Free things to do with kids on the Eastside
Places you can walk into for free, and the next free events on the city calendars.
A library card is free, and so is walking into a King County library. Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue Botanical Garden, Kelsey Creek Farm, and Marina Park do not charge admission to walk the grounds. Special events at those places sometimes do, and those prices stay on the event.
The city pages are where a dated free event shows up once the organizer posts it: Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and the rest of the Eastside.
Bellevue Library
Free to visit. Story times and a large children's area downtown.
Kirkland Library
Free to visit, with story times a short walk from downtown.
Redmond Library
Free to visit. Story times and indoor space in downtown Redmond.
The Meadow at Bellevue Downtown Park
A free downtown lawn and paths. No ticket to walk the park.
Bellevue Botanical Garden
Free to walk the gardens. The visitor center is on Main Street.
Kelsey Creek Farm
Admission and parking are free. Barn, animals, and trails.
Marina Park
A free waterfront park on Lake Washington in downtown Kirkland.
Free events coming up
These are the next events tagged Free on the city calendars. The list changes as events are added and as they end.
Through Oct 3
Story Stroll: Watercress
Issaquah Library, 10 W Sunset Way
A self-led walk through Watercress, by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin.
Oct 1, 11:30 a.m.
Baby Story Time
Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE
Rhymes, songs, and stories for newborns to 12 months with an adult, then up to 15 minutes of play.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Bilingual Kaleidoscope Play and Learn
Newport Way Library, 14250 SE Newport Way
A Mandarin and English play-and-learn hour for toddlers and preschoolers with a caregiver.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Preschool Story Time
Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE
Stories, music, movement, and rhymes for ages 3 to 5 with an adult.
Oct 1, 10:00 a.m.
Music and Movement with Lana Van Boven
All agesBothell Library, 18215 98th Ave NE
Lana Van Boven, a speech language pathologist and musician, uses music and movement in story time.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Family Story Time
All agesDuvall Library, 15508 Main Street NE
Stories, music, and movement for all ages with an adult, then a short play time.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Rise & Shine Story Time
Issaquah Library, 10 W Sunset Way
Same shape as Tuesday night: stories, music, and play time after, for newborns to 5 with an adult.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Baby Story Time
Kirkland Library, 308 Kirkland Ave
Stories, music, and rhymes for newborns to 12 months, with an adult.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Mandarin Story Time
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Stories, music, movement, and rhymes for early literacy.
Oct 1, 10:00 a.m.
Drop-In Play
Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village, 6505 176th Ave NE
Ages 0–6.
Oct 1, 6:00 p.m.
Teen Center Project Drop-in Session 2
Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village, 6505 176th Ave NE
Same teen invite as Wednesday.
Oct 1, 10:30 a.m.
Toddler Story Time
Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th St
Stories, music, movement, and rhymes for 18 months to age 3 with an adult, then 20 to 30 minutes of play.