Fall Into Something Unexpected in Seattle Southside

Meet the Seattle Southsiders: Your Next Microadventure Awaits
What will you discover in Seattle Southside? A UFO mystery? The perfect bubble tea? A hidden garden? Maybe all three. Explore Seattle Southside’s new Microadventure Mystery Boxes have arrived, featuring five collectible Seattle Southsider characters, each inspired by a different way to explore the destination—from global food and family fun to aviation, birding, bubble tea, and UFO lore.

Order a free Mystery Box to discover which character you’ll get, then scan the QR code on the bottom of your Seattle Southsider to unlock travel inspiration and the Our Favorite Things Pass, featuring exclusive savings at local restaurants and attractions—including buy-one-get-one-free offers at The Museum of Flight, Seattle Chocolate Factory Tour, and Waterland Arcade.

And there’s another reason to play along: when ordering a Mystery Box, visitors can enter to win The Ultimate Microadventure Getaway, a $1,429 prize package featuring a hotel stay, dining, and experiences at some of Seattle Southside’s top attractions. B. Tea, Chomper, Glider, Bubbles, or Herb—which Seattle Southsider will you collect first?

A Little Weird for Spooky Season: Follow the UFO Mysteries Trail
Forget haunted houses - this spooky season, investigate one of the Pacific Northwest’s strangest unsolved mysteries. Seattle Southside’s free UFO Mysteries Trail traces the 1947 Maury Island Incident, an eerie tale of flying discs, mysterious debris, and the shadowy figures that helped inspire the legend of the “Men in Black.” The mobile adventure leads visitors to locations from Des Moines to Maury Island, with stops including the Maury Island Incident Mural and an interactive UFO experience at Westfield Southcenter. Sign up for the free trail, check in as you explore, and even earn out-of-this-world prizes along the way. Skeptic or believer, it’s a fittingly strange way to celebrate spooky season.

More Time to Explore Des Moines History
The Des Moines Historical Society Museum is giving visitors more opportunities to dive into local history, expanding its hours to noon–4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Previously open seasonally with limited hours, the museum enters a new chapter under Executive Director VJ Kopacki. Inside, thousands of artifacts and images trace Des Moines’ evolution from a 19th-century logging town to a bustling vacation destination. Highlights include memorabilia from the legendary Spanish Castle dance hall—immortalized in a Jimi Hendrix song—along with vintage typewriters, telephone switchboards, toys, clothing, and other glimpses into everyday life in the region.

Des Moines Theater Takes Center Stage This Fall
The historic Des Moines Theater is coming alive with an expanding lineup of entertainment and community events this fall. From family-friendly magic shows and a new live true-crime series to Halloween festivities and events supporting local causes, the growing calendar offers plenty of reasons to make a night—or afternoon—of it in downtown Des Moines.

Upcoming events include the Command Performance Series: A True Crime Listening Event, Saturday Magic Show Matinee, Potions for the Ocean, 3rd Annual Howl-O-Ween Party, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a Halloween Party. With programming ramping up at the restored neighborhood landmark, the theater is once again becoming a gathering place in the heart of Des Moines.

Go Leaf Peeping: Seattle Southside’s Best Fall Color
You don’t have to head to the mountains - or battle the crowds - to catch some of Washington’s best fall colors. Seattle Southside’s parks, gardens, and waterfront trails come alive in shades of red, orange, and gold this time of year, making it easy to turn a crisp fall day into a close-to-home microadventure. Walk the tree-lined Des Moines Creek Trail, take in foliage against the Puget Sound backdrop at Saltwater State Park, or wander through the hidden oasis of Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. Better yet, pair your leaf-peeping with a warm drink or cozy meal nearby. Explore Seattle Southside has rounded up the best places to see the season change, along with ideas for making a day of it.

Grab the Seattle Seawolves’ Third & Final Collectible Calendar
Mark those calendars—or grab one for a Seawolves fan on your holiday list! The Seattle Seawolves are gearing up for the 2027 season, and Explore Seattle Southside is celebrating with the third edition of its annual Seawolves calendar, created in collaboration with the team. The limited-edition calendar brings fans up close with their favorite Seawolves players while showcasing the fun and personality behind Seattle’s Major League Rugby team. Set against the vibrant Seattle Southside backdrop, including the Interurban Trail and Pasifika NW Grill & Bar in Tukwila, The Pancake Chef and the Global Dining District in SeaTac, the Redondo Beach Pier, and Iris & Peony in Des Moines. With a new season ahead, there’s no better time to show your Seawolves spirit. Pair the collectible calendar with tickets to a match, and you may have just found the perfect holiday gift for the rugby fan on your list. Grab the calendar from the Seawolves online store here after November 1.

Halloween Happenings
Spooky season brings everything from cult-classic screenings and after-hours museum parties to costumes, candy, and family-friendly fun. Here are a few ways to celebrate around Seattle Southside this October.

Brew Up Fall Fun at the Pacific Bonsai Museum, October 10 and 31
Experience autumn through the lens of one of the nation's only museums dedicated exclusively to bonsai. The season begins with Brew Up a Bonsai (Oct. 10), a hands-on workshop where participants enjoy local beer, explore the art of bonsai, and create their own miniature tree to take home. The fun continues with Trunk or Treat (Oct. 31), a free family-friendly Halloween celebration featuring costumes, candy, festive activities, and the chance to enjoy the museum's beautiful grounds during peak fall color. Together, the events showcase the Pacific Bonsai Museum as a unique destination where art, nature, and community come together throughout the season.

The Great Pumpkin Night, October 16
Celebrate spooky season with a free, family-friendly evening at the SeaTac Community Center. The Great Pumpkin Night features costumes, face painting, bouncy houses, games, and crafts, along with a Costume Swap where families can pick up a new-to-you costume or accessory. The evening wraps up with a family-friendly movie and popcorn beginning at 7:30 p.m. Learn more.

Haunted Skies at The Museum of Flight, October 24
Get into the spooky spirit with a 2000s throwback at The Museum of Flight’s after-hours Halloween party, inspired by the cult classic Snakes on a Plane. The 21+ event features a 20th anniversary screening of the film, a 2000s dance party, tarot readings, flash tattoos, VR experiences, a flight simulator, a costume contest, and more. Costumes are encouraged! Tickets are $55 general admission and $50 for Museum members. Learn more and get tickets

The Museum of Fright, October 25
The Museum of Flight turns into the “Museum of Fright,” a family-friendly event with Halloween carnival-style games, activities, special displays, and other seasonal programming. Costumes are encouraged, and kids 17 and under in costume receive free admission. Learn more and find tickets here.

Halloween Glow Ball Tournament, October 31
Take Halloween onto the golf course at Pasifika NW Grill & Bar’s Halloween Glow Ball Tournament in Tukwila. The evening kicks off with a nine-hole glow-in-the-dark golf tournament, followed by a Halloween party featuring costumes, prizes, and music, with an after-party continuing into the night. Costumes are encouraged. Learn more.

Fall Foliage Festival & Plant Sale, November 7-8
Celebrate the arrival of peak autumn color at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden during this free seasonal festival. Visitors can stroll through vibrant displays of Japanese maples, deciduous azaleas, and other fall favorites while enjoying guided garden tours, plant shopping, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. The weekend also features pop-up plant vendors, a kids' scavenger hunt, and plenty of opportunities to capture stunning fall photos at one of the Pacific Northwest's premier botanical gardens. Located just a 15-20-minute walk from the Federal Way Downtown station, the garden is even more accessible via public transit with the recent light rail extension.