The Federal Way Library on 1st Way S runs free story times each week: Young Toddler Story Time Wednesdays 10–10:30am, Family Story Time Wednesdays 11–11:30am, Pajama Story Time Tuesdays 6:30–7pm (pajamas and a stuffed animal welcome), and Spanish Story Time Fridays 10:30–11am. No registration. No Wednesday story times Nov 11 and no Spanish story time Nov 27.
Kubota Garden blends Japanese garden design with native Northwest plants across 20 acres of hills, streams, waterfalls, ponds and bridges. It's free to visit, open sunrise to sunset, with free parking (lot entrance on 55th Ave S near Renton Ave S). No reservations needed. During construction on 55th Ave the north entrance may be closed: enter the lot through the south gate, or park on Renton Ave S.
Mon 1–3pm and 4:30–6:30pm; Tue 1–3pm and 4:30–6:30pm; Thu 4:30–6:30pm; Fri 1–4pm (by site)
Nourish Mobile Food Bank (Tacoma stops)
Nourish Pierce County's mobile food bank hands out free groceries at stops across Tacoma: Mondays 1–3pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (101 E 38th St) and Tacoma Islamic Center (31 Montana Ave, halal), Mondays 4:30–6:30pm at Giaudrone Middle School; Tuesdays 1–3pm at the STAR Center and Bates Technical College South Campus, Tuesdays 4:30–6:30pm at Tacoma Community College Lot F; Thursdays 4:30–6:30pm at UW Tacoma (Court C lot); Fridays 1–4pm at Salishan Family Investment Center. Free to anyone in need, no ID or proof of income.
King County hazardous waste collection sites · Seattle
King County residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free, with no appointment, at four sites: North Seattle (12550 Stone Ave N, Sun–Tue 9am–5pm), South Seattle (8100 2nd Ave S, Thu–Sat 9am–5pm), Factoria in Bellevue (13800 SE 32nd St, Tue–Fri 8am–4pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm) and Algona (35101 West Valley Hwy S, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8am–4pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm). All are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Check the county's list of accepted products first.
UW Botanic Gardens' arboretum is free and open every day from dawn to 8pm (only the separate Japanese Garden charges). The Graham Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
Pacific Bonsai Museum is free to visit (a $12 donation per adult is suggested). Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Closed Thanksgiving and December 24 – January 1; open late until 7pm on December 12 for Winter Bonsai Solstice.
A volunteer KCLS Tech Tutor helps adults one-on-one with basic technology and digital skills on Wednesdays 12:30–2:30pm at the Auburn Library. Bring your device or just your questions; drop in any time, no registration.
The Lynnwood Food Bank gives free supplemental groceries once a week: Wednesdays 11am–5pm (express: shorter wait, groceries packed by family size with modifications only for allergies, cultural needs, halal meat, baby and pet food) and Fridays 10am–1pm (traditional: longer wait, shopped to your order). No documentation, proof of income or proof of address is required. Distribution is mostly outdoors and closes in freezing or icy weather (it generally follows Edmonds School District snow closures).
Wed 4:30–5pm (Spanish) and 6:30–7:30pm (pajama); Thu 10:30–11am (toddlers) and 11:30am–12pm (ages 3–5)
Auburn Library (KCLS)
The Auburn Library runs free story times every week: Toddler Story Time (ages 1–3 with an adult) Thursdays 10:30–11am, Family Story Time (ages 3–5, siblings welcome) Thursdays 11:30am–noon with optional play time from 11, Spanish Story Time Wednesdays 4:30–5pm, and Pajama Story Time (ages 0–8) Wednesdays 6:30–7:30pm with art time after. No registration. Thursday story times run Nov 5 – Dec 17 (none Nov 26).
Everett Public Library's Evergreen Branch runs free weekly programs for young kids: Play & Learn on Tuesdays 10:30am–noon, Toddler Storytime (ages 18–36 months with a caregiver) on Wednesdays 10:30–11am, and Preschool Storytime on Fridays 10:30–11:30am. Stories, music and movement, with playtime after. The library is closed Nov 11, 26 and 27, and no Toddler Storytime is listed for Nov 25.
Washington State's first art museum, on the University of Washington campus, is free to all visitors. Open Thursday 10am to 7pm and Friday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. The Skyspace and Sculpture Court are temporarily closed for maintenance.
Verified Oct 27 · henryart.org
No catch
Kids & familyFree (worth about $20)Eligibility applies
At the Museum of History & Industry, youth 14 and under are always admitted free; adults pay $25. MOHAI is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday).
