Will you chip in to support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation today?
Yes, I want to support My MLTnews!In Defense of Real Things
This past weekend reminded me just how lucky we are to live somewhere with such a rich local culture and so many artists and small businesses that make it worth celebrating.
On Friday, my friends and I danced the night away to live ’80s music at The Lime in Kirkland, courtesy of the awesome band Radio 80. I even scored a pair of roller-skate earrings from one of the band members after complimenting hers. Then on Saturday, my husband and I immersed ourselves in the soulful sounds of the Edmonds Jazz Walk. I’ve seen Pearl Django live more times than I can count, but it was such a treat to discover new musicians and hear local high school and college groups perform. We especially loved lingering over drinks and bites at Vinbero while the Golden Earrings Jazz Band played.
The arts have enriched my family’s lives in so many ways. Watching some of the local high school and college musicians perform, I found myself reflecting on the experiences my own kids have had in band and drama — and on how much music, art and writing have shaped my life too. Even my husband, a woodworker, can be found in his workshop nearly every week, coaxing something new out of oak, maple or whatever scrap wood catches his eye.
I’ve been thinking about all of this even more after reading about the concept of “enshittification,” a term critics are using to describe the phenomenon of how platforms and services slowly degrade in quality over time to maximize short-term profits. I see it in the endless AI-generated content flooding the internet and standing in for real art, music, writing and video. I often see it in the products we buy, as craftsmanship gives way to automation and shortcuts. I’m torn about being too critical, because most of us can’t afford bespoke, handmade everything. I know we all have limited budgets and have to pick and choose how we can support the higher price points that often accompany human-made things and human-led experiences.
Which is exactly why I love living here. In the Edmonds Bowl, for example, there are art galleries, murals and maker spaces around every corner. Want to take a cooking class? Table for 12 has you covered. Looking for bespoke art? Stop into Hoadley Gallery West or Cole Gallery. Need some records featuring local artists? Musicology is your place.
In a time when so many think pieces paint a dystopian picture of what’s coming, our local communities make it easy and truly joyful to push back simply by showing up, spending locally, and supporting the artists and makers right here in our own backyard.
Here’s a roundup of family friendly events and activities that can help you get out and see all that there is to do in our local communities and at local businesses. This week, there’s even more opportunity to have fun locally with multiple Pride events. Some even are free, some cheap and some splurges. Come back every Monday for more ideas and explore the community resources at the bottom of this column if you’re looking for ways to give back or need support. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for fresh posts and weekend reminders.
Jump to a section:
Free Fun
Celebrate Pride Month!
June is Pride Month, and there is a full calendar of local of events all month long!
- Tuesday, June 2 from 6-8 p.m.: Rainbow Bingo at Edmonds Lutheran Church from
- Wednesday, June 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Writing Rainbow — LGBTQIA2S+ writers group (RSVP requested)
- Thursday, June 4 from 5-8 p.m.: Pride Happy Hour at Claire’s Pantry
- Friday, June 5 from 3-4:30 p.m.: Teen Time: Letters for Trans Support at the Edmonds Library (see more in the section about library events)
Events in Lynnwood this week:
- Monday, June 1 from 6-8 p.m.: LGBTQAI+ Pride Bowl & Skate at Lynnwood Bowl & Skate
- Saturday, June 6 from 1-4 p.m. at Lynnwood Civic Campus: Join Lynnwood’s first-ever Pride celebration at City Pride with food, fun, and community.
Events in Mountlake Terrace this week:
- Friday, June 5 from 5-8 p.m. at Jerry Smith Town Center Plaza: MLT Pride, featuring live music, food trucks and more at this first-ever Pride event for the city of Mountlake Terrace!
Listen to music at Musicology Co. in Edmonds
Explore the latest music at the coolest record store in the region. Musicology Co. is a vibrant, woman-owned music boutique and record store offering new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes, with a strong focus on spotlighting local artists through live in-store performances and a curated music‑lover experience. Drop in for an upcoming live performance or Listening Party.
Events this week:
- Friday, June 5:
- 5-6 p.m.:Listening Party — Death Cab for Cutie
- 5–6 p.m.: Deathcab for Cutie — “I Built You a Tower” Listening Event
- 6–7 p.m.: Artist Residency — Tether the Star (solo)
- Saturday, June 6 from 6–7 p.m.: Saturday Sessions — Sheryl Wiser
Score New Reads at a Book Sale, Celebrate Bird Fest and more at Sno-Isle Libraries
Sno‑Isle Libraries regularly hosts a variety of free, family friendly events — such as baby and toddler story times, book talks, crafts and community gatherings — across its branches and online year-round. Find one at the library near you and check out some books to read while you’re there.
