April 18, 2025 |

Urban Bird Watching Workshop

Curious about the birds in Tukwila’s backyard? 

Join Tukwila Parks for Birding Basics with Washington Department of Fish & WIldlife’s Watchable Wildlife Coordinator, Kelsey Hansen! This free workshop is perfect for anyone interested in learning how to identify local bird species and kick off their birding journey with confidence.

You’ll get:

  • Tips on bird identification
  • Insights into common species in your area
  • Hands-on practice with binoculars (provided!)
  • Helpful resources to continue birding on your own

All skill sets and ages are welcome. 

October 4, 2024 |

Tukwila Parks’ Halloween Carnival

Let the ghoul times roll! Join Tukwila Parks & Recreation for an all ages halloween carnival to celebrate the fall season. Come dressed in your best costume and join in on the fun! Activities will include a haunted walk, pumpkin painting, carnival games, inflatable bouncers, a toddler room, a photo booth, and of course s’mores, candy, and refreshments!

August 22, 2024 |

Bat Walk and Workshop

Join Bats Northwest, Green Tukwila, and Woodland Park Zoo for a bat workshop and outdoor walk around the Tukwila Community Center! You’ll learn all about local bat populations and how you can help them through the Bat Activity Trends (BAT) community science program.

They’ll cover questions like: Why are bats important? Where do they live? Are there bats in my neighborhood? How do I know when there is a bat in the sky above me? Where and when are bats active around western Washington?

This event is perfect for any bird and wildlife enthusiasts who want to learn more about our own backyard. The two-hour workshop is completely free, but registration is required. Signup now before it books up! Register here. 

Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for outdoor weather. 

July 23, 2024 | Activities

The Ultimate Summer Guide to Kid-Friendly Fun in Tukwila

We’re about halfway through summer break, and if you’re like most parents or care providers, you might be scrambling to find new and exciting ways to keep the kids entertained during the summer school break. 

Tukwila has got you covered. From staying cool inside to soaking up the sun, we’ve curated the ultimate list of summer activities and events that will keep young and old kids happy and your sanity intact. Whether your kids are water lovers, gamers, outdoor adventurers, music lovers, or bookworms, Tukwila has something for everyone. So, let’s keep summer rolling and create more unforgettable memories.

Activities for when you need a break from the sun

  1. Seattle Chocolate Factory Tour — Kids can experience their own Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment! But don’t worry, there are no chocolate rivers, garbage chutes, magic chewing gum, or shrinking machines to worry about here. Instead, learn about the history and origins of chocolate, get a look inside the factory, and sample delicious chocolate creations. Tours available Monday – Saturday at 10:00am, 12:00pm, and 2:00pm. Book your tour here. 
  2. The Museum of Flight — Stay cool in the AC and explore the wonders of the Museum of Flight. There’s so much to see you’ll want to keep coming back! Consider becoming a member. Open daily 10:00am – 5:00pm. Check out the latest events and exhibits on their website. 
  3. Tukwila Pool — Take to the water and leave the sunscreen stress at home! Tukwila’s indoor pool has daily family swim times for kids to practice swimming and have fun in the water. For the gung-ho swimmers, consider signing your kid up for the Mako Sharks Swim Club — a recreational swim team for ages 6-17. Visit their website for more information.
  4. Jump, Fly, Race — Stay active indoors! Visit a giant indoor trampoline park at Sky Zone, experience new heights and indoor skydiving at iFLY, and take to the indoor race tracks at Sykart. These activities are sure to thrill and put a smile on your kid’s face.
  5. Gaming in Tukwila — Tukwila offers a variety of locations to engage families and friends in a little friendly competition. Explore the arcade and bowling alleys at  Round 1 and Bowlero, experience virtual reality gameplay at Dimension XR, or dive into a new dimension and build community at Legacy Gaming — complete with a dedicated Kid Zone for young gamers!
  6. AMC Southcenter — Put up your feet, relax in AC, munch on some popcorn, and enjoy a classic summer pastime — going to the movies! Notable current and upcoming kids movies include Despicable Me 4, Inside Out 2, The Secret Life of Pets, Migration, and more! AMC also offers a Summer Movie Camp program, where you can score family-favorite flicks for just $3 a ticket.

