Indoor Fun Archives | Seattle's Child

Broadway at The Paramount’s 2026-2027 lineup announced

Seattle's Child Staff — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:06:21 +0000

Seattle theater lovers — and families planning ahead for big nights out — have plenty to look forward to in the year ahead. Seattle Theatre Group has announced the 2026–2027 Premera Blue Cross Broadway at The Paramount season, bringing a mix of blockbuster hits, award-winning musicals, and beloved classics to the historic Paramount Theatre.

The upcoming lineup features seven main season shows plus three optional add-ons, including fan favorites, new touring productions direct from Broadway, and several titles that could appeal to multi-generational audiences.

Subscription renewals opened Feb. 19, with new subscriptions expected to go on sale this spring.

A Season Filled with Big-Name Productions

The season kicks off late summer with the theatrical phenomenon “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (Aug. 22–Sept. 12, 2026), the Tony Award-winning stage sequel to the beloved book and film series. With its dazzling stage magic and time-traveling adventure, the production promises an immersive theatrical experience for fans of the wizarding world.

Fall highlights include “Water for Elephants” (Oct. 6–11, 2026), a visually imaginative musical adaptation of the bestselling novel, followed by “The Outsiders” (Nov. 27–Dec. 6, 2026), the Tony Award-winning coming-of-age musical based on S.E. Hinton’s classic story.

Families may especially want to mark their calendars for the holiday run of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (Dec. 22, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027), returning to touring stages with an all-new production featuring iconic songs and elaborate costumes.

Winter and spring bring additional variety, including the rock opera revival “The Who’s Tommy” (March 16–21, 2027) and the return of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s timeless classic “The Sound of Music” (June 1–6, 2027).

The season closes with “The Great Gatsby” (July 6–11, 2027), a Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Roaring Twenties tale.

Optional Add-ons and Returning Favorites

Three shows will be offered as Season Options, meaning they require an additional purchase beyond the standard subscription:

“Oh, Mary!” (Nov. 3–8, 2026), a critically acclaimed dark comedy about Mary Todd Lincoln
“Hadestown” (Jan. 19–24, 2027), the Tony Award-winning musical blending mythology and modern storytelling
“Six” (April 20–25, 2027), the pop-powered musical retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII (Read our review the last time it was in town)

Planning Ahead

Season subscriptions are currently available for renewal, with new subscriptions opening later this spring. Signing up early allows folks access to priority seating and the option to add Season Option shows.

For families interested in introducing kids to live theater, holiday productions like “Beauty and the Beast” and classic titles like “The Sound of Music” may offer particularly accessible entry points.

Find more details or join the subscription priority waitlist at STGPresents.org/Broadway.

The post Broadway at The Paramount’s 2026-2027 lineup announced appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Indoor playgrounds & activities for kids around Seattle

Seattle's Child Staff — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:09:00 +0000

When it’s too wet to play outside but your kids need to burn off some energy, or you need to get out of the house, where do you go? Lucky for us, there are many indoor play options for families in the Seattle area. Take your climber bouldering, let your toddler crawl and play at a toddler play space, bowl with the family, check out a skating rink, play in a pool, jump around on inflatables, or sneak in a little learning at a museum. Here is your guide to great indoor escapes that will entertain both kids and adults.

Indoor Playgrounds & Toddler Play Spaces

PlayDate SEA | 1275 Mercer St., Seattle, WA, 98109 | Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Ages: recommended for 1-12 years, but no official age limits | Cost: Children under age 1 are free with a paying child, $10 all-day play per child, $18 all-day play weekends, holidays, and non-school days. Adults are free | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: Yes | An 8,000-square-foot indoor playground with an attached café serving pizza, smoothies, and other bites. It features dance floors and structures for climbing and crawling, and a toddler room for kids 3 and under.

Zoomazium at Woodland Park Zoo | 601 N 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103 | Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Ages: 0- 8 years | Cost: Free with zoo admission | Food: Yes, at the food court | Birthday parties: No | Combine a visit to the zoo with a fun playtime inside at the Zoomazium. Explore a mountain cave, cross a rope bridge, stage puppet shows, and climb a 20-foot tree at the zoo’s interactive, nature-themed indoor play area.

Inside Woodland Park Zoo’s Zoomazium, little explorers can cross rope bridges, climb trees, and let their imaginations run wild. (Image: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo)

Seattle Gymnastics Academy’s Indoor Playground | Hours vary @ multiple locations: Ballard, Burien, Columbia City, Lake City | Ages: 0-5 years | Cost: $10 per child, free under 12 months | Food: No | Birthday parties: Yes | During open sessions, children have access to most of the academy’s gymnastics equipment for climbing, swinging, jumping, and hula-hooping! Space is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry fees will be processed at check-in.

Community Center Tot Gyms & Tot Rooms | Hours vary @ multiple community centers: Meadowbrook, Green Lake, Laurelhurst, Ravenna-Eckstein, Ballard, Bitter Lake, Garfield, High Point, Jefferson, Lake City, Loyal Heights, Magnolia, Magnuson, Meadowbrook, Miller, Montlake, Northgate, Rainier, Rainier Beach, Van Asselt, Yesler, Delridge | Ages: 0-5 years | Cost: Free | Food: No | Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Centers across the city offer Tot Gyms are indoor play areas complete with toys, balls, trikes, scooters, push bikes, and more. Tot Rooms offer quieter activities such as coloring, games, and toys.

Inflatable Fun Zone

Arena Sports Inflatable FunZone | Hours vary @ multiple locations: Magnuson, Redmond, SoDo | Ages: 18 months to 12 years for Magnuson, Redmond, and SODO. Issaquah and Mill Creek accept ages up to 10 years. | Cost: $10- $12.75 per child. | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: Yes | Kids run, jump, and slide to fun in the indoor playground with multiple bounce houses. Note: Kids must wear socks, and parents need to register.

Parent Review: Arena Sports Inflatable Fun Zone

Trampoline parks like Sky Zone give kids a safe space to bounce, climb, and play indoors. (Image: JiaYing Grygiel)

Indoor Skating, Skateboarding, and Ice Rinks

All Together Skatepark | 3500 Stone Way N, Seattle, WA 98103 | Hours: Vary by day. For the most up-to-date hours, check their Instagram | Ages: All | Cost: $10 | Food: No | Birthday parties: No | The city’s only indoor skatepark is home to 6,900 square feet of space, including ledges, manual pads, quarter pipes, banks, stairs, rails, and a “vert” wall on which to shred. Skateboards, helmets, and pads are provided. Lessons available.

Southgate Roller Rink | 9646 17th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 | Hours: Family skate Friday, 6-8 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sunday, 12-2 p.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Ages: all | Cost: Family skate is $15, includes skate rental | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: Yes | On weekends, Southgate offers family skate sessions, which include free skate rental as well as learn-to-skate classes.