Verified Oct 27 · mohai.org
Catch: Only for: kids 14 and under (accompanying adults pay $25)
Drop in on Saturdays 11:30am–1:30pm at the Bellevue Library for free help with digital and computer skills and basic tech questions from KCLS Tech Tutors. No registration.
Verified Oct 27 · kcls.bibliocommons.com
No catch
AttractionsFree (worth about $18)Eligibility applies
College students with a valid student ID get free admission to Tacoma's Museum of Glass every Sunday (adults otherwise pay $18). Open 10am to 5pm. The traditional galleries are closed for renovation until December 12, 2026, and prices have changed while they're closed.
Verified Oct 27 · museumofglass.org
Catch: Only for: college students with a valid student ID
Coming up 25 listings
ServicesFree (worth about $150)For people who qualify
Walk-in legal help for low-income King County renters facing landlord-tenant problems: a brief one-on-one consult with a Housing Justice Project attorney, plus information and referrals. Mondays November 2 and December 7, 2026, 1–4pm at the Federal Way 320th Library.
Verified Oct 27 · kcls.bibliocommons.com
Catch: Only for: low-income King County residents with landlord-tenant issues
Seattle Center Festál celebrates Diwali on Saturday, November 7, 2026, noon to 6pm in the Armory Food & Event Hall: Indian classical and folk dance, music and percussion on the Armory Stage, a flower mandala, art galleries and workshops in the Armory Lofts, a roti-making demo, and free food from Northwest Share. Free and open to the public.
Ensemble Ballet Theatre's young dancers perform a short version of The Nutcracker on Saturday, November 7, 2026, 4–5pm at the Renton Highlands Library. All ages, no registration.
Seattle Center Festál and the Hmong Association of Washington celebrate Hmong New Year on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in the Armory Food & Event Hall, marking the end of the harvest season with traditional clothing, dance, food and more. Free and open to the public. The page gives no times yet, so check before you go.
Shilpa of Peace Yoga leads an introductory yoga class on how practice can help relieve stress, Sunday, November 15, 2026, 11:30am–12:30pm at the Redmond Library. Bring a mat if you can; mats are available to borrow.
Verified Oct 27 · kcls.bibliocommons.com
No catch
ServicesFree (worth about $150)For people who qualify
Low-income King County renters with landlord problems (lockouts, move-in and move-out disputes, discrimination, repairs and more) can walk in for a brief one-on-one consult with a Housing Justice Project attorney, plus legal information and referrals. Mondays November 16 and December 14, 2026, 2–4pm at the Renton Library.
Verified Oct 27 · kcls.bibliocommons.com
Catch: Only for: low-income King County residents with landlord-tenant issues
Seattle Public Library cardholders can reserve a free pass to participating Seattle museums, including the Seattle Art Museum, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Wing Luke Museum and Northwest African American Museum. Each pass covers at least two adults (some four or more). New passes are released daily after noon; one pass per card every 30 days.
Verified Oct 27 · spl.org
Catch: Seattle Public Library card required · One pass every 30 days; valid only on the reserved date · Bring the printed pass and a photo ID
King County Hazardous Waste Home Collection Program · Seattle
King County residents 65 or older, or with a disability, who can't get to a collection site can book a free pickup of household hazardous waste from home. Pickups run Wednesdays 9am to 3pm and may take 1–2 weeks to schedule. Call the Haz Waste Help Line at 206-296-4692 (Mon–Sat, 9am–5pm). Latex paint, tires, electronics and medications aren't collected.
Verified Oct 27 · kingcounty.gov
Catch: Only for: King County residents 65+ or with a disability who can't reach a site · Appointment by phone required
King County Library System cardholders can reserve free passes to local museums such as the Museum of Flight, KidsQuest Children's Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum and the Washington State History Museum. Book online and print the pass or show its QR code. Passes are limited and go fast.
Verified Oct 27 · kcls.org
Catch: KCLS library card required · Reserve online; limited passes each day
Volunteers from Casa Latina give free one-on-one basic computer, tablet and laptop help, in English and Spanish, Mondays and Thursdays noon–1:30pm at the Federal Way 320th Library. They can also get you started on Northstar Digital Literacy lessons (free with a KCLS card). No registration; no hardware repairs.
Bring a phone, tablet or laptop (or use one of the library's four laptops) for free one-on-one help with basic tech questions: email, websites, Word and Excel basics, setting up accounts, and library eBooks. Mondays 1–2:30pm at the Renton Library. Basic translation is available through the library's Language Line. Drop in, no registration.
The Seattle Art Museum is free to everyone on the first Thursday of every month, open 10am to 8pm that day. Regular adult admission is $29.99; kids 14 and under are always free.
