Top 15 Seattle-Area Family Activities for January 2026

Welcome the new year with new adventures that expand your family’s horizons and make 2026 a year to remember! It all starts on day 1: Put on your mittens and embark on a First Day Hike, or take them off and leap into icy waters for an exhilarating Polar Bear Plunge. Catch a show, visit a museum or celebrate the arts — however you choose to plan your January, my list of 15 family activities will give you something to talk about.

1. Not ready to say goodbye to the cheery lights illuminating our dark nights? Walk the Tacoma Light Trail, a series of light-art installations throughout Tacoma and brighten your evenings into January. Head to downtown Tacoma as well as the Hilltop and South Tacoma Way neighborhoods and beyond where artwork will be alit Dec. 31–Jan. 11. Free.

2. Speaking of extending the holiday sparkle, it’s not too late to visit WildLanterns, Woodland Park Zoo’s enchanting light show. Lingering into the new year, WildLanterns is open Thursday–Sunday, through Jan. 18. It’s a bit of a splurge at $28.45–$35.95 per person, but your ticket purchase supports the animals in the zoo’s care.

3. Bundle up and work off those holiday treats! Washington State Parks entices your family outdoors with two free-entry days this month, Jan. 1 and 19, when you don’t need to display a Discover Pass to park. Fresh air, tall trees and winter wildlife await. If you plan an outing for New Year’s Day, take advantage of one of the many guided snowshoe or hiking excursions offered through the state’s First Day Hikes event.

4. Brr! Make a memorable start to the New Year with a very cold dip into local waters. Recruit the bravest members of your crew and show up for one of the many Polar Bear Plunges making a splash around the Sound. You’ll find events on Thursday, Jan. 1, in Seattle, Renton, Issaquah and Tacoma, to name a few. Times and fees vary; some are free.

5. Dress for the weather and don’t forget your boots — more outdoor fun is on the way. Explore the beach by moonlight at Seahurst Park in Burien alongside naturalists from the Environmental Science Center during a low tide evening, Jan. 2, 30 and 31. Times vary, but range from 7:30–10:30 p.m. What fascinating critters will you spot with your headlamps? Preregister. Free.

6. Art enthusiasts of all ages are invited to spend a Saturday in downtown Seattle at the Seattle Art Museum making art and listening to live music inspired by the museum’s permanent collections. Then, wander the galleries to explore these exhibitions. Turn up Saturday, Jan. 3, 10 or 17, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Free.

7. Use those eagle eyes to spot majestic flyers during the Skagit Eagle Festival. Visit the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport, then join a free guided nature walk at 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. during weekends this month, Jan. 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 24–25.

8. Join the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC) as they ring in the new year the traditional way, at a celebratory Mochi Tsuki, where rice is cooked over an open fire and mochi (or rice cake) is pounded by hand using wooden mallets. Sample the finished product and enjoy taiko drum performances at Woodward Middle School, Saturday, Jan. 10, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.

9. Winter is a good time to visit Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum when it celebrates our coolest season at the annual Ice Adventures fest. This January, join Penguin Palooza and skate in your socks, watch frigid science experiments, explore glowing ice formation and more. The fun takes place Jan. 17–18, with special activities honoring Martin Luther King Jr., on Jan. 19. Included with admission.

10. Sing and dance along to Kindie fave Recess Monkey, join a puppet-making workshop, create traditional Mexican art, try out line dancing and more at Kidstock!, the free, full-day arts celebration especially for families with kids of all ages. Head to Edmonds Center for the Arts, Saturday, Jan. 17, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and join the nonstop fun.

11. Young readers will surely recognize the plea, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” from the popular children’s book with the same name. Now a spirited musical, join The Pigeon and his friends for a fun and wild ride filled with catchy tunes, laughs and lovable characters at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. Saturday–Sunday, Jan. 17–18 and 24–25 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children.

12. Honor the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by joining with the Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition for its annual community rally and march, starting at Garfield High School. Monday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. Free.

13. Our ParentEd Talks series welcomes board-certified psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr. Sasha Hamdani for an insightful Zoom talk about how better understanding of the ADHD brain leads to better support of our children. Tune in live Wednesday, Jan. 21, from noon–1 p.m. or receive the recording to watch anytime. $10 or $50 for the entire eight-talk series. Members of partner schools join for free.

14. Do you have a fan of scaly, slithery or unusual critters? Head to the largest reptile and exotic animal show in the Pacific Northwest at the Washington State Fair and Event Center in Puyallup, and meet tons of amphibians, arachnids, insects and other fascinating creatures. You can even bring a new friend home. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24–25. $7 child; $15 adult; ages 5 and younger free.

15. This year The Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating 100 years of mind-blowing trick shots and gravity-defying antics. Join the legendary team of skilled basketballers on this historic tour, as they dribble into town to perform at Angels of the Winds Arena in Everett at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25. Tickets start at $43 per person. Or, catch a second show at the Showare Center in Kent, Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. with tickets starting at $45.

Editor’s note: This article is updated every month by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara, with her favorite new family activities in and around Seattle. It was most recently updated on Dec. 18, 2025 with all new January 2026 events. All event dates, times and locations were cross-checked and verified by our editor. Be sure to come back next month for more ideas!