Bowling

HUB Games – University of Washington | The HUB is located on central campus. Google Map link | Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sundays: Closed | Ages: 3+ | Cost: Monday-Thursday, $5 ($5.50 for Cosmic) Friday & Saturday $6, $6.50 for Cosmic. Costs are per game, per person, and include shoe rental. | Food: No | Birthday parties: No | Who knew that a 12-lane bowling alley was situated right on the UW campus? Rental shoes start as small as a toddler 10, and if you tire of bowling, play some arcade games. (No socks? Don’t like bowling shoes? No problem. HUB Games has socks and tennis shoe covers for sale, too).

Roxbury Bowling | 2823 SW Roxbury St., Seattle, WA 98126 | Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11-12 a.m. | Age: 3+ | Cost: Kids daytime cost, $3.50 daily except Sunday, $2.75; $1 additional evenings. Shoe rental $4.50 | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: Yes | Roxbury offers bumpers, ramps, and 6-pound balls, plus plenty of kid sizes in shoes.

West Seattle Bowl | 4505 39th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116 | Hours: Open Play lanes are generally available most days and times except for 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Reservations encouraged. https://secure.meriq.com/wsbowl/ | Ages: All | Cost: $20+ per lane, $5.50 shoe rental | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: Yes | Each of the 32 lanes at West Seattle Bowl has bumpers available for kids. Add this to their ball ramps (to assist with getting the ball down the lane) and a large selection of lightweight balls, and kids will be ready to take on a day of bowling. Forget socks? The sock vending machine has you covered.

Board Games, Pinball & Golf

Looking for something a little different? Board game cafés and the city’s retro pinball museum complement the variety of indoor activities for kids in Seattle, making them especially enjoyable for older kids and families. These spots are especially fun for older kids, tweens, and families who want to play together indoors.

Mox Boarding House | Hours vary @ multiple locations: Seattle and Bellevue | Ages: All | Cost: Free (while dining) | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No, but can book events | Games reign supreme at Mox Boarding House. Games can be checked out for free from a lending library and taken for a test drive in the café. There are daily events offered, such as Board Game Night and Pokémon League.

Parent Review: A gameroom paradise at Mox Boarding House

Seattle Pinball Museum | 508 Maynard Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98104 | Hours: 12-6 p.m. Thursday-Monday | Ages: 7+ | Cost: $20 (7-15 years old), $23 (15+) | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No | Part museum, part art gallery, and all arcade, Seattle Pinball Museum houses more than 50 vintage arcade games. Children must be older than 7 to play (this is not a place intended for young children). For big pinball fans, the flat-rate admission/unlimited gameplay makes for a good afternoon outing.

Parent Review: A day of flipping fun at the Pinball Museum

The Seattle Pinball Museum lets kids and parents enjoy more than 50 classic arcade games. (Image: Joshua Huston Photography)

Flatstick Pub SLU | 609 Westlake Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109 | Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 11-1 a.m. | All ages during the day, 21+ after 7 p.m. | Cost: $12 per person or $15 per person for unlimited option, which includes Duffleboard | Food: yes | Birthday parties: yes | The 9-hole mini golf course has elevation changes, moving kegs as obstacles, and even a 12-foot-tall Sasquatch to maneuver around. They also offer a 9-hole course of duffleboard (a mix of mini golf and shuffleboard) to play after your golf session. Although this is a drop-in course, it can get busy on weekends and evenings, so reservations are encouraged for larger groups.

Bouldering

Half Moon Bouldering | 124 N 85th St, Seattle | Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday 7-10 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Cost: Single Day Pass $27/24+, $24/ age 23 and under. Shoe rental: $6, chalk: $2 | Age: All. Still, parents must supervise children under 14, one parent can supervise no more than two children | Food: No | Birthday parties: Yes | This welcoming climbing gym in Greenwood is all about being family-friendly, as evidenced by the whimsical castle learning area designed explicitly with boulders set for tall and short climbers so that families can climb together.

Seattle Bouldering Project | Fremont, Poplar, and the University District | Hours Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Weekends, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Cost for a day pass: $20 ages 13 and under, $25 ages 14-20, $30 21+. Adults who are not climbing don’t have to pay but must sign a waiver. | Ages: All, even babies, as long as a parent directly supervises them. One parent can only supervise two children. | Food: No | Birthday parties: Yes | All three locations offer kids’ climbing areas. The Poplar location has two kids’ areas, featuring a castle structure. Kids’ areas are often closed during youth classes, so check the calendar before dropping in.

Vertical World | 2330 W. Commodore Way | Seattle, WA 98199 | Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Ages: 3 and up | Cost: Ages 3-5 $10, 6-13 $16. Adults are free if not participating in climbing activities, but must sign a waiver. Shoes $7 | Food: No | Birthday parties: Yes | Designated youth climbing zone featuring smaller heights and closer holds for little people, plus a pirate ship that kids can climb up and into. Note: The youth area is reserved for youth programs and classes, and is not available for drop-in use during these times. Staff recommends coming on weekday mornings or checking the calendar before you go. https://seattle.verticalworld.com/calendar/

Indoor Pools & Family Swim Programs

Swimming doesn’t have to be a summer-only activity — it’s one of the most active indoor activities for kids in Seattle, thanks to the 8 Seattle Parks & Recreation pools with slides, rope swings, and family swim times. They all offer drop-in programs such as Family Swims and Pool Playland, as well as lessons. Hours listed are for Fall 2025 (September 2-December 20). If you’re looking for lessons, check out our complete guide to swim lessons in the Seattle area.

Ballard (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 1471 NW 67th St. Seattle, WA 98117 | Hours: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays; 10-11 a.m. Saturdays; 1-2 p.m., 4:15-5:30 p.m. Sundays | Ages: Varies per program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65 +), Free (Under 1) (These prices are increasing by $0.50 in 2026) | Food: No | Adjacent to Ballard High School. Features a 25-yard indoor pool with water slide, low dive, rope swing, and warm water spa.

Evans, Green Lake (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 7201 East Green Lake Dr. N., Seattle, WA 98115| Hours: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 1:30-3:00 p.m. Fridays (Pool Playground), 2:30-4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 Saturdays (Rec Swim) Plus, Teens only free Rec Swim on Fridays 7:15-8 p.m. | Ages: Varies per program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No | A 25-yard indoor lap pool on the east shore of Green Lake, with sauna. Same building as the community center.