Activities for getting outside 

  1. Tukwila Family Fun Center — No list of kids activity recommendations is complete without the Family Fun Center. They’ve got it all — choose from mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats, and batting cages. And when you need a break from the sun, head on over to the indoor arcade, grab your friends for a round of laser tag, or set up your young ones in the Kidopolis Playland. Young kids, big kids, and adult kids will all find a good time here. Open daily at 11:00am. More details here.
  2. Tukwila Concerts in the Park Series — Tukwila’s free concert in the park series kicks off this month! Grab some lawn chairs, pack some snacks, and enjoy fun, inclusive, and interactive music for children and adults. Free outdoor concerts at Joseph Foster Memorial Park will start at 5:30pm on 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, and 8/14, and feature different local artists. Food trucks will also be available! View more details on the artist lineup here. 
  3. Tukwila Village Farmers Market — Get to the source. Talk with the farmers and see the beautiful food they produce. Build an appreciation for fresh, locally-grown food at a young age by picking out fruits and vegetables for the week. Visit our blog for more on the Tukwila Village Farmers Market. The market occurs every Wednesday from 4:00-7:00pm at Tukwila Village.
  4. Tukwila Community Center Spray Park — This outdoor water park is free to everyone and full of water fun, with fountains and spray features. Nearby picnic tables and a grassy seating area make it the perfect place to spend the whole afternoon. Basketball courts and a skate park are right around the corner if that’s more your kid’s style. The Spray Park is open daily from 10:00am – 8:00pm.
  5. Tukwila Park Tours — Join Green Tukwila on a tour of our local parks. Explore Tukwila’s public parks and learn about the site’s history and the plants and trees that make it special. Plus you’ll get to meet some cool people while you’re at it!  The next tour will take place on August 23 from 10:00 – 11:30am. Visit this link for more dates and info!
  6. Volunteer with Green Tukwila — The perfect activity to do with older kids. Teach them about community stewardship and have fun while doing it! Opportunities include a Kayak cleanup, where participants will float down the Duwamish removing surface debris. View and register for upcoming volunteer events here. 

As you can see, Tukwila is bursting with fantastic summer activities that are sure to keep your kids entertained and active all summer long. Whether you’re looking to cool off indoors or bask in the sunshine, there’s no shortage of options to create lasting memories with your young ones.

For more inspiration, visit our Activities and Events pages. Make sure you also follow us on socials to stay up to date on the latest city happenings — you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn! 

July 23, 2024 |

Concert in the Park: Eléré

Get ready for this summer’s third Concert in the Park event. This week features the incredibly fun Eléré — an eight-piece salsa band founded by percussionist and vocalist Daniel “el buho” Mendoza. Their original music contains messages of the healing power of nature, meditation and storytelling that is characteristic of Salsa lyrics, and plays a homage to the Pacific Northwest roots of the group. Accompanying these inspired lyrics are tight horn lines and a vibrant rhythm section. 

Bring your picnic blanket, lawn chairs, and snacks and prepare to move your body to the rhythm! 

Check them out on YouTube and get excited!

July 23, 2024 |

Concert in the Park: Amelia Day & The Cloves

What better way to celebrate making it halfway through the week than with a FREE outdoor concert! Soak up the evening sun while witnessing a folk-rock collaboration between Washington-born, Nashville-based artist Amelia Day and Seattle-area band The Cloves. The ensemble features electric piano, cello, and lush harmonies. 

They’ve headlined at Seattle’s The Triple Door and McMenamin’s Spanish Ballroom, and now they’ll headline Tukwila’s Joseph Foster Memorial Park! 

Bring the picnic blankets and the snacks and hang out for an evening of fun and music! 

If you want a preview of what’s in store, check out Amelia Day & The Cloves on YouTube below!

July 23, 2024 |

Volunteer With Green Tukwila

Looking for a way to get outside this fall and provide a helping hand? Check out the amazing volunteer and education opportunities put on by the Green Tukwila Partnership. 

October Events: 

    • October 8: Planting at Riverton Park — Join local neighbor and forest Steward Debbie for an afternoon impacting the environment. Invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry threaten Riverton Park’s large trees, which are essential habitats for large raptors and wildlife. We aim to reestablish a healthy urban forest bordering the community park. 
    • October 10: Planting at Cottonwood Corner — Join local Forest Steward Heidi Watters for Planting Season. Crews have worked all year, clearing and mulching to make room for new plants and trees. Heidi will show you everything you need to know about planting a forest next to a creek.
    • October 19: Duwamish Alive — Spend the day planting with Friends of the Hill, volunteer Forest Stewards, and keep Duwamish Hill Preserve healthy and sustainable. Join us and hundreds of volunteers at multiple sites, for a day of working in the Duwamish Watershed.
    • October 27: Planting & Mulching Water Bearers — This event is being led by two movers and shakers in the environmental movement in South King County. Sarah Kavage, a local artist, and Daniel Collins from Nicoterra. Bring your questions about public art, weaving natural materials, plants, trees, and the health of the watershed.
    • October 31: Boo-tiful Habitat Planting — Celebrate Halloween by planting with EarthCorps and the City of Tukwila as we work to improve the Duwamish River near the Tukwila Community Center (costumes encouraged!).

