Fall fun in full swing this weekend: Booville at Wild Waves, festivals, free trails, and more!

Fall is officially here, and while you might think that means we’re slowing down, that’s far from the case.

Fall kicks off at the Seattle Center

Pizza tosses, bocce ball, live painting, grape stomping, and so much more are part of the activities for the Italian Festival at the Seattle Center Armory this weekend. Festál continues, and this weekend’s celebration is all about Italy, where in addition to all the activities, there will also be vendors to shop from, live music to enjoy, Italian language classes, and of course plenty of great things to eat and drink. The Italian Festival is free to attend and runs Saturday and Sunday.

Speaking of the Seattle Center, the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall will be hosting the Northwest Tea Festival 2026. Here you can sample teas from around the world, including teas that might be on the fancier side, plus listen to panels discuss the industry and shop for all the things you or the warm beverage lover in your life might need from the world of tea. More info can be found on Northwest Tea Festival’s website. You will need a ticket to attend the festival.

Wild Waves, a night market, and circus arts

While you might be out of time to enjoy the water park, Wild Waves still has one more season of fun for folks. Booville starts this weekend, complete with daytime trick-or-treating, face painting, and lots more family-friendly fun. The scares will start next weekend when Fright Fest kicks off the final month of operation of the park. A reminder: the theme park is still open, and you’ll want to check out Wild Waves’ website for important details about dates and tickets.

The Chinatown-International District is hosting a free night market this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. This annual street festival will bring the neighborhood to life with food and other vendors, a variety of live dances from different areas of Asia and the world, martial arts demonstrations, and plenty more. The 19th annual CID Night Market is free to attend and is open to all ages.

You can watch performers soar through the air and learn a thing or two about the circus arts during Sancafest. This is an annual event put on by the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, where they welcome you to an open house complete with tumbling, juggling, and plenty more. This event will be hands-on and encourage you to give the circus arts a try during the mini circus class rotations — no experience is necessary. Tickets are free, but you’ll want to snag one of the free ones online so you can register ahead of time. Sancafest is Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at SANCA in Georgetown.

Sustainability, free trails, and fixing your broken stuff

You can learn how to live a more sustainable life at a couple of events this weekend. Ballard will be hosting the Sustainable Ballard Festival on Saturday, which will feature live music and food trucks, but also activities, exhibits, and workshops that will help you learn about the world of sustainability and some tips and tricks you can bring home to your friends and family. The Sustainable Ballard Festival will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Loyal Heights Community Center.

Sustainamania will be in the plaza of City Hall in Bothell. Here you can get your broken items repaired. Their website has a full list. While that’s going on, you can check out the available crafts, live music, and games that make up the rest of the event. There will also be a touch-a-truck event for the kids. Sustainamania is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both of these events are free to attend.

In case you are trying to get outside this weekend, Saturday is National Public Lands Day, so that means no Discover Pass is required at your favorite trail. As always, make sure you plan ahead for crowds!

The fall fun is just getting started. What’s your favorite thing to do this time of year? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.