Photo:
Courtesy City of Seattle
Happy New Year! In 2025, you’ll find plenty of fresh opportunities to play, explore and do new things. From brand-new exhibits to upcoming productions and more, I’ve rounded up 12 activities in the Seattle-area for families to keep on their radar this year.
1. Pacific Science Center’s ‘Brainy Bodies’ exhibit, Seattle
The Pacific Science Center just opened a new ongoing exhibit, “Brainy Bodies.” Technically it opened mid-December 2024, but I bet most of us haven’t been yet! This bilingual exhibit, presented in both English and Spanish, invites people of all ages to learn about the connections between our brains and our bodies through engaging, hands-on experiences. The exhibit demonstrates that working together makes us stronger, much like how the various systems in our body work together to create a healthier and stronger self. This exhibit is included with general admission.
2. Broadway productions at The Paramount Theatre, Seattle
The Paramount Theatre in Seattle has an exciting 2025 lineup of Broadway productions for the whole family!
- “Kimberly Akimbo,” a musical about growing up, and the winner of five Tony Awards, plays Jan. 7–12 (recommended for ages 13 and older).
- “Hamilton,” the revolutionary Grammy Award-winning musical, plays Feb. 4–March 2 (recommended for ages 10 and older).
- “Life of Pi” brings the bestselling novel to life through world class puppetry and unique stagecraft, playing April 15–20 (recommended for ages 13 and older).
- “SIX the Musical” is an energizing “girl power” original on-stage May 6–11 (recommended for ages 10 and older).
- Celebrate Riverdance’s 30th anniversary of Irish and international dance at one of their mesmerizing performances, May 30–June 1 (recommended for all ages).
- Enjoy the classic hits from the popular musical “Mamma Mia” on stage June 10–15 (recommended for ages 6 and older).
- Catch the comical new musical, “& Juliet,” which twists the ending of the original “Romeo and Juliet” for a fun new story with a playlist of pop music that’ll make you want to sing and dance — playing July 29–Aug. 3 (recommended for ages 8 and older).
3. ‘KOOZA’ by Cirque du Soleil Under the Big Top at Marymoor Park, Redmond
After 15 years, “KOOZA” is once again playing in Seattle! Be prepared to be wowed, sit on the edge of your seat, laugh and hold your breath at the mind-blowing traditional circus acts in “KOOZA.” The story line follows a journey of self-discovery with comic characters like the Clowns, the King and his Mad Dog, all amidst the circus-like zany and quirky world.
This show runs from Jan. 19 to March 16, and is meant for the whole family. Here are some considerations when determining who to bring: The show contains loud noises, flashing lights, moments without lighting, a friendly skeleton section, clowns throughout the show and some dark scenes. The show is 125 minutes long with a 25-minute intermission. Children older than 2 years old must have a ticket and sit in their own seat.
4. ‘The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus’ presented by Seattle Children’s Theatre, digital production
Did you know you don’t have to go to a theatre to experience a live production? Seattle Children’s Theatre is bringing “The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus” into your homes via a live Zoom performance followed by a live Q&A with actress Tia Shearer Bassett.
This 55-minute show is recommended for ages 7 and older and runs Jan. 22–Feb. 2, 2025. This magical story follows an 8-year-old, Sheila, and her friends during summer break. Their junkyard fort adventures make connections between the environment, humans and animals and how we can care for our planet. During this interactive performance, you may be asked to participate from home by making sound effects or sharing ideas when asked. Purchase one ticket and invite as many friends as you’d like to your private home viewing party.
5. Cougar Mountain Zoo’s Rainforest Discovery Education Center, Issaquah
Maybe you were one of the lucky ones to catch a sneak peek of this new exhibit at the Cougar Mountain Zoo during its soft opening at the Reindeer Festival in December 2024. This new immersive exhibit will be open to the public soon (elusive, I know!). Let’s cross our fingers for an early 2025 opening so we can all learn more about our planet’s rainforests and delight in the new resident sloths!
