Music at the Library - Instrument Appreciation - Milton/Edgewood

At the library in Milton/Edgewood in Suprise Lake Square, on Thursday October 6th at 4pm, enjoy a personal experience with a stringed instrument. 

You will be able to explore various stringed instruments, courtesy of the Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center staff. 

So, pick upk a violin, or other instruments, pluck a string or use a bow to enjoy the music you make yourself.

Fife Harvest Festival

October 1st, all day in Fife is presenting its annual Harvest Festival.  There are all day events, FREE kids activities and Chili Feed - that CAN'T be a bad thing!!  The day's schedule starts with a pancake breakfast at 7:30, has a Locomotive Tour at 12:30, Chili feed at 4:30 and fireworks at 8pm.  Click HERE for a schedule of events! 

This promises to be a great family friendly event for all. 

Broadway Center for Performing Arts - FREE Event!

On Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9th, the Broadway Center for Peforming Arts in Downtown Tacoma is offering a smorgasbord of events from puppets to philharmonic music in the Broadway Theater District. 

This event is totally FREE!  But you do need to register for a wristband pass.  Click HERE for schedule of events and to register for your pass. 

If you have kids who like plays or music or if you are just tired of hearing "Im bored", then this is a solution for you!! 

Music at the Library - Instrument Appreciation - Key Center (KPN)

At the Key Center Library on Lakebay, On Monday October 10th, 11am, feel free to explore stringed instruments courtesy of the Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Staff. 

Pick up a Violin, or other instrument and enjoy the hands on feel of making your own music.  Pluck a string or pull a bow, either way its a good time!

Pierce County Farm Tours

This farm tour is supported by WSU Cooperative Campus and include the following farms in the

Puyallup Valley:

• Terry's Berries
• Picha Farms
• Moon Farm & Puyallup Valley Jam Factory (YUM!)
• Spooner Farms

Orting/Eatonville/Roy Farms

• Scholz Farms
• Tahoma Farms
• Stringtown Farms and Winery
• Wilcox Farms

Ive been to most of these places at one time or another to pick berries or pumpkins and they are a ton of fun!  On October 1st from 10am -4pm, take a tour for FREE of all these farms and learn how they bring us the most wonderful food!  Download the guide HERE for more information about the farms and the fun you can have there. 

Fall Color Around Washington

Fall colors are beautiful. The crisp clean air, the crunchy fall leaves (sometimes soggy), but all around beautiful.  When the sun is shining, it's great for taking pictures too! Last year, my family was lucky enough to score a great day for family portraits in Wright Park off 6th Ave in Tacoma amongst the fall leaves. (photographybytrina.com - amazing by the way!) What are some if your favorite places to see fall colors? Mine are: Wright Park, Point Defiance, Chambers Creek and Ruston Way... On the road, Hwy 101 is always fun, and you miss the bridge toll!  Farther away on a day trip, think of Snoquomie Falls or Crystal Mountain. 

Below is an excerpt from mynorthwest.com with some of their favorites. Click on the link for the full article.

Where to see some fall color in Western Washington - Seattle News - MyNorthwest.com

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Lattins Country Cider Mill Apple Festival - Thurston County

Apple Festival

Celebrate Washington’s Apple Harvest with us at Lattin’s!

From the last weekend in September through the last weekend in October from 9 am to 5 pm

No admission charges, $2.00 per vehicle parking

Enjoy a day in the country with Bluegrass music amid the sweet aroma of apples.

Sample our fresh-picked, crunchy apples and take some home at a great low price.

Tractor-drawn wagon rides to our Pumpkin Patch from 11 am to 4 pm.

Find your way through our new year round Maze.

Kids can pick our their own pumpkins, bob for apples, enjoy the clown and visit our farm animals.

Savor apple crisp, caramel apples, apple butter, apple cake, baked apples,

apple pie by the slice and our famous apple fritters.

Bring your friends, family and cameras!

9402 Rich Road SE Olympia WA 98501 360-491-7328

Apple Festival & Pumpkin Patch-Lattin’s Country Cider Mill - ThurstonTalk | ThurstonTalk

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30th Annual Oyster Fest - Shelton

The 30th Annual West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival (aka OysterFest) is October 1 & 2, 2011.

