Homeschool & family fun around Seattle, WA

Family pumpkin carving at the community center.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

• When: Fri Oct 23, 2026
• Time: 4:30–6:30 p.m.
• Price: Free (registration required)
• Ages: Families
• Booking: Register through Seattle Parks and Recreation.

A family fall festival at the community center.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

• When: Fri Oct 23, 2026
• Time: 5–7:30 p.m.
• Price: $8 per person (registration required)
• Ages: Not listed on source
• Booking: Register through Seattle Parks and Recreation.

A Halloween bounce-house and swim night.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026

• When: Fri Oct 23, 2026
• Time: 6–8 p.m.
• Price: Free (registration required)
• Ages: Not listed on source
• Booking: Register through Seattle Parks and Recreation.

A harvest festival for school-age kids and teens.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 24, 2026

• When: Sat Oct 24, 2026
• Time: 2–5 p.m.
• Price: Not listed on source
• Ages: 5–18
• Booking: Not listed on source

A Halloween pumpkin party at the community center.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 24, 2026

• When: Sat Oct 24, 2026
• Time: 6–8 p.m.
• Price: Not listed on source
• Ages: Not listed on source
• Booking: Not listed on source

A Halloween party for teens.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 30, 2026

• When: Fri Oct 30, 2026
• Time: 6–8 p.m.
• Price: Free (registration required)
• Ages: For teens (13+); ages 13–18
• Booking: Register through Seattle Parks and Recreation.

A Halloween swim night. The city asks for non-perishable food donations for the food bank; donations are appreciated but not required.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 30, 2026

• When: Fri Oct 30, 2026
• Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: Not listed on source
• Booking: Not listed on source

Workshops, face painting, performances and vendors at the Armory.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 31, 2026; Sun, Nov 1, 2026

• When: Sat–Sun Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026
• Time: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

Once a month, homeschool families get discounted admission. Exhibits, plus daytime laser and planetarium shows (free timed-entry tickets, first come), are included. The campus stays open to the public and school groups too. No reservation needed; tell staff at the Admissions Building that you are a homeschool group.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Oct 29, 2026; Fri, Nov 20, 2026; Fri, Dec 18, 2026; Thu, Jan 21, 2027

• When: Thu Oct 29, Fri Nov 20, Fri Dec 18, 2026 and Thu Jan 21, 2027
• Time: Not listed on source
• Price: $15 per person (IMAX documentary add-on +$5)
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: No reservation needed.

MOHAI takes 2026–27 field-trip requests from schools, including homeschools. Requests need at least three weeks' notice.

• When: School year 2026–27, by reservation
• Time: Not listed on source
• Price: Not listed on source
• Ages: K–12
• Booking: Reserve at least three weeks ahead.

Homeschool Days give K–12 families exclusive classroom programming plus admission to all three Aquarium buildings. Adults stay with their children. Self-guided field-trip bookings run Monday–Friday (9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. entry), and co-ops of 10 or more students in the same grade band can book a class.

• When: No Homeschool Day is scheduled for the rest of 2026. Spring 2027 dates are not yet posted. On-site classes for K–5 run Tue/Thu, Oct 13–Dec 10, 2026
• Time: Not listed on source
• Price: Not listed on source (Homeschool Day tickets are prepaid and non-refundable)
• Ages: K–12
• Booking: Reservations required, prepaid. Homeschool Day registration usually opens about two weeks before the event.

⚠️ No dates are posted yet, so this is not a scheduled event. Check the page for Spring 2027.

The zoo's homeschool page lists Small Group Days for homeschool families on designated days, with a registration window that rolls forward about three months. The 2025–26 rate was $13 per person including chaperones, children 2 and under free, with the booking fee waived. The field-trips page lists groups of 20 or more at $11.50 per person for 2026–27.

• When: Designated days; 2026–27 dates were not posted when we checked
• Time: Not listed on source
• Price: $13 per person for small groups (2025–26 rate); $11.50 per person for groups of 20+ in 2026–27
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Register online ahead of your visit.

⚠️ The zoo's homeschool page we found still showed the 2025–26 school year. Confirm the 2026–27 small-group dates and rate.

Weekend salmon-viewing activities in Carkeek Park, with a Salmon Celebration on Nov 21.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 24, 2026; Sun, Oct 25, 2026; Sat, Oct 31, 2026; Sun, Nov 1, 2026; Sat, Nov 7, 2026; Sun, Nov 8, 2026; Sat, Nov 14, 2026; Sun, Nov 15, 2026; Sat, Nov 21, 2026; Sun, Nov 22, 2026; Sat, Nov 28, 2026; Sun, Nov 29, 2026; Sat, Dec 5, 2026; Sun, Dec 6, 2026

• When: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct 24–Dec 6, 2026; Salmon Celebration Sat Nov 21
• Time: 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
• Price: Not listed on source
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

Admission is free for all visitors on the first Thursday of the month. Reserve a free timed ticket online to avoid long lines. The Burke runs no field-trip programs on these dates, but homeschool families can visit.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Nov 5, 2026; Thu, Dec 3, 2026

• When: First Thursday of each month: Nov 5 and Dec 3, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

Free admission to the permanent exhibits on the first Thursday of each month, including the Kid-Struction Zone and the Bezos Center for Innovation.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Nov 5, 2026; Thu, Dec 3, 2026

• When: First Thursday of each month: Nov 5 and Dec 3, 2026
• Time: 5–8 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

Free admission on the first Thursday of each month, with evening activities such as drop-in artmaking, music and tours. The Studio at SAM offers all-ages drop-in printmaking with no registration.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Nov 5, 2026; Thu, Dec 3, 2026

• When: First Thursday of each month: Nov 5 and Dec 3, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

The free Winter Train & Village is part of Winterfest, which also has free movie nights and weekend live performances. Closed Dec 25.

• When: Nov 27–Dec 31, 2026
• Time: Daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

Large illuminated lantern displays at the zoo after dark. Closed on Nov 16–18, 23, 26 and 30; Dec 7, 14 and 24–25; and Jan 4–6 and 11–13.

• When: Nov 13, 2026–Jan 17, 2027 (closure days listed on the zoo page)
• Time: 4–9 p.m.
• Price: Child (3–12) $29–$49 depending on date; ages 0–2 free; members 20% off
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

Decorated ships tour Puget Sound and Lake Washington. Seattle departures are Nov 27 (with a public bonfire at Alki Beach for the 8 p.m. sailing) and Dec 17 (bonfire at Pier 62). The festival runs through Dec 23, which ends at Gas Works Park with a public lighting and bonfire. Watching from shore is free.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Nov 27, 2026; Thu, Dec 17, 2026; Wed, Dec 23, 2026

• When: Nov 27–Dec 23, 2026 (Seattle sailings Nov 27 and Dec 17)
• Time: Not listed on source
• Price: Ship tickets $53 adult, $40 youth, ages 3 and under free; shore viewing free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Not listed on source

⚠️ Check the schedule for the ship route and time of the stop you want to watch.