Family Fun at the Seattle Boat Show: Activities for All Ages

One of the best parts of boating is creating memories with the people you love, so why not make your boat show experience the same? With show-sponsored events for young boaters and their families, along with nearby family fun, the Seattle Boat Show can be an exciting event for the whole family.

Youth Boating Center

(Activities daily)

Young sailors and their families are invited to begin their boating adventures at the Youth Boating Center found in Booth East 1400 (Seattle Boat Show Map). They will be greeted with volunteers from various organizations providing educational information on boat building, propulsion, sailing opportunities, knot tying and more!

Highlights include:

• Youth Sailing Center: Sailing Foundation and Non-Profit Sailing Organizations
• Beach Camp @ Sunset Bay Wharf: Marine Science and Outdoor Education Programs
• Toy Boat Building: Hands on project where kids can build their own Toy Boat 
• Aqua Paddlers Boat Pool: Suggested ages 3-8. Life jackets provided and required. 

Pedal Boat Cup

(Daily)

In honor of Seattle’s iconic hydroplane races, the Seattle Boat Show is recreating all the excitement with human powered “hydroplanes”–pedal boats on wheels. Contestants will navigate the “waters” of Lumen Field Event Center, competing for the fastest time around the race course. Daily prizes will be awarded, with the Grand Prize being a Yellow Section Broadside Tie on the Seafair Log Boom where you can enjoy the best views of hydros and the Blue Angels.

Win Seahawks Tickets

(Daily)

Learn more about the Southern Resident orcas that use the Salish Sea as their playground and take the pledge to support these amazing creatures. By making a simple promise, you could score tickets to see the Seattle Seahawks live during the 2024 season! Visit the Be Whale Wise booth (West 56) to make the pledge and enter the drawing.

Boat Building Demo

(Daily)

Watch a full-size rowing/sailing dinghy be built from a plywood kit over the 9-day run of the boat show. Volunteers from local non-profit organizations will be helping with the build, showing how the build is a great project for the whole family! At the end of the show, the boat will be raffled off to one lucky family! Stop by the booth (East 1326), across from the Kids Zone. 

Free Chowder at Bell Harbor Marina

(Monday - Friday)

After checking out the big boats at Bell Harbor Marina, pop into Anthony’s Pier 66 & Bell Street Diner for a free cup of clam chowder. Offered to Seattle Boat Show ticket-holders on Monday through Friday from 12:00 - 3:00 pm.  

Lemons for Good

(Saturdays and Sunday)

Enjoy refreshing FREE lemonade on Saturday(s) and Sunday from 12 - 3 pm, served by a dynamic duo of young entrepreneurs! As the only floating lemonade stand on Lake Union, Lemons for Good is owned and operated by sisters Kate (13 years) and Quinn (10 years). Come admire their innovative creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. 

To see when Lemons for Good will be selling lemonade on Lake Union this summer, follow them on Instagram @lemonsforgood

Groundhog Day

(February 2)

Meet Boat Show Bill, Punxsutawney Phil’s cousin, as he roams the halls of the Seattle Boat Show on Friday, February 2, and makes predictions for spring and summer boating in the Pacific Northwest.

You and your family can also participate in the boat show’s Groundhog Day Scavenger Hunt. Find a photo of Bill Murray (there will be one in each hall) for a chance to win a Groundhog Day-themed gift basket. If you find Bill, stop by the information booth before you leave where you can exchange his whereabouts for an entry into the gift basket drawing.

Dogs on Deck

(February 8)

Everyone knows that your dog is a valued member of the family, so bring it along to the boat show! On Thursday, February 8, you and your dog(s) can stroll the show, get a photo in the photo booth, and have a custom dog tag made. No special ticket is required, just show up with your dog at any of the show entrances and fill out a waiver.

Other family-friendly spots near the Seattle Boat Show

• Pike Place Market - A historic market famous for its “flying fish”, stalls, and shops.
• Seattle Aquarium - Keep your nautical education rolling with a visit to the aquarium. It specializes in aquatic life from the Pacific Northwest including seals, otters, and a resident giant pacific octopus.
• The Seattle Great Wheel - This 175-foot Ferris wheel sticks out over the water of Pier 57 and offers fantastic views of downtown Seattle, and on clear days, the Olympic Range.
• Wings over Washington - Take a ride in the state-of-the-art “flying theater” that will transport you on an aerial adventure above scenic and beautiful Washington state.
• Space Needle - Built for the 1962 World Fair, this iconic structure dominates Seattle’s skyline. Don’t miss the 360-degree city views from the top!
• Artists at Play Playground - The perfect place for kids to get their wiggles out. This impressive playground includes a 30-foot climbing tower in the center, musical instruments, listening stations, sound swings, and more!
• Museum of Pop Culture - Dedicated to everything “pop”, this museum features everything from music to film to games, and more in between! 
• Seattle Children’s Museum - Aimed at children aged 6 months to 8 years, this museum has plenty of hands-on exhibits, from dressing up to building.
• Pacific Science Center - With plenty of interactive exhibits, this center includes a planetarium, butterfly house, IMAX screens, VR, and a laser dome.

Whether you’re looking for a deal on a new boat or simply browsing everything the boat show has to offer, you can make the Seattle Boat Show fun for the entire family. Come visit us and start planning that perfect Pacific Northwest summer.