From 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays, go to the Lynnwood Library for free Homework Help, where volunteers are available to assist students in grades K-12 with school assignments. No registration is required; just bring the work you’re working on. Assistance is offered on a first-come-first-served basis and is a great way for students to get a little extra support after school.
On Friday, June 5, from to 3-4:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Library, teens can celebrate Pride Month by writing letters of support for trans people. All materials, snacks and drinks will be provided, and completed letters will be sent through Point of Pride to be included in support packages.
On Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Edmonds Library, join the Friends of the Edmonds Library for their Biannual Book Sale! The sale will take place in the Meeting Room with Member Early Bird Entry at 10 a.m. and general entry at 11 a.m.
On Saturday, at the Edmonds Library from 10-11 a.m, celebrate Puget Sound Bird Fest at the Edmonds Library with stories, songs, movement, and learning activities inspired by birds and this year’s theme, “Every Bird Has a Song. Every Voice Belongs.” After the program, children can create a bird-themed craft to take home.
Celebrate the season with a watercolor workshop at the Mountlake Terrace Library on Saturday, June 6 from 2-3:30 p.m. Local artist Melissa Engstrom will demonstrate painting techniques and guide participants through creating their own floral artwork.
Registration is required for many events, so check out Sno-Isle Libraries’ event calendar link below for more details.
Silver Creek Indoor Playpark
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
Need to get out of the house? Bring young kids to the free Indoor Playpark at Lynnwood’s Silver Creek Family Church to hang out and play. Parents can enjoy some coffee or tea while kids play with indoor toys.
Cheap Thrills
Seattle & Everett Sports This Week
What a week to be a local sports fan!
The Silvertips just concluded a historic Memorial Cup run in Kelowna, B.C. Check the scores, because by the time you read this, they may be celebrating Everett’s first-ever Memorial Cup title.
In baseball, the AquaSox return home this week for a six-game series against the Eugene Emeralds at Funko Field, running Tuesday through Sunday.
In Seattle, the Mariners host the New York Mets for three games Monday through Wednesday, before heading to Detroit for the weekend.
The Storm are on the road this week — they play at Dallas on Monday, then host Phoenix at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday evening.
The Sounders are on a World Cup break for now, but there’s going to be plenty of soccer to watch soon. The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11, and Seattle gets in on the action as Lumen Field hosts its first match June 15. Six total matches come to Seattle through early July, so there’s plenty to look forward to.
- Seattle Mariners schedule
- Seattle Storm schedule
- Everett AquaSox schedule
- Everett Silvertips schedule
- FIFA World Cup
Try local drop-in childcare options
Need a night off from parenting? Several local spots offer childcare with an evening of fun for kids.
- Drop-in childcare at KidsPark in Lynnwood. Flexible schedules.
- Drop-in playcare at Time4Kidz Lynnwood. Flexible schedules.
- Lynnwood Rec Center’s Parent’s Night Out. 6-9:30 p.m. on the first and third Friday every month.
Get your game on at Around the Table Boardgame Pub
Don’t miss out on this lively destination in Lynnwood for families and friends with tons of board games on site that you can play together from classics to new favorites. Enjoy ice cream, treats and a library of games to play.
While the regular calendar lists tabletop‑gaming events, prereleases and league nights, the core appeal is that you can drop in any day to choose from hundreds of games and play at your pace, making it a great hangout for kids, teens and adults alike. It is easy to organize casual meet‑ups (like board game afternoons), and the friendly staff can help you find games that suit your group.
Public swim sessions at Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds pools
Schedules vary, see pool sites for details.
Open swim sessions generally charge a fee of less than $10 per person.
We’re lucky to live in a region with multiple indoor and outdoor heated pools to help us get some recreation in during the dark, rainy months. My family has a membership to the Lynnwood Rec Center, and we love attending the open swim sessions for a fun, budget-friendly outing.
- Lynnwood Rec Center Pool: Multiple open swim and rec swim sessions happen each week, featuring a recreation pool with two water slides, a lazy river, water playground, spray features and more. See the pool schedule and register ahead to reserve your spot.
- Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion Pool: Warm water, a lazy river, sauna and more. What’s not to love? See the full schedule to plan your visit.