Helene Madison, Haller Lake (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 13401 Meridian Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133 | Hours: Sundays: 1:30-12 p.m., 3-4 p.m., Monday-Friday 1:30-2:30 p.m., Wednesday 3-4 p.m., Saturdays 9:30-10 a.m., 12:30-2 p.m., 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Pool Playland) | Ages: Varies per program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No | A 25-yard indoor pool in the Haller Lake/Bitter Lake Neighborhood of NE Seattle, with a shallow section and two diving boards.

Meadowbrook (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 10515 35th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125 | Hours: 10-11 a.m. Fridays, 7:05-8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 9:30-10:25 a.m., 2-3:25 p.m. Saturdays (Rec Swim); 8-9 p.m. Fridays (Teen Late Night) | Ages: Varies per program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No | Birthday parties: available to rent | Just east of Lake City Way in NE Seattle, this 25-yard indoor pool features a rope swing and high dive.

Medger Evers, Central District (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 500 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 | Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, 12-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays (Pool Playground); 6:30-8 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays, 6-7:30 Fridays, 1:30-3 p.m. Saturdays (Rec Swim); 7:30-8:30 p.m. (Teen Swim) | Ages: Varies per program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No | Birthday parties: available to rent | Next to Garfield Community Center, this 25-yard indoor pool features a rope swing, low diving board, and separate shallow section. and sauna.

Queen Anne (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 1920 1st Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98119 | Hours: 7:35-8:45 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:05-2:25 p.m. Saturdays (Rec Swim); 2:30-4 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays (Pool Playground) | Ages: Varies by program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No |Birthday parties: available to rent | On top of Queen Anne Hill, this 25-yard indoor pool has built-in steps for easy entry, a high and low diving board, rope swing, and a small sauna.

Seattle Parks & Recreation’s Rainier Beach Pool is a family favorite with slides, spray zones, and a lap pool.(Photo courtesy City of Seattle)

Rainier Beach (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 8825 Rainier Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98118 | Hours: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily (Pool Playground); 3-4 p.m. Mondays thru Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. Mondays- Fridays, 1:25-2:25, 3:35-4:35, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Saturdays, 1:30-2:30, 3-4 p.m. Sundays (Rec Swim) 8-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Teen Swim) | Ages: varies by program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No |Birthday parties: available to rent | Two indoor pools: one with a giant slide, spray features, lazy river, vortex, and gradual entry. The other is a 25-yard lap pool with a diving board. Sauna/hot tub onsite.

Southwest (Seattle Parks & Rec Family Swim) | 2801 SW Thistle St., Seattle, WA 98126 | Hours: 6:05-7 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30-5:45 p.m. Fridays, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Saturdays (Rec Swim) Fridays 6-7 p.m. (Teen Swim) | Ages: Varies per program | Cost: $5.50 (1-17), $7.50 (18-64), $5.50 (65+), Free (Under 1) Prices will increase by $0.50 in 2026. | Food: No |Birthday parties: available to rent | A 25-yard indoor pool in the Roxhill neighborhood of West Seattle. High and low diving boards, spa & sauna, and complimentary exercise machines.

Evergreen Community Aquatic Center | 606 SW 116th St, Seattle, WA 98146 | Hours: Public swim is offered Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.to 12 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m to 1 p.m., Thursday & Friday 7-8 p.m., and Saturdays from 12:15 – 2:15 p.m. | Cost: $7 for adults and $6 for children | Ages: all | Food: no | Birthday parties- yes |This White Center neighborhood pool has public swims when families are welcome. Ages 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the water. Pool noodles, mats, and life jackets are available. Public swim can get busy, they recommend calling first before dropping in at 206-588-2297.

Seattle-area Museums for Indoor Family Fun

Burke Museum | 4303 Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA | Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Mondays), First Thursday of the month, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Ages: All | Cost: Free (0-3), $16 (4-14), $24 (15-61), $22 (62+). First Thursdays are free | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No | See dinosaurs, giant fossils, dazzling gems, and cultural treasures from around the world. The Burke is a “working museum,” meaning scientists and researchers are on-site, so families can watch real discoveries unfold right before their eyes.

MoPop | 325 5th Ave. N., Seattle, WA | Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Tuesdays | Cost: Varies by day. Washington State residents get 15% off year-round with ID | Ages: All | Food: Yes | This pop culture museum will appeal to both parents and school-age children. In addition to exploring current exhibits, they can record their own music in the interactive Sound Lab, try out 20 kid-friendly video games, and play with shadow puppets.

Parent Review: The Massive pop culture exhibit at MoPop is meta

Pacific Science Center | 200 Sue Bird Court N, Seattle, WA 98109 | Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays | Ages: all | Cost: The Pac Sci offers plan-ahead pricing, meaning prices vary by day. Afternoon tickets, starting at 2 p.m., are less expensive than all-day tickets. Tickets | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No | This Seattle institution has educated and entertained all ages since it opened at the Century 21 World’s Fair in 1952. It is filled with hands-on exhibits that kids will love, including a science-themed playground, a saltwater tide pool, a butterfly garden, and an IMAX movie theater. There’s a special area for tots, where they can engage in experiments explicitly designed for the smallest scientists.

Parent Review: Brainy Bodies at PacSci is full of mind games

Frye Art Museum | 704 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 | Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays | Cost: Free | Ages: all | Food: No | Birthday parties: No | Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American and European art, the Frye offers storytelling and art activities for children aged 2-5 on the first Wednesday of each month. Storytellers from Seattle Children’s Theatre offer interactive storytelling and hands-on art-making. Free, but preregistration is required.

Parent Review: Why visit Frye?

MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) | 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 | Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily | Ages: All | Cost: Free (0-14), $19 students $20 military and seniors, $25 adults | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No | Explore Seattle history from the city’s founding to the present day. Be sure to snag an Exploration Pack when you enter the museum — it includes dress-up items, a museum scavenger hunt, and other interactive activities.

Parent Review: MOHAI will inform and inspire your family

Museum of Flight | 9404 E. Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108 | Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Aviation Pavilion 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Ages: All | Cost: Free (0-4), $21 (5-17). $29 (adults), $25 (seniors). First Thursdays are free | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: Yes | The museum features everything from the first Boeing 747 to the original Air Force One, but children will really love the Kids’ Flight Zone. In this permanent exhibit, they can use simulators and test their piloting skills.

Parent Review: Beaded fight jet at Museum of Flight

Photo Courtesy of The Museum of Flight

Seattle Aquarium |1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 | Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, last entry, 5 p.m. | Ages: All | Cost: The aquarium now has plan-ahead pricing, meaning prices vary by day. Buying tickets online is highly recommended. Limited tickets are available for purchase at the gate and may require a long wait. Adult prices (age 13 and up) $39.95 and up, $29.95 ages 4-12, 3 and under free. | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No | Located on Seattle’s historic central waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium is made up of three buildings: Piers 59 and 60, directly over the waters of Elliott Bay, and the new Ocean Pavilion—now open!

