Free, Family-Friendly Activities in Seattle for Your Bucket List

Looking for ways to save money and still have fun in the Emerald City? Us too! That’s why we have collected some of our favorite free activities in the city for you and your family to explore and enjoy. From outdoor gardens to cultural discovery in museums across town Seattle has something for everyone on your visiting list.

Free Museum Days – Most museums across Seattle waive their admission fee the first Thursday of every month. Full list of museum days here.

Photo by SeattleArtMuseum.org

Farmer’s Market – Sample apple cider, taste some smoked salmon and smell the flowers in Ballard, at Pike Place or find another Seattle Farmer’s Market near you.

Sail away! – The Center for Wooden Boats has continued its free Sunday Public Sail for over 25 years. Volunteers encourage visitors to feel the wind in their hair on a variety of vessels including sprit boats, steamboats, electric boats, schooners, ketches, yawls, and yachts.

Photo by Northwestresponse.com

Get outside and take a stroll in the park– With over 400 city parks to choose from it’s easy to get lost in the diverse range of views and foliage our region has to offer. Here a few of our top picks or find more:

• Discovery Park
• Gasworks Park
• Greenlake Park
• Kerry Park
• Kubota Garden
• Olympic Sculpture Park
• Seward Park

Festivals like Folklife and Festal at Seattle Center provide a free opportunity for community and cultural connection through music, dance, hands-on exploration, exhibits, foods and children’s activities.

Photo by: NW FolkLife

Join a neighborhood Art Walk and support both Seattle’s talented artists and small businesses.

Enjoy an outdoor movie under the stars. Below are a few spots to go see one during the summer months.

• Bellevue
• Ballard (Peddler)
• Magnuson Park
• Marymoore
• Seattle Center
• SLU

Visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks – Watch boats year-round and come see the migrating salmon in late summer. Free guided tours available. The Locks also feature a Botanical Garden you can walk through along with small music performances that take place on the lawn. And if you get hungry, grab a burger or fish & chips at Red Mill! 

Did we miss one of your favorite free activities in Seattle? Let us know!