Kristin’s Top Ten Activities For June!

While it’s not technically summer yet, we finally hit our first 70 degree day this past month and my sunglasses are officially out of their hiding spot!.

While it’s not technically summer yet, we finally hit our first 70 degree day this past month and my sunglasses are officially out of their hiding spot! Our weekends are already filling up for the summer with outdoor activities (and a few indoor ones, since let’s be honest it’s not Seattle summer yet)—these are a few of my favorites for June!

1. Seattle Recreation Spray Parks and Wading Pools are open (free!)—starting this weekend! Nothing says summer quite like splashing around in kiddie bathing suits at the park! There are so many great ones to choose from. My lesson in bringing toddlers to these is to be prepared to get wet yourself. I definitely made that mistake my first time!
   Wading pools and sprayparks are great ways to splash in the sun while saving water. We will plan to open the wading pools on sunny days when the temperature is forecast to be 70 degrees or above. Sprayparks will open May 27 and wading pools will open starting on June 24.
2. National Doughnut Day (free!)—June 2^nd. Top Pot has a Donut Eating Contest featuring Recess Monkey at 3:15p at Top Pot on 5^th Ave. For all my gluten free mamas out there, Mighty-O Donuts is celebrating at all three Seattle locations from 7am-5pm with a Golden Ticket event. Yum! I will definitely be celebrating this day, with or without kiddos in tow! I’m a sucker for the cake donuts so bring on a chocolate old fashioned! I also can’t resist the minis so why choose?
   Top Pot’s annual doughnut eating contest is at the downtown 5th avenue Top Pot Cafe! Fill up on doughnuts to the sounds of Seattle’s Recess Monkey! Prizes and more for all participants! Mighty-O will be giving out FREE MINIS all day at all three locations to celebrate all things donut and all things delicious. We will be donating some of our proceeds of the day to three elementary schools near our three locations: Lowell Elementary, Green Lake Elementary, and Salmon Bay Elementary. So, National Donut Day means free minis for you and donations from us to the minis in school!
3. Dozer Days at the Washington State Fair Event Center—June 3^rd and 4^th from 11am-4pm in Puyallup. “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site” is a favorite bedtime story in our house, so my little would love this experience!
   Kids have the opportunity to hop in the driver’s seat and drive dozers, excavators and other heavy equipment with a professional operator at their side.
4. KCLS Summer Reading Program Kickoff at the Kirkland Library (free!)—June 3^rd at 11am in Bothell and 3pm in Kirkland.  While I’m hopeful for sun and every weekend outside, the first weekend in June may be pushing it. Luckily, there are some great events at local libraries to kick off the summer programs.
   Acclaimed author Toni Yuly will read from her popular picture books. The Summer Reading Kickoffs are happening at different libraries throughout Seattle on various weekends.
5. Seattle Pride Festival (free!), June 10^th from 12pm-7pm at Volunteer Park in Capitol Hill. This festival and parade is a great way to be a part of the Seattle community, celebrating the LQBTQ arts and culture.
   The festival will feature guest speakers from the community, live music, food trucks and a beer garden! The 2017 Volunteer Park Pride Festival is turning up the volume this year with musical performances.
6. National Get Outdoors Day (free!)—June 10^th at all Washington State Parks. Celebrate the sun by lacing up your tennis shoes or hiking boots and getting outside! My family’s favorite time together is spent in the outdoors—whether we are strapping kids to our back and reaching a peak or just wandering at a toddler pace while my youngest chomps on rocks. In celebration of National Outdoors Day, my fam will be celebrating my son’s first birthday with an outdoorsy theme. Wish me luck. 😉
   Washington State Parks offers several “free days” when a Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park. Please note, free days apply only to day use (not overnight stays or rented facilities). A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington state departments of Natural Resources and Fish & Wildlife on these days.
   
7. Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival (free!)—June 10^th and 11^th from 9a-5p in Issaquah. We are testing out our new bike trailer this weekend and can’t wait! Since I’ve been pregnant for what feels like the last 3 years, I’m super excited to get back on a bike. If you need a little nudge, this festival is a great way to get ready for the biking season.
   If you ride a mountain bike – or have thought about trying it out – this is the event for you! Enjoy bike demos from all major mountain bike brands, bike skills clinic and guided rides from the Evergreen Skills Team, jump show, special kids events, and fun for the whole family! So mark on your calendar, grab the kids, bring some cash for beer, food and raffle tickets, and be ready for an amazing day of mountain biking fun.
8. Summer Concerts at the Locks (free!)—Saturdays and Sundays May 28^th through September 11^th at the Ballard Locks. On Sunday, June 18^th in addition to live music from the Elliot Bay Pipe Band there is a Father’s Day Classic Car Show from 10am-3pm. If the Dad in your house is a car buff, this is a great family friendly way to celebrate him.
   The Elliot Bay Pipe Band is traditional pope and drum music and the car show will feature classic cars of the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.
9. Strawberry Festival (free!)—June 18^th from 11am – 3pm in Arlington. In my household, strawberries (or as my daughter pronounces them “wubbies”) are always a crowd pleaser and healthy dessert. We were regulars last summer for blueberry picking and I am excited to stock up on strawberries this season. This is a great Father’s Day activity if Dad’s Father’s Day request is some outside family time with a sweet bonus.
   Berries and Fun!  Head down the Red Rooster Route to Biringer Farm, Arlington, WA. Stroll down Strawberry Lane on a working farm with a barnyard full of Fun! Free Admission: Food and Fun reasonably priced.
10. Pirate Festival (free!)—June 23^rd-25^th in Friday Harbor. RRRR you kidding me, the real Pirates of the Caribbean boat? I know it’s a trek, but this sounds worth it. Make a full day or a weekend out of it by taking a ferry ride over to the San Juan Islands for this 1^st annual festival!
    Climb aboard the classic sailing vessel featured in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, the Lady Washington, and enjoy food, games, music, vessel tours, local sails & more!