6. Infinity Farm’s Interactive Teaching Garden, Issaquah
In 2025, Infinity Farm of Issaquah is providing a new opportunity for their Toddler Tuesday guests to get their hands dirty and learn all about gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Through hands-on activities, little farmers will learn about sustainability in growing food like greens, peas, tomatoes, pumpkins, root vegetables and more. As an added bonus, learning more about how our food grows might encourage your little gardener’s willingness to try new foods. Teaching Garden guests will also have the perk of priority access to Infinity Farm’s new CSA program.
7. Pier 58 Playground, Seattle
Previously Waterfront Park, Pier 58 is expected to open to the public once completed in the spring of 2025. Families can look forward to relaxing and playing in the new waterfront park with seating, grassy areas, trees providing shade, and a new underwater-themed play space. You can’t miss the 25-foot-tall jellyfish play structure and 18-foot-tall slide. Kids who like to climb will especially like this new playground! This is also a great stop along the new waterfront bike trail that extends from the Elliott Bay Trail near the Olympic Sculpture Park and continues west along the water.
8. 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches at Lumen Field, Seattle
In June, our very own Seattle Sounders Football Club’s home turf, Lumen Field, will host six matches for the FIFA Club World Cup in its expanded 32-team international tournament. Cheer on the Sounders and be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the sidelines of the best soccer teams in the world right here in Seattle!
If you can’t get tickets for the FIFA Club World Cup matches, families can still look forward to The Sounder’s earlier gametimes this season, a variety of themed matches, and of course, the Sammy’s Squad kids club. Sammy’s Squad is free to join for kids ages 5–12 and provides kids with exclusive experiences throughout the season and a free Sammy’s Squad youth scarf for joining.
9. DeLille Cellars Restaurant at University Village, Seattle
DeLille Cellars is expanding into Seattle for the first time with a full-service restaurant and tasting room slotted to open in the summer of 2025. Delille Cellars is a top Bordeaux-inspired wine producer in the state and their Woodinville restaurant, The Restaurant at DeLille, is ranked the No. 4 Winery Restaurant in America by USA Today. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a hungry family, DeLille’s new restaurant will make a great option for dining within University Village. Kids are welcomed everywhere except the dedicated bar area.
10. T&T Supermarket’s second Washington location, Lynnwood
T&T Supermarket, the largest Asian grocery chain in Canada, made its United States debut by opening its Bellevue location in December 2024. T&T is expected to open its second Washington location in Lynnwood in the summer of 2025. This grocery store lives up to its original dream of founder Cindy Lee of “bringing the best of Asian fresh food and groceries under one roof.”
T&T Supermarkets aim to provide a wide range of products from authentic staples to unique specialties. My kids like to check out the live seafood aquarium with lobsters, Dungeness crabs and fish. Their prepared foods and deli section, bakery items like the Portuguese egg tarts, T&T affordable Private Label items, and Asian beauty and skincare products are all popular. For an easy dinner that my kids love, you can’t go wrong with their T&T BBQ pork baos (buns) or the cute animal-shaped steam baos.
11. Snoqualmie Community Park Splashpad, Snoqualmie
With our increasingly warm summers, we can’t have enough pools and splash pads in the Seattle area — especially free ones! The Splashpad at Snoqualmie Community Park was supposed to open in the summer of 2024 but due to contractor delays it is now expected to open in the summer of 2025. Families can cool off in the Pacific Northwest-themed splashpad that’s accessible for all abilities and ages. I know my kids will like the giant Sasquatch!
12. Seattle Worldcon 2025, Seattle
Worldcon, an international gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans and artists, returns to Seattle for the first time since 1961! You can expect hundreds of hours of panel programming, presentations, an art show, events, kids programming and more. The Hugo Awards, science fiction and fantasy’s most prestigious awards, are also voted on and presented during this convention, which runs Aug. 13–17 at the Seattle Convention Center.
Learn more about how to attend by purchasing your Seattle Worldcon 2025 membership. Kids ages 0–12 are free but are not allowed to vote in the Hugo Awards unless you purchase a membership for them.
More family-friendly activities to welcome the new year: |
