Ways to take the labor out of Labor Day fun
Published 1:30 am Friday, September 2, 2016
Ferry lines will be long. Pools packed. Kids bouncing off the walls.
Labor Day weekend is right. That last fling of summer can be laborious.
Here are some ideas to beat the crowds and in some cases join them.
Get inside
Enjoy dinner, drinks and a movie — all at the same time — at Cinebarre, a Mountlake Terrace movie complex with screening rooms for ages 21 and older. Food and drinks are delivered to your seat during the show. There’s a full service bar in the lobby and no noisy teens or gummy bears stuck to the chair. Cinebarre: 6009 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace, 425-672-7501; www.regmovies.com.
Stroll around Tulalip Resort Casino, which has restaurants, luxury accommodations, spa amenities, entertainment and, of course, gambling.
Want something tangible for your money? Nearby is Seattle Premium Outlets.
Malls and many stores (but not Costco) are open on Labor Day. It’s a good time to get summer clothes for cheap and start stocking up on the latest fall fashions.
Get out
Go wander around Lord Hill Regional Park, 12921 150th St. SE, Snohomish. The parking lot might get busy, but there are miles of trails to wander and plenty of room to find some peace and quiet.
Drive the Mountain Loop Highway. It’s a lovely drive and there are many places to pull over for a picnic. Remember it’s partially dirt and has no services. Get gas/food/water before you go. Popular trails will be busy, but still with plenty of room to spread out.
Hike either way as long or short as you want at Pacific Crest Trail from the Stevens Pass part at the ski area.
Aim high
There will be 65 pilots and aircraft, big band dance and more at Vintage Aircraft Weekend, Sept. 2, 3 and 4 at Historic Flight Foundation, 10719 Bernie Webber Drive, Mukilteo; vintageaircraftweekend.org.
Frolic at the fairs
Ride, play games, check out the animals, people watch and have a Purple Cow at Evergreen State Fair, through Sept. 5, Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. Visit www.evergreenfair.org to plot and plan your venture.
Do the Puyallup at Washington State Fair: through 25, Puyallup Fair and Events Center, Puyallup. Animals, contests, carnival, live entertainment and more. General fair admission $9 and $12.50, free for ages 5 and younger. Separate concert and rodeo fees. More by calling 253-841-5045 or at www.thefair.com.
Catch Pokémon
Go new places to catch new pocket monsters. Look for Pokéstops and join all the people wandering around glued to their phones. Watch where you are going. You don’t want to fall and get hurt. Hospital ERs and some urgent care centers will be open on Monday, but medical offices will be closed, so the wait could be long.
Escape to Seattle
Bumbershoot, Sept. 2, 3 and 4. Celebrate the end of summer at Bumbershoot, a festival of music, film, comedy, and arts on Labor Day weekend in 17 venues at Seattle Center, including a main stage in Memorial Stadium. Films at Bumbershoot: Watch short films and documentaries at 1 Reel Film Festival at the Seattle Center, included at no extra cost with a Bumbershoot ticket.
The Seattle Art Museum: See the 48-foot tall Hammering Man statue outside the museum stand motionless. Labor Day is the only day of the year Hammering Man gets a break from swinging his arm 24/7 the rest of the year. www.seattleartmuseum.org
Last chance
The Schack Art Center exhibit by Chuck Close, internationally renowned artist from Everett, is coming to a close. The “Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration” touring exhibition ends Sept. 5 at the Schack, 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett. General admission is $10; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Labor Day. Books about Close are offered for sale. More at www.schack.org.
See the winged beauties at Molbak’s Butterfly Garden at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle until Sept. 13. Walk through the gardens and admire native North American butterflies. An arching tent structure encloses a landscape of 3,000 square feet with 500 free-flying butterflies representing 15 species native to North America. More at www.zoo.org.
Jetty Island. OK, so this might be crowded, but it is the last weekend to escape to the Riviera of the Pacific Northwest. Ferries run 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Labor Day; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, at 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive, Everett. To make reservations call 425-257-8304. Celebratory clean-up on Labor Day with Smokey Bear. Local Scout troop color guard will lower the flags for the closing celebration. Trash bash starts at noon with closing ceremonies at 4 p.m. More at everettwa.gov/jettyisland.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter:@reporterbrown.