Port of Shelton Fairgrounds - Shelton, Washington. (Formerly known as Mason County Fairgrounds) Developed and operated by Skookum Rotary Club Foundation, OysterFest is always held the first full weekend of October. Gates open to the public from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

This is a fairly large festival, so I an sure they are doing something to ensure the oysters are good to eat. The rotary returned my call and they vett their supplier pretty well. But I was still warmly invited to eat a hamburger should I have continued reservations.

OysterFest

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Childrens Day in Lacey

Join us for a great day of free family fun!  October 1st from 11am-2pm.  Entertainment and events include music, giant slides and bouncers, hands-on crafts, games and more! This is a free event co-sponsored by Lacey Parks and Recreation and the Lacey Timberland Library.

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Apple Squeeze - Steillacoom



The 38th annual Apple Squeeze will be held on Sunday, 2 October, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in downtown Steilacoom. There will be a street fair with quality hand crafts, music all day, and activities for young children. Pony rides will be held from noon to 4:00 p.m., and of course there will be the apple presses for making cider the old fashioned way!

The folks at the Apple Identification Booth will answer all your questions about apple trees and you will be able to enjoy apple pie in Town Hall in addition to other good foods. We hope to have a few surprise activities as well, so mark your calendar and come down for a fun filled day.

This event is sponsored by and is a fund raiser for the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association. Contact the museum with any questions at 584-4133.

Seattle Art Museum (SAM) FREE

The Seattle Art Museum is FREE from 10am-9pm on the first THURSDAY of the month.  So, for October 6th.  Take advantage of the FREE entrance to a great art museum and have some fun!

Tacoma Resident FREE day at the ZOO

If you have a way to show you are a current City of Tacom resident, then you can get into the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium for FREE on September 28th.  This is a really cool event and is a great way to experience all Tacoma has to offer, from stunning views of the Puget Sound to Polar Bears playing in a pool and other close encounters of the rare kind. 

Show your ID with Tacoma address, or bring a piece of mail with ID.  Come early, because it gets crowded fast! 

Mega Multiples Sale - Tacoma

The Tacoma Parents of Multiples group is having their Mega sale on Saturday September 24th at Bates Tech College off 84th in Tacoma . This sale is for clothing or child related items like cribs, strollers, bottles and more.

When people have twins, or higher order multiples, they need and use a lot of stuff. We all know how fast babies grow, so they sell gently used items as a fundraiser for the club. Support this great organization as they support those who have a hard job of raising two babies.

Cash only, clothes NB to 5T
Bring a clothes basket to carry your steals!

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Whidby Island Kite Festival

Central Whidby Island is having a kite festival at the Camp Casey Conference Center, just south of Coupeville.

The kite festival features ground and aerial displays. There are kids kite making class as well as a beginning sport kite making class. And, there will be two mass accessions, one each on Saturday and Sunday. See the link below for a great experience!

Whidbey Island Kite Festival - A Festival of Colors

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4th Annual Green Tacoma Day

Discover Tacoma’s Natural Treasures at the 4^th annual Green Tacoma Day to be held on September 24^th in conjunction with National Public Lands Day.:

• Join thousands of other Americans across the country celebrating National Public Lands Day.
• Help protect and restore your favorite local park, gulch, and shoreline.
• Learn more about your favorite recreation destination from experienced Habitat Stewards.

Green Tacoma Day continues to grow each year! This year is seeing some exciting changes. Help the park you use the most with invasive plant removal, garbage removal, education, or planting.  Some of the 14 participating sites are listed below, for a completed list click here:

• Point Defiance Park
• Franklin Park
• Titlow Park
• Swan Creek Park
• Oak Tree Park
• McKinley Park
• Tacoma Nature Center
• Julias Gulch
• TCC
• Pacific Lutheran University

Book Sale - Pierce County Library

At a Pierce County Library near you, the Friends of the Pierce County Library are hosting a used book fundraiser. You can get ready for the long, wet winter and support your local library at the same time.

Parkland, Lakewood, Graham, and Sumner are all listed. Find your branch below.

Calendar

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Monster Mash Dash

Pre-Registration deadline for the Monster Mash Dash has been extended to September 30. Registrations before the 30th are $20 and it includes a race shirt. Day of registration is $20 and does not include a shirt. The Monster Mash Dash 5K & 1 mile fun run is a Halloween themed run held at Spanaway Lake Park on October 8. The race will begin at 9:00 am.