Parent Review: Seattle Aquarium’s newest Ocean Pavilion opens

Seattle Art Museum | 1300 1st Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 | Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Thursdays,10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Ages: All | Cost: Free (0-14), $19.99 (15-19), $29.99 (adults), $24.99 (seniors & military) These are advance ticket prices, tickets at the door cost $3 more. Tickets https://secure.seattleartmuseum.org/ First Thursdays are free. | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: No | With three spacious floors filled with art from all over the world, SAM has plenty for kids to view.

Seattle Children’s Museum | 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 | Hours: School year: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Tuesdays) Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day | Ages: 0-10 years old | Cost: Free (0-1), $16 (1-65), $14 (65+) These are Washington resident prices, you may be asked to show proof of residence at the door. Non-resident prices are slightly higher. | Food: Yes | Birthday parties: yes | Leave plenty of time to explore this 22,000-square-foot play space with a make-believe theater, animal hospital, and grocery store, an interactive mountain exhibit, a separate area for toddlers, and a cozy reading area. Daily educational programs are available and are free with the cost of admission. Located in the lower level of the Armory Building at Seattle Center.

The post Indoor playgrounds & activities for kids around Seattle appeared first on Seattle's Child.

2 Seattle art museums that surprise (in very different ways)

Elizabeth Hunter — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:06:11 +0000

If your kids think art museums are all quiet halls and “don’t touch” signs, Seattle’s scene offers a surprise. On one end of the spectrum is Cannonball Arts, a raw, anything-goes space where kids can sketch, vote on art, and operate video installations. On the other is the Henry Art Gallery, Washington’s first public art museum, where big ideas and contemporary works spark rich conversations. I visited both with my family — and found two very different ways to experience art with kids.

Cannonball Arts: New Kid on the Block

If you’ve lived in Seattle long enough, saying Cannonball Arts is “in the old Bed Bath and Beyond” will suffice for directions; if you’re new here, it’s on 3rd and Virginia. The space is enormous: two floors of art and little else. Traditional museum niceties, like shiny floors and gallery walls, are minimal or absent. But when visiting with two kids under ten, Cannonball’s DIY aesthetic worked in our favor: no one shushed us, and we could all relax and enjoy the art.

Interactivity Abounds – Age Permitting

First, fair warning: kids are not permitted on two current installations. Stephanie Metz’s hot-pink soft sculpture “Toxic Beauty“, for example, conceals a fully functional mechanical bull ride, but only for guests 13 and up. My kids were disappointed they couldn’t ride. Their disappointment faded as we rode the escalator to the second floor and explored the indoor sculpture park, complete with live plants and a pond.

Cannonball Arts. (Image: Elizabeth Hunter / Seattle’s Child)

“I loved seeing nature inside the building,” said Henry, 7.

At Cannonball, interactivity abounds. The kids sketched on easels at a figure drawing session, operated video artworks at the “Electronics Department,” and voted on their favorite image for “Mirror Mirror“, an audience-generated exhibit.

Mare Hirsch’s “Transition Networks” mesmerized our family. In the darkness of a freestanding black box theatre, Hirsch arranged dozens of warm-toned hanging lights to blink on and off at random, accompanied by clicking noises like the changing of timetables at a train station.

Cannonball Arts isn’t really a museum. Most of the artworks — even the big ones — are for sale. But it doesn’t feel remotely like a gallery. It feels like something new.

Cannonball Arts is open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids under 10 are free; students and seniors are $20, adults are $25.

Cannonball Arts. (Image: Elizabeth Hunter / Seattle’s Child)

Henry Art Gallery: 99 Years of Contemporary Arts

On the other end of history, Washington state’s first public art museum, the Henry Art Gallery, is 99 years old. Cora, my 9-year-old, and I visited the elder statesman of art museums to see two exhibitions by prominent Black American artists: Rodney McMillian: “Neighbors,” and Kameelah Janan Rasheed: “we leak, we exceed.”

Stranger (and Beautiful) Things

McMillian, 57, is a nationally renowned artist and Professor of Sculpture at the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture. “Neighbors” is his first exhibition at the Henry.

The show features sculpture, painting, and video. More than a dozen all-white sculptures, which he calls “specimens,” twist and grow like sea anemones covered in white bandages. Sitting on bits of rock or fabricated grass and not art-white plinths, they appear more like fossils in a natural history museum than sculptures. Some specimens, said Cora, look like polar bears, some like people dancing, and some like people making rude gestures.

“Specimen” at Henry Art Gallery. (Image: Elizabeth Hunter / Seattle’s Child)

Together with one of the Henry’s knowledgeable museum attendants, we concluded that these specimens were journeying toward McMillian’s monumental, 40-ft painting, “44.8617 N by 93.5606 W Coordinates to an ascension (2018).” To Cora’s delight, the huge landscape depicted a world more beautiful — but equally as alien — as the Upside Down from “Stranger Things”. Cora also loved the similarly “ghostly and witchy” video work “untitled (neighbors) (2017)”, in which figures clad in eerie white robes danced and shook their bodies in the darkness.

Talk About Process

Kameelah Janan Rasheed, 41, is a multidisciplinary artist on faculty at the Yale School of Art who makes high-concept art utilizing text fragments, sharp contrasts, video, and collage.

“We leak; we exceed” was a great way to discuss the artistic process: what it takes to make an artwork and how the process of making art can be art itself. Cora was struck by the work “to chew a lapsed meaning until it loses all flavor (2020-2025)”, a series of jars, filled with various liquids and bits of torn, written text. “It must have taken so long to write it all out and then to rip it up,” she said.

Henry Art Gallery. (Image: Elizabeth Hunter / Seattle’s Child)

There is no artwork at the Henry right now better suited to discussing the beauty in artistic process than “Event 1 – 4 (2025)”, which consists simply of four black and white pictures of a plastic bag that Rasheed filled with water, placed on an everyday scanner — and closed the lid. The image is the moment of burst, of leak. It’s glorious.

The Henry Art Gallery is open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is always free.

More Ways to Explore Art With Kids

If these two art spaces have you thinking about creativity and curiosity, there are plenty more ways to make art part of your family outings around Seattle:

19 Fun Art Classes for Kids Around Seattle | From painting and sculpture to crafty after-school drop-ins, this roundup has hands-on options for kids who love making art as much as seeing it.
Where the Art Lives: Kid-Friendly Walks Full of Wonder | Turn a walk into an adventure with vibrant murals, quirky sculptures, and artful stops that keep little legs moving and imaginations turning.
From Dinosaurs to Giant Cats: A Kid-Friendly Seattle Public Art Guide | Seattle’s public art scene doubles as a treasure hunt — and this guide points you to the most playful, giant-sized pieces around town.