November Events: 

    • November 2: Help Heal Codiga Park — Join EarthCorps and the City of Tukwila as we continue to work in the Codiga Park natural area on the Duwamish River. The shoreline of the river, however, remained dominated by invasive Himalayan blackberry and Japanese knotweed.
    • November 12: Planting at Riverton Park — Join local neighbor and forest Steward Debbie for an afternoon impacting the environment. Invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry threaten Riverton Park’s large trees, which are essential habitats for large raptors and wildlife. We aim to reestablish a healthy urban forest bordering the community park. 
    • November 16: Green Tukwila Day — Let’s come together for high fives, laughs, and some old fashion restoration! This event will focus on environmental education around healthy forests and rivers. Dig in and help plant an understory bush or shrub that will become a safe place for urban wildlife. Many hands make light work; join us for a day of fun!
    • November 22: A Walk in the Park — Come see the fall leaves in a park filled with Big Leaf Maples. Join Green Tukwila staff member Olena Perry for a walk in the park. Learn about nature, identify native plants, and discuss the importance of urban forests. Take away ideas for how everyone can support wildlife, native habitats, and our watershed in their own homes.

Sign up for these events here! 

September 28, 2023 | News

Tukwila Is Buzzing With Art

No matter where you go, the feeling in Tukwila is always electric. Whether you’re buzzing after a game-winning goal at Starfire Sports, feeling the tingle of spice from traditional Congolese food at Spice Bridge, or getting shivers gazing at a space exhibit in the Museum of Flight, every experience packs a jolt of excitement and wonder.

Even the actual electrical current that runs through our city and powers businesses and homes has been given the Tukwila treatment. Over the past few years, our city has enlisted the help of local artists to dress up utility boxes around town, using them as their very own blank canvases. The result was a bloom in creativity seen all over the city. We absolutely love coming across one of these beautiful pieces out in the wild. Take a tour of this unique urban gallery below and then go see the real pieces for yourself!

Interurban Ave South:

Transition 21

Jennifer L. Towner

All the Homes We’ve Made in the Margins

Clare Johnson

Tukwila Wildlife Relief Prints 

Susan Hass

Southcenter Boulevard:

Dancing Night

Nikita Ares

Succession 

Cable Griffith

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Hoa Hong

Tukwila International Boulevard:

Roses

Julisha Kim

Going Places

Stephanie Krimmel 

All Are Welcome 

Cecelia “Mousy DeVilla” Deleon

Southcenter Parkway

Baker Boulevard:

Seeking 

Elizabeth Gahan

Taking Flight 

Elizabeth Gahan 

Other:

Our Food Is Immigrant-Led

Sophia Fang

Full of Sparkles

Xin Xin

Rainbows of the Day & Night

Blanca Santander

Cul-De-Sac

Taylor Tingshi 

River Trail Block Party

Carmel Mercado 

Volunteer With Tukwila’s Public Art Program

Inspired by all the amazing utility box art? Well, now you too can help beautify our city with art. Simply sign up for one of the listening sessions below to learn more about the program and help us plan the future of Tukwila art!

First Community Session (virtual)
Tuesday, October 3, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Second Community Session (virtual)
Thursday, October 12, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Third Community Session (in-person, Tukwila Community Center)
Saturday, October 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Language interpretation support and activities for participants with children to be provided.

Can’t wait to see you there!

August 14, 2023 |

Back to School Beach Bash

It’s that time of year again. Time to start the long, slow goodbye to summer and begin loading up on the school supplies.

But it doesn’t have to be all gloom. In fact, it can be a party! A bash, even!

Join us at Joseph Foster Memorial Park on August 26th for a very special Back to School Beach Bash! Fun activities for all ages, including beach sand volleyball, live music, and delicious food from a local favorite—Soul Fusion Food Truck!

Hope to see you there.

August 14, 2023 |

Tukwila’s Favorite Trucks

On August 19th, Tukwila will become Truck-wila!

Come on down to Westfield Southcenter Mall to see all the amazing trucks that help drive Tukwila.

Trucks used by Tukwila Police, Tukwila Public Works, Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, Washington National Guard, and many more! This is a perfect opportunity for kids to get inspired and big kids (adults) to live out their childhood dreams!