This looks like a lot of fun and a great way to (as my mom used to say) burn off the stink...aka. Run off excess energy.

To register call (253) 798-4177 or www.piercecountywa.org/parks

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Click Family Flick

Every month, Click! cable and the Grand Cinema in downtown Tacoma team up to bring you a family friendly movie for free. Thes Grand also has a small parking lot,.so parking might be free as well.

Tomorrow's movie at 10am is How to Train Your Dragon, rated PG. Only the first 100 people are free, so come a little early and hit up the popcorn...yum!

Grand Cinema > The Click! Family Flick

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Off Leash Dog Park-Tacoma

Rogers Park is an off-leash dog park in Tacoma. This park, brought to you by Metro Parks, is expected to be complete this weekend. So, take the kids and the dog for a run. See link below for doggie and owner etiquette.

Approximately 1.5 acres, the fully fenced off-leash area features a drinking fountain, bench and shelter. It is a perfect place for dogs to exercise and socialize. Located at East 34th street and East 'L' street, Rogers Park serves Tacoma's eastside area near the old Roger's Elementary School. In addition to the off-leash area, the park features play equipment, a hard surface play area and shelter

Metro Parks Tacoma > Rogers Off-leash Dog Park

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Hike and Seek at Seward park

Hiking and a scavenger hunt all in one! Hike & Seek was such a great hit in Seattle last year, the event will again take place at the beautiful 300 acre Seward Park. The adventure will be held on September 17, 2011 on a ~2 mile hiking trail, where kids can connect with nature and interact with five adventurous Stop & Study locations. By trading screen time for green time, this go-at-your-own-pace event will surely create a lasting impression and promote a healthy lifestyle for kids of all ages! Saturday, September 17, 2011 9 a.m. START (Please note event will last approximately 2-3 hours, depending on your pace!)

Seward Park 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S Seattle, Washington 98118

National Wildlife Federation: Seattle - Hike & Seek

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Guided Walk through Adriana Hess Wetland Park-UP

On Monday, Sept. 19, enjoy a guided nature walk Plant walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park, University Place, WA with the Tahoma Audubon Society. Learn about native plants and look at the wildlife.

The cost is free, but the views are priceless! http://t.co/XPgkI5Jt

Audubon Washington: Education

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Indoor Soccer $45

I love that indoor soccer is cozy and warm! Right now, Pierce County parks and rec has extended their soccer registration through Friday for ages 4-7. $45 per child. All practices and games are at the Community Center!

Register at (253) 798-4177 or go online www.piercecountywa.org/parks

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Family Camping for $20! Snake Lake

Snake Lake Campout with REI September 17-18, 3pm -10am Join REI, Tahoma Audubon Society and Tacoma Nature Center for this exciting event to introduce your family to camping with an overnight at Snake Lake. Metro Parks will provide the gear and the expertise, so just bring the family and get ready to have some fun. $20 per family (up to 4), $4 for each additional child

Metro Parks Tacoma > Events and Classes

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Metro Parks Preschool Fun

Since the older kids have gone back to school, most anyway, you might be wondering about what to do with the younger set. Metro Parks has a great couple of nature learning classes. These take place at the new nature center which my boys LOVE to go to.

*Nature Discovery Hour Ages 2-7, $3.00/child, no charge for adults 10:30 am -11:30 am Nature Center members $2.50/child

Explore our new Discovery Pond play area with a Nature Guide during this reserved time. Special activities and nature discovery aids will be available. Adult participation is required, but there is no fee for adults.

*Nature Alphabet-Ages 3-6, $6.00, 10:30-11:30 Nature Center members $5.00/ child Preschoolers explore different nature topics through stories, hands-on activities, nature walks and crafts at the Tacoma Nature Center during this fast-paced hour. Adult participation is recommended, children under four require an adult present. Space is limited and advance reservations are required.


Metro Parks Tacoma > Events and Classes

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Fisherman's Festival

The 23rd Annual Fishermen's Fall Festival will be held Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to dusk on the boardwalk of Fishermen’s terminal.

The Festival celebrates the return of the North Pacific fishing fleet to the terminal, works to increase the public’s knowledge of the importance of the fishing industry as well as Fishermen’s Terminal to Seattle while raising money for the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial Foundation.