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Dive in! A complete guide to swim lessons in the Seattle area

Seattle's Child Staff — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:03:34 +0000

Grab your goggles and towels — it’s time to splish splash and build those swim skills! We’ve rounded up a list of swim schools and locations across the Seattle area that offer lessons for every age, from babies and toddlers to school-age kids and adults. Many programs provide private, semi-private, and group lessons so that you can find the right fit for your family. Remember, swim lessons aren’t just about having fun — they’re essential for building confidence and keeping kids safe around water. Dive in and make swim safety a priority this season!

Seattle area

Private lessons are available at Little Fish for those 2.5+ years of age. (Image courtesy: Little Fish Swim School)

Eastside

Samena Swim in Bellevue offers year round classes. (Image courtesy Samena Club)

North of Seattle

Aqua Tots in Lynnwood has a brand new facility. (Image courtesy Aqua Tots Lynnwood)

South of Seattle

Located in Des Moines, Mount Rainier pool offers classes 6 months to 18 years old. (Photo courtesy Mount Rainier Pool)

West Seattle

British Swim School has six locations across the greater Seattle area. (Photo courtesy: British Swim School)

Multiple locations

Here are swim schools in the Seattle area that have more than five locations offered.

Sunsational Swim School | Multiple locations | $82/lesson | Register here | Classes offered for 6 months and older | Indoor & Outdoor pools | Year round swim lessons | They offer private lessons in your own pool (and move around locations in Metro area), however, if you dont have a pool, you can get access to either: housing community pool (condo, HOA, friend or family pool, gym pool or public pool (ask permission prior to registering) .

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‘GOAT’ Parent Review: A predictable underdog story with a gritty edge

Candice McMillan — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:04:41 +0000

Cut to the chase: Hot off the tails of Disney’s history-making box office success with “Zootopia 2,” Sony Pictures Animation offers another animal kingdom saga with stunning visuals and unique world-building that will enthrall younger viewers, as well as give adults something to enjoy. This has a darker, grittier feel than its House of Mouse counterpart, which may upset sensitive moviegoers, though that on-screen texture is its appeal, creating a tantalizing foray into a new, albeit predictable, underdog story.

(Image courtesy Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation)

Bleatin’ Synopsis

Will Harris (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin) is a young goat and aspiring “roarball” player in the anthropomorphic city of Vineland. Roarball is essentially basketball, except the court is filled with innumerable hazards, like floating ice, magma lava, or giant tree roots. Will dreams of playing for his hometown team, the Vineland Thorns, whose star player Jett (Gabrielle Union) is closing in on retirement without having ever won the Claw, the ultimate trophy awarded in the sport.

Though he may be small, Will is mighty, accepting a one-on-one pick-up game against Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), an oversized horse and the lead player of the Thorns’ greatest rival, the Lava Court Magmas. When the clip of their showdown goes viral, Will is recruited by the Thorns’ owner Flo (Jennifer Lewis) to bring public interest to the team, comprised of a ragtag animal group: the doting daddy rhinoceros Archie (David Harbour), the rapper giraffe Lenny (Stephen Curry), the chaotic Komodo dragon Modo (Nick Kroll) and the skittish ostrich Olivia (Nicola Coughlan).

“GOAT” follows a traditional story arc for its characters, though it isn’t Will who has an emotional and spiritual growth; it’s Jett, whose sour attitude and foul disposition are upended by Will’s earnest positivity and formidable resiliency. She, a predator in the animal kingdom, is transformed by a small, unassuming goat. As the Thorns inch closer to a championship title, the team must rally around each other’s strengths instead of allowing self-doubt to dominate their game.

Archie (David Harbour) with his daughters, Modo (Nick Kroll), Olivia (Nicola Coughlan), Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Lenny (Stephen Curry) in (Image courtesy Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation)

Get Your Snout in the Game

Sony Pictures Animation has made a name for itself as a studio interested in putting out refreshing forms of animation. Gone is the clean, digital look that Pixar revolutionized with “Toy Story.” “GOAT” opts for a bold, distinctly handcrafted look, a style we first saw in 2018’s Oscar-winning feature “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse.” It is characterized by a combination of computer animation and a hand-drawn aesthetic that harkens back to comic book creation of generations past. The frenetic energy of the animation creates for a deeper world-building, and the city and characters of Vineland immediately draw us in.

The film’s overarching themes – teamwork, perseverance, and self-love – are wonderful messages for young viewers. “GOAT” also encourages physical activity, sportsmanship, and the beauty of sports. For fans of basketball, the backstory of Stephen Curry’s own rise in the NBA as a “smaller” player gives context for why he chose to produce the film and lend his voice to a character.

All that said, the plot is certainly not reinventing the wheel. The characters’ growth follows a traditional trajectory, and there is no surprise that the underdogs dominate in the end. Viewers will grow an attachment to the little goat by the time the credits roll, and there is very little concern that everything will tie up in a perfect little baaaaaa-ow.

Modo (Nick Kroll). (Image courtesy Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation)

Things To Know

MPAA Rating: PG for some rude humor and brief mild language
Where To Watch: In theaters now
Recommended Age: 7+
Runtime: 100 minutes
Nightmare Inducers: While there aren’t many “scary” elements in this underdog sports comedy, some of the larger animals that are meant to intimidate Will could be viewed as threatening to sensitive viewers. Particularly from the perspective of a smaller animal, the Clydesdale horse, the scar-ravaged grizzly bear, and even some of the “good guys,” the manic Komodo dragon and Jett, the temperamental black panther, could be viewed as threatening or aggressive. There is pushing and shoving, as one might expect from depicting a competitive basketball game, but not much in the way of other forms of violence or physicality. There are references to the death of Will’s mother, though nothing explicit is shown.
My Biggest Issue: The biggest qualm I had with the film was its overuse of smartphones as a way to further the plot. Will goes viral, and the story hinges on the idea that something he did in real life was only awarded because it was filmed, then broadcast on a social media platform. Will would not have been given a chance if it were not for his viral fame, a subplot that negates his hard work and tenacity. There is also a diss track that’s made and posted to taunt Will, a form of online bullying that probably did not need to make the cut for impressionable viewers.

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Movies to watch as a family for Valentine’s Day

Jasmin Thankachen — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:03:54 +0000

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, what better way to celebrate all together than with a family movie night (or marathon)? Cozy up, snuggle in, and enjoy the stories about love, friendship, and family in each one of these classics. The great music, silly one-liners, and colorful characters will have the whole family feeling the love.

