Family fun and learning blast into overdrive at the Summer Splash! Festival of Fun. Bring the whole family to downtown Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum for a new adventure each week through Labor Day.

The Summer Splash! Festival includes themed adventures, visiting artists, animal encounters, special guests, stage performers and awesome activities for kids of all ages. Festival fun is included in the price of admission or free for current members, so come ready to have fun indoors and out.

kid smiling with a plant of dirt, leaves and flowers
Downtown Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum’s Summer Splash is going on now through September 2, 2024. Photo courtesy: Hands On Children’s Museum

Bubbles, Crafts, Animals, Mermaids and Global Cultures at the Hands On Children’s Museum

“There are fun things to do every day at the Summer Splash! Festival,” says Hands On Children’s Museum’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Senior Manager Beth Garson. “You can come back every week for a different experience that everyone will enjoy.”

The Festival is sponsored by WSECU, and next year will be their 10th anniversary. For 2024, there are returning fan favorites, exciting new finds and plenty of learning through play. From aerialist circus performers to Native American storytellers and therapy horses to an instrument petting zoo, your kids can spend the day playing, learning, exploring and delighting in the magic of Summer Splash!

a little girl brushes a black and white spotted goat
From animals to instrument petting zoos, mermaids to medicinal plants, there’s something for everyone at the Hands On Children’s Museum’s Summer Splash! Photo courtesy: Hands On Children’s Museum

Daily and Weekly Children’s Activities in Olympia All Summer Long

Some regularly scheduled fun is ongoing, while other events take place once or twice during the Festival. Here are a few exciting things, so mark your calendar now.

  • Mud Pie Mondays through September 2
  • Kitchen Tool Tuesdays through August 27
  • Science Hour with Dr. Science: Wednesdays through August 28
  • Nature Play: Thursday–Saturday through August 31
  • Treasure Sluice: daily
  • Sock Skating: daily through Aug 14
  • Art Studio: daily

Monthly highlights include some first-time fun and beloved fan favorites. The Festival kicked off on June 22 with the 92nd annual Olympia Pet Parade, then the Fire Rescue Spectacular on July 13, complete with free street fair activities like vintage fire trucks to explore, meet-and-greets with Sparky the Fire Dog and Smokey the Bear, free popsicles and a spray gallery. Summer Adventures continue through August and are sponsored by Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry.

a man shows how to weave a hat
Check out the Summer Splash! schedule for daily and weekly activities, crafts, educational sessions, animal encounters, and so much more. Photo courtesy: Hands On Children’s Museum

Coming up in August

  • Bubble Mania: August 1–31
  • Sailboat Regatta: August 1-18
  • See the Raptor Ambassadors with The Falconer: August 2
  • Tidal zone touch tank with Puget Sound Estuarium: August 2
  • Block Printmaking with visiting artist Mimi Williams: August 2-3
  • Spinning wheel demo and drop spinning with Rowan Green: August 7
  • Meet therapy horses with Heartstrides Therapeutic Horsemanship: August 8
  • See dance & musical performances and learn Japanese Taiko drumming with Japan Creative Arts/The School of Taiko: August 9
  • Cedar weaving demonstration with Nisqually artist Hanford McCloud: August 10
  • Garden Fun with Flower the Farmer: August 14, 21, 28
  • Japanese calligraphy with Chiyo Sanada: August 14 & 15
  • Climb a 25-foot rock wall with Mini Mountain: August 16-17
  • Mermaid meet and greet with Olive the Alchemist: August 16
  • Experience the Instrument Petting Zoo with the SOGO: August 17
  • Native American Storytelling with Itsa Shash: August 23
  • Meet real farm animals with Animal Encounters: August 29
  • Explore nature fun and garden recipes with Nature Nurture Farmacy: August 30
  • Pottery wheel demos and pinch pot making with Alan and Annie Perillo: August 30
kids playon on Taiko Japeneses drums
Summer Splash! activities are included with paid admission or membership, so head down for some new finds and returning fan favorites. Photo courtesy: Hands On Children’s Museum

Check out Hands On Children’s Museum’s event, Facebook and Instagram pages for additional activities as they’re added.

The Hands On Children’s Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission discounts are available for military families, grandparents, and EBT card holders. Plus, everyone pays just $1 to play on the First Friday of the month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Consider joining so you don’t miss a thing.

Like summer, childhood flies by. Enjoy each moment by spending time together at Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum. You’ll make memories that last forever.

Hands On Children’s Museum
414 Jefferson NE, Olympia
360.956.0818

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