This is an all-volunteer event that depends on over 200 volunteers for its success. The festival provides families with a fun and educational outing on the waterfront as well as an opportunity to learn more about seafood. Hands-on art projects with fishing themes, including the popular wooden boat building and trout pond, are complementary for all children and admission to the festival is free. Proceeds from the activities within the festival are donated to the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial to assist families of fishers lost at sea. The Fishermen’s Fall Festival is a truly unique Seattle event!

New to the festival this year, stars of the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" including F/V Wizard Captain Keith Colburn will help to raise money for the Fishermen's Memorial by shucking crab and signing autographs in the Deadliest Catch Seafood Booth.

Anthony's Home Port - Banquets

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Free Entrance to Seattle Childrens Museum

This is a really great website. Thrifty NW Mom has lots of great deals for parents, including coupons for shopping and events. See the link below for how to snag free entrance to the Seattle Childrens Museum on September 18th and 19th.

Seattle Children’s Museum – Free admission if you dress like a pirate – September 19th & 20th « Thrifty NW Mom

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50% off at Wheelz Skate in UP

Wheelz is a great fun place to skate. I've have great memories of a sharing birthday party. Too much fun. A Groupon today is 50% off addmission for a skate, or a 1hr lesson. The Groupon is good for 1 year.

Seattle Deal of the Day

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Garage sale fundraiser - Dupont

The La Leche Leage is having a garage sale for a fundraiser. It's a great organization focused on helping people breastfeed. Not everyone wants to, or can, but the club can be a valuable resource for those who need them.

Tomorrow morning is our big fundraiser! We had a lot of fun going through all the stuff we collected -there are going to be some happy yard-salers tomorrow morning. Lots of baby items, brand name kids clothes, cloth diapers, household items & coffee and snacks too. Come out and support our group! :) 8am-12pm 1151 Griggs St. DuPont, WA

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Fishing at Titlow

Metro Parks Tacoma is partnering with the Cooperative Trout Enhancement Program to bring an introduction-to-fishing experience to Titlow Pool. The event will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 11. The trout program is a nonprofit organization that provides fishing education and experience to children, people with disabilities and fishing enthusiasts by stocking Washington lakes and portable tanks with trophy-size fish. The use of Titlow Pool as one of these “portable tanks” has been approved by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for youth and free for observers. Entry fee includes three catches; additional catches are $2 each.

Titlow Pool turns into a trout pond | Outdoors - The News Tribune

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Lego club at Tacoma Main library

Legos are awesome and if you are looking for a creative outlet during the upcoming rainy months, then this is perfect! No blocks to step on in the middle of the night, and socialization!

The Lego Building Club meets on Sunday, September 18 @ 1:30 Main Library. For ages 5-up. Adults must be accompanied by a child.

Need inspiration, follow this link:http://speckyboy.com/2009/ 03/02/42-amazing-sources-o f-lego-inspiration-and-creativity-and-a-touch-of-wit/

Wall Photos (1)

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Kent Library Used Book Sale

Used-book sale Sept. 16-18 at Kent Library. The Friends of the Kent Library annual used-book sale is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-17 and 1-3 p.m. Sept. 18 at the library in downtown Kent. All books are 50 cents, except those on the special table. Videos, DVD’s and audio books are $1.

This is a great oppprtunity to refresh your personal library and support your local library.

Used-book sale Sept. 16-18 at Kent Library - Kent Reporter - Mobile Edition

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Paws Walk at Magnusen Park

On Saturday, September 10, 2011 Seattle's Magnuson Park Check-in opens at 8 a.m. Walk begins at 10 a.m.

Join thousands of walkers and their canine pals for the 20th Anniversary of PAWSwalk! Your participation in PAWSwalk, a benefit event for PAWS, will save the lives of animals in our community. Raise awareness and funds for the animals at PAWS, and while having a great time!