(Image: IMDB)

“Encanto”

Disney’s newest movie follows the Madrigal family from a beautiful mountain town called Encanto. The town’s magic has given each member of the Madrigal family powers, except Mirabel. Watch as this wide-eyed, curly-haired, colorful character finds her special talent — just what she needs to save her town when the magic becomes dangerous! With music by award-winning singer and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, you’ll be singing the songs for days after. In theaters and streaming on Disney+; also available for purchase on DVD.

(Image courtesy Walkt Disney Pictures_

“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”

Who doesn’t remember this 80s classic line: “E.T. … phone home?!” Grab a bowl of Reese’s pieces (trust me, you’ll be glad you did) and watch as Elliott, a young boy from a suburban town, invites a lost alien into his home. Passing this off as one of his siblings results in plenty of silliness and adventure. One of Steven Spielberg’s greatest hits, it’s also a tear-jerker. Will E.T. ever get home? You’ll have to see it to find out!

(Image courtesy Amazon)

“Gnomeo & Juliet”

A wonderful take on Shakespeare’s classic “Romeo & Juliet,” the movie takes us through the feud of two families: the Montagues vs. the Capulets, except they’re all gnomes! Love-struck gnomes from opposite sides, Juliet and Romeo, find ways to meet each other when trouble strikes. Will they be together in the end? Lawnmowers, flowers, and pink flamingos take on unusual roles, making this a humorous story with a thrilling plot.

(Image courtesy Walt Disney Pictures)

“Lady and the Tramp”

A classic Valentine’s movie, this Disney selection follows the romantic adventures of Lady, a pampered cocker spaniel who runs away from home. She meets a mutt named Tramp who has a heart of gold. Kids of all ages will enjoy this movie for the sweet characters, lovely songs, and funny scenes. Pro tip: Have a plate of spaghetti on hand in case your kids want to slurp up noodles as these two pups do!

(Image courtesy Walt Disney Productions)

“Mary Poppins Returns”

“Mary Poppins Returns” is a new film exploring family relationships and friendships. With a combination of real-life characters with animation, nanny Mary Poppins and the Banks family go through many adventures to save their home from foreclosure. Don’t miss the original “Mary Poppins” movie, too! Song and dance will take you through this classic, having you singing the catchy tunes and leaving you with a warm and fuzzy feeling!

(Image courtesy Walt Disney Productions)

“Shrek”

An ogre, a princess and a lord … sounds like the set-up for a bad joke, but this movie is anything but bad! The kingdom is overseen by an evil Lord who banishes people to the swamp, the home of Shrek, the ogre. In order to regain peace and solitude, he must rescue the princess and deliver her to the villain. With action, drama and comedy, this movie is an entertainer! Find out if it’s also a romance.

(Image courtesy DreamWorks)

“Trolls”

These candy-colored bright creatures with wavy hair are a delight to watch! Your family will be wiggling toes and having a full-on dance party because the music is catchy and that good! The story is about a happy-go-lucky troll, Princess Poppy and her polar opposite friend, Branch, who try to keep their village safe from the evil Bergens. The Bergens believe the only way to get happiness is by eating the trolls! Will they save their friends? Watch and see.

(Image courtesy Walt Disney Pictures_

“WALL-E”

WALL-E is a robot, programmed to clean up all the trash on Earth, but he has a bigger purpose. He meets another robot, EVE, and they discover how to save the planet. You’ll fall in love with WALL-E and his big expressive eyes. The relationship these two robots share is endearing, and the message about humans on Earth is a lesson worth learning.

More Valentine’s Day family fun:

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‘Arco’ and the case for watching sad movies with your kids

Candice McMillan — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:06:28 +0000

Fridays in my childhood were reserved for trips to Blockbuster, the long-gone video store chain romanticized by generations raised to be kind and rewind. Movies were portals – some to familiar places, others to new frontiers – through which us offline, suburban kittens frequently jumped.

Last week, for my own family’s Friday movie night, I put on something, as my kids say, “for work.” Given my job as a film writer, my two daughters have seen almost every age-appropriate flick released in the last five years.

“Arco,” coming to theaters this week, is a time- and space-traveling odyssey with a tender vision of the impending environmental crisis and humanity’s machine-reliant future. It’s also undeniably higher brow than the last work movie they saw with me, “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.” All three of us went into “Arco” blind, and I was reassured of the choice by its PG rating and recent Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

On- and Off-Screen Heartache

“Arco” follows a young boy living in a distant future. He inadvertently travels hundreds of years in the past, where Earth is struggling with climate change and a society disassociating under the growing weight of advanced technology. Written and directed by French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu, the film emulates 80s Japanese anime, taking inspiration from Miyazaki and spinning a story that feels far more urgent than Studio Ghibli’s pastoral perspective.

At the film’s climax, a young girl named Iris has an emotional, tear-filled goodbye with Mikki, her robot nanny. An artificial stand-in for her parents who live and work outside of the family home, Mikki offers the only form of physical love that Iris experiences in her daily life, and its “death” is a tearjerker.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

“I’m sad,” my six-year-old said at no one in particular, tears welling to her throat and then her eyes. She nuzzled into me harder.

This admission, coupled with the waterworks, were not enough to force me to my feet. Hardly a day goes by that someone in our house doesn’t cry. This is the age of big feelings and high emotions, the usual culprits being hunger, fatigue, minor injury, or the savage tit-for-tat of sibling rivalry.

But her swell of sorrow wasn’t due to any of those reasons. This was a moment of empathy for fictional characters, a phenomenon that she’s experienced before, though perhaps not as frequently as I might assume. Sure, she’s seen a fair number of movies in her six years of life, but she has also been shielded from the incessant emotional whiplash that older generations endured.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

The Sad Movies We Grew Up With

For much of its existence, Disney has made unavoidably sad movies. The studio’s Golden Age (1937 to 1942) released films geared as much to adults as to children, a function of economic necessity and public demand. Films like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Dumbo,” “Pinocchio,” and “Bambi” featured scenes of death, or near-death, and unending human suffering or animal anguish.

In the late 20th century, the Disney Renaissance (1989 to 1999) and the advent of VHS home theater revitalized the market for children’s animated features. Films like “The Lion King” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” pushed the envelope of what young viewers could expect from a “kid’s movie.”

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” pushed the envelope of what to expect for a kids movie. (Image courtesy Walt Disney Pictures & Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Scanning the Blockbuster aisles in my mind’s eye, I revisit the movies that once brought me the same feelings of sadness my daughter was experiencing, snuggled up next to me on the couch. I see Shadow stuck in the pit at the end of “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” Littlefoot’s mother sacrificing herself in “The Land Before Time,” and Charlie saying goodbye to Anne-Marie in “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”

As an adult, I don’t particularly seek out movies likely to make me cry, but the gut-punch never stopped me in my youth. Oftentimes, it was the opposite: feeling something by film’s end was more gratifying than not. Feeling something was far better than feeling nothing.

