Cheers with us
Raise a glass to conservation and animals! Join Woodland Park Zoo for the fifth annual Brew and the Zoo beer-tasting event on Thursday, Oct. 1. Sample imports, domestics, microbrews and ciders from more than 40 different breweries. The event includes tastings, live animal encounters, music and access to some award-winning exhibits. Tickets range from $30-70. For more information, go here. (This event is for the 21+ crowd only.)
Maple Viewing at the Seattle Japanese Garden
Marvel with us
In October the Seattle Japanese Garden is ablaze with fall color. Visit on Sunday, Oct. 11, during the official Maple Viewing Festival, or take a tour any time this fall to feast your eyes on reds, oranges and golds. The Maple Viewing Festival includes traditional musical performances and other activities and runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Send us your best fall-esque photos on Twitter and we’ll throw you a retweet. For more information, including garden hours and location, go here.
Cook with us
When the rain sets in and it starts getting dark at 5 p.m., sometimes you want nothing more than to go home and dive into some comfort food. The thing is, if you want to fill your belly, you have to know how to cook first. Belltown Community Center is hosting a series of cooking classes from now until Dec. 16. All classes are one-time, hands on workshops and are designed for all cooking levels. The classes each feature a different type of food or cuisine. Became an expert on cheesecake and swirls or learn how to make your own stuffed pasta. You know what they say, rain ain’t no thing when you’ve got a bowl full of ravioli. Well, we say it. Find your perfect class here.
Dance with us
Have you ever started instinctively doing side-to-side zombie arms when Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” comes on the radio? It happens to the best of us. Every year groups of people dubbed the “Thrillers” perform the famous choreography on the same day, at the same time across the world. This charitable event is called “Thrill the World.” This year, Seattle is scheduled to join in the fun at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Occidental Park. Head out to the park and watch it all unfold. For more information, or to participate, go here.
Kubota Garden
Tour with us
Kobuta Garden is another specialty park that boasts beautiful colors in the fall. Best of all? Kubota Garden Foundation docents offer free tours of the park every month! Go to garden on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. to take in the season and learn about the garden’s unique landscaping. For more information, go here.
Discovery Park
Explore with us
Explore Discovery Park after dark. From 8:30-10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, a Discovery Park beach naturalist will lead a flashlight beach walk to examine tidepools and other marine life. Bring your family and friends for a unique city experience. Wear shoes that can get wet, dress in layers and bring your own flashlight if you have one. Cost is $5 per person. Register online here.
Fall festival
Fall with us
What are you doing for Halloween? What are you doing to celebrate fall colors and traditions? Not sure yet? Don’t worry. We made plans for you – like, 30 of them. All throughout October, our community centers, parks and pools are hosting haunted events, spooky swims and family friendly fall festivals. Dress up in costume, carve a pumpkin, bob for apples and get scared silly. All events are free or low-cost. Find an event in your neighborhood here.
Salmon in Piper’s Creek
Learn with us
Being able to watch a salmon run is an incredible benefit of living in the Pacific Northwest. November and early December is the time to experience Pacific salmon in an urban stream. Coho and chum salmon run in Piper’s Creek in during this time. Drop-in stations with trained guides are set up from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 – Dec. 6, to facilitate observations of the salmon and to give out tips on how to help perpetuate these runs. No need to sign up. Just come to the lower meadow at Carkeek Park and look for the salmon stewards in the blue vests.
Run with us
Earn that bird! Thanksgiving is usually reserved for food, football, family and counting blessings. This year, we’ve got one more item to add to the agenda. Head over to Magnuson Park on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 26, for the Turkey Trot, a 5 or 10k fun run. Feel free to bring any extra food items and they will be donated them to food lifeline. To register, or for more information, go here.