Festival and get inspired to lower our carbon footprint and live more sustainably. Kids will have a blast racing solar-powered cars, making a birdhouse and pressing apples into cider on Saturday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.

15. Bring your appetite and gather with other enthusiasts at Seattle Center to celebrate the culture, arts and especially food of Italy. Additional Italian Festival highlights include a car show, cooking demos, dog show and the popular grape stomp. Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 26–27. Free.

Editor’s note: This article is updated every month by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara, with her favorite new family activities in and around Seattle. It was most recently updated on Aug. 25, 2026, with all new September 2026 events. All event dates, times and locations were cross-checked and verified by our editor. Be sure to come back next month for more ideas!