A recent study in Media Psychology found that children can be moved by “moral beauty” in film, and the ensuing emotion they experience opens their heart and mind to greater empathy in real life. The study, which placed the 2015 Pixar film “Inside Out” at the center of its investigation, concludes that movies can fuel a child’s social intelligence, offering them a new awareness of their own feelings, as well as the emotions of those around them.

Who doesn’t remember this moment from “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” (Image courtesy Walt Disney Pictures & Touchwood Pacific Partners 1)

What Movies Teach Kids About Empathy

As my daughter sniffled and pursed her lips, my initial reaction was to “make it better,” to reassure her or to distract her from the sentiments bubbling over at the sight of the dying robot. As an adult viewer with a critical eye and a college degree in film studies, I didn’t find Mikki a particularly endearing character (“The Wild Robot” and “WALL-E” are just two android-centric films that make for a more captivating watch).

But my daughter was not crying about the red-eyed bot. She was not connecting or commiserating with Mikki. She was empathizing with Iris, whose sorrowful goodbye was big, loud, and wholly human. She had put herself in Iris’ place, reacting the way she might if her own pet robot decombusted before her eyes.

(Image courtesy of Neon)

Like “Inside Out,” “Arco” employs a traditional blueprint known as the “Hero’s Journey,” a classical narrative that follows a hero who goes on an adventure, encounters challenges and overcomes them, returning changed by the journey. The act of following their journey, parsing through the story’s themes and messages, is an early test of cognition that helps kids make sense of complex ideas and situations that they will likely encounter in their own lives. That same study found that films can provide young viewers with insights about life. Stories can introduce topics like death, loss, separation, and any number of traumatic life events in a
controlled setting, allowing the young viewer time and distance from the event to process it.

I don’t enjoy seeing my children upset, but I was touched by my youngest daughter’s expression of compassion and by her ability to connect, at just six, with a fictional character and a situation that has no resemblance to her own life. Films are meant to broaden our perspective, and “Arco” did just that.

Despite the brief tears, my daughter said she liked the movie. My other daughter asked to watch it again; she was smitten with the hand-drawn aesthetic and the plot that did not dumb itself down for them, even the ending’s twist that had me in a chokehold. They had questions about some of the nuances of the plot, and I answered them as best I could. Our family movie night has never felt as meaningful as it did that night. We all need a good cry once in a while.

“Arco” is in theaters now.

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Parent Review: Inside Seattle Children’s Theatre’s ‘Ada Twist, Scientist and Friends’

Candice McMillan — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:00:05 +0000

Seattle Children’s Theatre presents “Ada Twist, Scientist and Friends,” a musical sure to amuse young viewers and offer a sweet reminder about the beauty of friendships and the power of imagination. Based on the 2016 children’s picture book written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts, “Ada Twist, Scientist and Friends” offers a diverse cast and a message about STEM learning that is appropriate for viewers of most ages and features no unsettling moments for uneasy audience goers.

(Image: Truman Buffett)

A STEM-filled Synopsis

Whether your little aspiring scientist has read the series of children’s picture books or watched the Netflix series adaptation going on four seasons, Ada Twist (Donnalesly Fondjo) is brought to dazzling life on stage and in all its singing grandeur with this uncomplicated musical that explores the curiosity of childhood. Ada Twist, scientist, and her friends Rosie Revere (Madelyn Casey), engineer, and Iggy Peck (Carson Merrick), architect, are excited to start second grade. Their instructor, Ms. Lila Greer (Karis Knierim), is equally as anxious for her very first day of teaching.

While everyone has good intentions, the first day unfolds into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) chaos. Ada, Rosie, and Iggy have big ideas about the things they want to learn, and their classroom experiments go awry, particularly Rosie’s cheese-powered flying hat, which inadvertently sprays in her teacher’s face, a comical moment that also highlights the frequency of failure in STEM experiments.

Curious about nature and all that the outdoors has to offer, Ms. Greer takes her class on a field trip where they find themselves stuck on an island without a bridge. What are three inquisitive second graders supposed to do? Waiting around for help to come is certainly not the answer. Ada, Rosie and Iggy, along with Rosie’s Great Great Aunt Rose (Jeane Cummins), put their minds, skills and specialized know-how to the task of saving the class and proving to themselves that thinking problems through and outside of the box makes a difference in real-life dilemmas.

(Image: Truman Buffett)

Failure (is Essential) to Launch

As a mother to two young girls, I absolutely adore the underlying messages in “Ada Twist.” For one, Ada is a young girl of color, but her gender and race have no bearing on the incredible things she can do and the confidence with which she does them. Her relationship with her friends is pure, and their propensity for understanding important concepts like teamwork, resilience in the face of surmounting obstacles and problem-solving are admirable qualities to have expressed on stage for impressionable viewers.

The set design for this production is simple, yet effective. Grid paper covers the primary backdrop, and STEM iconography, like the planets, equations, numbers, and letters, are sprinkled around the set. There are some comical moments that my kids found truly hysterical, namely the cheese hat squirting a stream of canned cheese into the face of the already-frantic teacher. But the many ingenious creations the characters come up with also entranced my young theater companions.

But what I found to be the story’s most pivotal message is about failing. Failing is as important in this production as succeeding, and the message to young minds that failing is an essential part of being a scientist, engineer, or anyone working in STEM is a reassuring inclusion for a parent hoping to nurture my children’s interests. This means allowing them to experience failure and to ensure they understand that it often takes time, trial and error and perseverance to succeed. Ada and her friends never give up, and they are bright, positive role models to lead young viewers on a journey in this sweet, hour-long production.

(Image: Truman Buffett)

Know Before You Go

Dates: The show runs through February 22, with a variety of showtimes spanning the morning and
evening.
Runtime: Approximately 60 minutes without an intermission.
Recommended Age: 5+.
Access/Audio Described Performance: Sunday, February 15 at 11 a.m.
Sensory-Friendly Performance: Saturday, February 7 at 1 p.m.
Spotlight Performance: Engineering Day is Sunday, February 22 at 1 p.m. at the Pacific Science Center and will feature a spotlight performance of “Ada Twist, Scientist and Friends” as well as hands-on, interactive exhibits led by local engineers.
Address: Seattle Children’s Theatre is located at 201 Thomas Street, Seattle 98109
Parking: Garage and street parking are available with payment. Give yourself ample time if there is
an event at Climate Pledge Arena.

