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Maifest! May family festivals and events

Mayday! What are you doing this month? Plan your weekend getaway after looking over these family-friendly options.

May 2010

May weekends. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mt. St. Helens blowing her top in Washington State.

May 2. Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day). Portland, Oregon. In Portland’s stunning Japanese Garden, kids are more than welcome – they’re celebrated! Try a kids’ teatime, create paper koi kites and enjoy the deep thump of taiko drums.

May 7-9. Maifest. Leavenworth, Washington. A “Lookin’ Good in Lederhosen” contest, maipole dances, children’s activities and Bavarian-style parade. Oh, and some beer. For you, not the kids.

May 8-9. Mother’s Day Weekend at the Aquarium. Vancouver, BC. Free mother’s day gifts for moms, a giveaway for a family “Beluga Encounter” and a mom’s dinner out.

May 11-15, May 17. Giant Magnet. Seattle and Tacoma, Washington.  The world descends upon Seattle – to entertain the children! Free events like origami-folding and clay-sculpting, plus hypnotic performances from Quebec, Benin and Colombia.

May 14-15. UFO Festival. McMinnville, Oregon. Dress like an alien, dress your kid like an alien, dress your dog like an alien. Get all done up like Unidentified Family Objects and meet fellow UFO fans.

May 15. Seattle Art Museum Family Festival. Seattle, Washington. Live music, crafts, kid-friendly museum tours and face-painting will inspire even the art-adverse. Performances by Caspar Babypants and Harmonica Pocket.

May 16. U.S. Bank Mini Pole Pedal Paddle. Bend, Oregon. Meet the next generation of ‘Survivor’ contestants. Teams of children (1st-6th grades) compete in river rafting (with a guide), biking, an obstacle course and a run.

May 17-18. Children’s Festival. Vancouver, BC.  Tap along to West African musicians, enjoy a Inuit puppet tale, and laugh along with an Alice in Wonderland comedy.Roving entertainers keep kids amused between sets.

May 27-May 29. Rotary Okanagan International Children’s Festival 2010. Penticton, BC. Over 40 performances from jugglers, singers, comedians and Polynesian dancers. There’s even a family pancake feed featuring live entertainment.

(Photo Credit: Maifest, Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce)

Lora Shinn writes about family travel, Pacific NW travel, grown-up travel...and travel in general. Her travel-related articles and essays have appeared in Family Fun, Parenting, AFAR, National Geographic Traveler, AAA magazines and Redbook, among others.

One Comment

  • Rachel Dahl

    Seattle Maritime Festival! Very family friendly. Tug boat races, Coast Guard rescues, chowder tasting, wooden boat building, free harbor cruises. It’s SO FUN.