PAWSwalk 2011 - Home

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Touch a Truck

On September 10th from 10am till 1pm at Sprinker Rec Center in Spanaway, Pierce County Parks and Recreation presents Touch a Truck.  This event lets children, and even adults, touch various truck that work hard in different industries.  From fire trucks to dump trucks and even Army strykers, you can climb in, sit and honk the horn (on some, not all).  Even better, a special no-horns time from noon-1pm is scheduled for sensitive children.  So come one, come all, and enjoy

Touch-A-Truck video

Port Townsend 35th Annual Wooden Boat Festival

This weekend, September 9th-11th, Port Townsend is having it's Wooden Boat Festival. At $15/ person (less for teens and seniors) it seems a little spendy for a large family. But, Port Townsend is a picturesque town, and boats/ festivals are always a big hit with the kids. So, make a whole day of the excursion, see some sights along the way. If you make this one of your big day trips of our warm weather season, you won't be sorry.

Wooden Boat Festival - Port Townsend, WA

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Free entrance to Puyallup Fair

Who doesn't love fair scones and rides that make you question gravity? I know I do. If you are brave enough to fight crowds and have one of the best times, go to the Puyallup Fair, starting tomorrow, Friday September 9th.

If you go opening day, before 12 pm, bring packaged food for the food drive. - You get in Free!

Here is a way to get at least the kiddos in for free: go during the BECU free kids weekend Sat Sept 10th & Sun Sept 11th.

BECU Free Kids' Weekend Kids get in FREE Sat, Sept. 10 and Sun, Sept. 11 Kids 18 & under get FREE admission Sat, Sept. 10 and Sun, Sept. 11. Coupon IS REQUIRED to obtain free admission and will be available at the BECU website starting August 1. Kids 5 & under are always free and do not need the coupon for free entry. Visit the BECU website to download your coupon today! www.becu.org/freekids

And, for our military friends out there, Sept 12th and 19th are the military appreciation days and you get in FREE, please show id.

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1/2 off Seattle Aquarium

I've just recently signed up for Google Offers. Todays offer, I thought, was a good one. $9.50 for admission to the aquarium. Valid Sept 9 through March 31st. So, buy now and save for when it's rainy and miserable, and the kids start to whine...' I'm sooooo bored'.

Google Offers in Seattle - $9.50 for one general admission ticket to the Seattle Aquarium (up to a $19 value)

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Hiking with Young Children

This weekend is Labor Day Weekend.  For those of you who are not going out of town and are trying the "staycation", try taking a hike.  There are plenty of trails around Tacoma to explore: Point Defiance Park, Northwest Trek, Ruston Way, Titlow Beach, Chambers Creek are just a few that are fun, offer opportunities to see our beautiful scenery around our local areas. 

If you are in the mood for something you might not have done before, consider using the Washington Trails Association website, http://www.wta.org/kids/children/kids-hikes/hikes-for-young-children for hikes with younger (under 5), or even a fun/easy trail for the older kids.  There are options listed from North Bend, to Snoqualmie (an easy day long excursion) to Wenatchee or the Coast. 

Just remember, if one of the hikes you are taking is in a State Park, you may need to buy a Discover Pass.  See here for more details.

Enjoy nature, while the weather cooperates!

Nature Discovery Hour - Tacoma

On Saturday, Sep 3 10:30a to 11:30a at Tacoma Nature Center, Tacoma, WA

Explore our new Discovery Pond play area with a Nature Guide during this reserved time. Special activities and nature discovery aids will be available. For ages 2-7. Adult participation is required. Please call to register! 253-591-6439. 

Ive personally been to this park, and my kids love it.  I hope you enjoy!

Free 1st Friday at Tacoma Childrens Musuem

In downtown Tacoma, the Childrens Musuem is hosting its 1st Friday free entry day.  These days can be busy, but hey, its FREE!  Park at the Tacoma Dome park & ride, then ride the streetcar for FREE as well.  There are new exhibits listed on their website:

Ta-Da!

Children become leaders of their play as they work together to build structures, monuments or entire worlds with the popular blocks and building pieces designed by architect David Rockwell and made popular by New York City's Imagination Playground. The Imagination Playground highlights the focus on loose parts stating that it “offers a changing array of elements that allows children to constantly reconfigure their environment and to design their own course of play.”

Shine!

Experiment with colors, lights and shadows in a room full of ever changing manipulatives and light projectors. Mirrors, black lights, and textured screens allow children to make observations and test hypotheses about the properties of light and color mixing in a fun and playful manner.

Action!

A stage capable of light, costume, and setting changes provides an endless opportunity for writing, acting and directing! Dr David Elkind states that “through dramatic play, children learn to assert themselves in a way to build their competence in later adult roles.”