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Saturday Family Concerts at Town Hall

Jasmin Thankachen — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:05:28 +0000

Mark your calendars for Saturday Family Concerts at Town Hall, a beloved series of monthly, all-ages performances designed to get the whole family moving. Held one Saturday a month, these interactive concerts blend music, movement, storytelling, and visual art, spotlighting artists and cultural traditions from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Expect shows that invite kids and grown-ups alike to sing along, dance in the aisles, and experience live performance together.

Winter/Spring Schedule 2026

Bug Friend

Date: February 21, 2026
Time: 11 a.m.
Cost: $10-$35 Sliding Scale (Free for ages 22 & Under)

Bug Friend brings their playful, interactive music to Town Hall! Mikey and Kaylee will perform favorites from Alphabops, their debut album featuring a song for every letter from A to Z, along with new songs from their upcoming release Lost & Found. From alphabet adventures to balloons that drift away and kitties finding their way home, these songs capture the wonder and drama of childhood. This entertaining, all-ages show invites everyone to sing, dance, and discover music together. Tickets online.

The Brian Waite Band

Date: April 4, 2026
Time: 11 a.m.
Cost: $10-$35 Sliding Scale (Free for ages 22 & Under)

Get ready for a family-friendly musical journey with The Brian Waite Band! Since 2001, this dynamic trio has captivated audiences of all ages with its unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll, interactive storytelling, and theatrical flair. Their critically acclaimed shows take you on a “Rock ‘n Roll Adventure,” weaving imaginative tales with infectious original songs that will have everyone singing, laughing, and dancing along. Tickets on sale soon!

Find more events on Seattle’s Child Calendar

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Parent Review: You’re either a fan of ‘Monty Python’s SPAMALOT,’ or not

Candice McMillan — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:05:46 +0000

The 5th Avenue Theatre Company presents “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT,” a revival of the Tony Award-winning musical. Spoof, goof, and sometimes woof, it first premiered in 2004 to critical and commercial acclaim. Based on the 1975 cult classic film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” the musical adaptation has taken on cult status of its own, and if you haven’t always been “looking on the bright side of life,” then gear up for a whole (spama)lot of nonsense.

(Image: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

“The [Synopsis] That Goes Like This”

King Arthur (Major Attaway) comes coconut shell-clopping through drab and dreary medieval England with his servant Patsy (Blake Segal). He is on a mission to assemble his Knights of the Round Table, travel to Camelot and, what else, find the Holy Grail. What ensues are consecutive slapstick, absurdist gags that generally support Arthur’s end goal, though to fully summarize all of the ludicrous plot points of this comedy would be a fool’s errand.

The musical opens in “Finland” with “Fisch Schlapping Song,” a kitschy parody that sets the tone for the ensuing 2.5 hours. The musical number, “He is Not Dead Yet”, finds plague-ridden peasants vying to stay out of the corpse wagon. But the production’s farcical timbre finds its stride when Arthur beckons the Lady of the Lake (Amanda Robles) to authenticate his sword Excalibur and confess their generic love (“The Song That Goes Like This”). She brings along her Laker Girls, scantily clad dancers with pom poms. The mockery train finds fantastically preposterous speed and is completely runaway when the group of nincompoops make it to Camelot, a medieval Vegas, where they party (“Knights of the Round Table”) until God commands them to find the Holy Grail.

(Image: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

The second act is far easier to settle into, given the first act’s chaotic preparation. Arthur and Patsy must find a shrubbery for the barbaric Knights Who Say Ni, leading to the production’s most well-known number “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” When the group is then forced to put on a Broadway musical to appease the creatures, “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” laments the necessity that they find Jewish people in order to fulfill the tall order, an inside joke for SPAMALOT-admirers that doesn’t quite land for those of us new to the musical.

“You Won’t Succeed on [Common Sense Media]”

There is a nuance that requires some explanation to younger viewers about this particular sequence, which goes on to depict “Jewish” cultural moments, like a spoof of Fiddler on the Roof and a drag Barbra Streisand. The production wants to capture the zeitgeist of their cultural relevance, but the sequences could come off as cliché and offensive. The comedic quality of the joke only works because it is done with love and admiration, not explicit antisemitism, but this is a difficult concept to explain to a young person who has no context for it. As a mid-30s viewer who isn’t a Pythonite, I found myself uncomfortable with their implications, but reassured by the reaction of those in the theater that this was a friendly joke made with love.

(Image: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

There are jokes personalized to Seattle audiences throughout. (A Seahawks jersey may have found its way into the costume racks.) But for impressionable audience goers, there are some moments of inappropriate allusions. They are often quick – a character makes a crude, sexually charged gesture with his hands and mouth on a broomstick – though some are more intrinsic, like the lack of women in the production.

The Lady of the Lake is the only female presence, apart from her Laker girl back-up dancers. When she is ignored for much of the second half, her solo “Diva’s Lament” pokes fun at it, but highlights the fact that this is a man’s show with predominantly male-leaning and male-centric skits.

Overall, I think many of the inappropriate jokes would fly over the heads of younger viewers. Even I missed many of them; the cast speeds from one to the next without slowing down for the punchline to hit. I couldn’t imagine, however, that there is anything for anyone under 13 to enjoy.

(Image: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

Even the silly, idiotic jokes are a bit too smart or mature or require context for viewers under that age to fully understand, and while the physical comedy provides much of the musical’s laughs, even that may get old over nearly two and a half hours of sitting.

“[Dissenter’s] Lament”

As I sat quietly through the inane routines and absurd skits in “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT,” fellow theater-goers around me cackled and cheered, laughing and quoting along with the glorified fart jokes (and a few literal flatulent punchlines too). At first, I thought perhaps the affected British accents were losing me in translation. As the production progressed well into the second half, the sketch-based absurdity never quite grew on me.

A quote by Michael Scott kept flitting through my thoughts: “I love inside jokes. I’d love to be a part of one someday.” The inside jokes in “SPAMALOT” are almost imperative to enjoying the scattered premise that contains no urgency or interest in even a semblance of plot, conflict, and resolution. The musical doesn’t want to be confined by an arc, both in terms of premise and character, and this is evident for the entire show, which moves from punchline to punchline as cheaply as it can.

(Image: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

The disparity between my thoughts on the musical and the obvious reaction of others in the theater leads me to the conclusion: you are either a fan of Monty Python’s humor, or you are not. Do yourself a favor before seeing “SPAMALOT”: watch or rewatch “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” to get a sense of whether or not you will be able to stomach it.

Know Before You Go

Dates: The show runs through February 15, with times in the afternoon and evening
Runtime: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
Recommended Age: 13+.
Special Performances
- The ASL Interpreted and Open Captioned Performance is Friday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m.
- The Audio Described Performance is Saturday, February 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Location: The 5th Avenue Theatre is located at 1308 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

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