- Yost Pool in Edmonds: Yost has limited open swim sessions during this season but makes for a fun outside option for people who want to experience a heated pool outdoors. See the full schedule to plan a visit.
Beginner skate lessons at Lynnwood Bowl & Skate
Lessons 11 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Drop-in sessions 11 a.m. to noon Sundays at
6210 200th St. SW. in Lynnwood.
Please note that this week’s schedule may be affected by Easter. Call to confirm.
Sign up for weekly lessons for kids and adults. Lessons include a 30‑minute instruction period followed by 30 minutes of practice, taught by national‑level coach Ezra Thompson. Learn skills like balance, stopping and forward and backward skating, with more advanced skills offered in a Level 2 course.
A four-week session costs $120, including open skate time. There’s also a Sunday drop-in option for $30 that includes a practice session.
Public skate sessions at Lynnwood Ice Center
19803 68th Ave. W. in Lynnwood
Whether your family loves skating, hockey or just trying something new, the Lynnwood Ice Center has something for everyone, including open skate sessions and stick-and-puck sessions and even “theater on ice.” It’s a safe and welcoming spot for all ages to enjoy some time on the rink.
Seattle Skating Club offers skate lessons for people ages 3.5 and up and of varying skill levels. Explore their lessons schedule and sign up for future sessions.
Note that all visitors must pay ahead through their digital system. See the full calendar to find a session that works for your schedule this week.
Resources for Families
Snohomish County resource list
Not sure which resources you need? This list can help you see the options. The Snohomish County Community Resource List provides contact information for more than 300 local services, including emergency assistance, legal aid, youth and family support, mental health resources, financial help and immigration services.
211 North Sound – Snohomish County resource line
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Call: 211
Text: 211WAOD to 898211
211 North Sound connects residents of Snohomish, Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties to a comprehensive range of community services. Trained specialists provide free, confidential assistance in over 140 languages, offering referrals for housing, food, healthcare, childcare, crisis support and more.
In Snohomish County, 211 also supports initiatives like the Homeless Coordinated Entry and Emergency Rental Assistance programs. For specialized support, including assistance for individuals with traumatic brain injuries, call 211 and follow the prompts for TBI services.
Family support through Edmonds School District
The Edmonds School District offers a dedicated Family Support Resource Line to assist families in need. You can reach them at 425-431-1454 or via email at [email protected]. Family Resource Advocates are available to provide holistic support and help families access community resources. For more information, visit the district’s Family Support page.
Snohomish County Human Services
Snohomish County Human Services offers a wide range of programs to help families in our region meet basic needs and support overall well-being. Services include early childhood programs like Early Head Start and ECEAP, family support resources for caregivers, behavioral health counseling and 24/7 crisis services, housing and energy assistance through the Community Action Partnership and specialized support for veterans and their families.
Edmonds Human Services: Resources for Edmonds residents
Edmonds Human Services is a helpful resource for any Edmonds resident facing financial, mental health, housing or other personal challenges. With a range of supports – including food and housing aid to college student services, veteran and senior help, suicide prevention (including 988 lifeline access) – this department connects people to local and county resources tailored to improve quality of life.
Local food banks
Families in need can turn to several neighborhood food banks for weekly groceries and fresh produce. Each food bank serves residents in its surrounding area with easy pickup times and volunteer support:
Domestic violence resources
For families experiencing domestic violence, several local organizations offer confidential support and emergency shelter services:
- DVS-SnoCo provides a 24/7 crisis line at 425-252-2873, offering emergency shelter, legal advocacy, safety planning and support for individuals and families affected by intimate partner violence.
- YWCA Pathways for Women
Located in Lynnwood, this 45-day emergency shelter offers safe housing and resources for women and families experiencing homelessness, including those fleeing domestic violence. - If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Youth ride public transit free!
Kids and teens 18 and under can ride buses, ferry and light rail for free. No pass is required. Want tap-and-go convenience? Get a free Youth ORCA card online or at the Ride Store.
Share the fun!
Wherever your adventures take you, I hope this roundup helps you find fun, affordable, and meaningful ways to connect and enjoy the season. Have an event or suggestion? Want to share your reels from a recent outing to be featured here? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below to get in touch. Don’t forget to check back every Monday for fresh ideas.
Rory Graves is a local writer, editor and parent of three teens who loves helping families find fun, meaningful ways to connect with their community. She covers family-friendly events, local resources, and creative outings around South Snohomish County. When she’s not exploring the region, you can find her cheering at one of her kids’ games, thrifting or curled up with a good book and some tea.
Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.
By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.