Pike Place Market- Fall Season

by Pam Koons

Celebrate Seattle’s fall season by taking your preschooler to enjoy Seattle’s long-time family destination, Pike Place Farmer's Market. Packed with so many free harvest time activities to see, hear, do, taste and smell, your preschooler will feel like they have taken a fun mini-vacation by spending a gorgeous fall day at Pike Place Farmer’s Market.

Highlights Your Preschooler will Love at Pike Place Market

Home Grown Seasonal Goodies
Your preschooler will enjoy seeing the produce vendors’ colorful and visually pleasing displays. The inviting produce has delighted preschoolers and their families for almost 100 years! Enthusiastic vendors are very friendly and will sell even the smallest amounts to preschoolers. Be sure to pick up some of the best locally grown vegetables, fruit, flowers and cheeses for your fall feasts. Shop with the upcoming holidays in mind!

The Street Performers
Balloons, jugglers, puppeteers, face painters, orators and talented street musicians of all kinds will cater to your preschooler. Be sure to stop, look and listen and bring some change to put in their caps.

The Food Samples
Yummy for your preschooler's tummy! Located in the north Market, your preschooler can sample all kinds of dried fruits, jams, chocolates, flavored almonds, apple butter, blueberry syrups, fresh fruits, honeycomb, cheeses, seafood, jerky, sausages, and so much more. Stop by 'Blue Moon Tea' for a free cup of the famous Market Spice Tea (main floor)!

The Famous Fish Mongers
Who wouldn’t want to watch a large slimy fish go flying through the air? These fish-folks put on quite an astonishing show and are quite adept at handling preschoolers! Make sure to also check out the many varieties of displayed fish on ice- some with their mouths pried wide open! Market fish recipes here.

Six Children’s Toy Stores!


Featuring many hand-made items that are whimsical and unique, your preschooler will enjoy six very different toy stores. Many will have their toys spread out on the ground for preschoolers to play with. This makes for a great momentary babysitter. Be sure to visit 'The Great Wind-Up' on the main floor. The store features wind-up toys of all sorts and fun for all ages!

What Parents will Love about Pike Place Market

The Bakeries
The Market's delicious bakeries will tickle your preschooler’s sweet tooth! From family-sized cinnamon rolls to specialty cookies and rustic breads, your preschooler will have plenty of gooey goodies to choose from. There is even a vegan and gluten-free bakery called 'The Cinnamon Works'!

The Specialty Food Shopping

The Market features a true variety of delicious ethnic foods in the main stalls, with several ethnic grocery stores. Check out 'DeLaurenti's' and see edible snails! Watch donuts being made at 'Daily Dozen Donut Holes'. Taste chocolate covered cherries at 'Chukar Cherries'!

The Craft Market Stalls
See the Market's Craft artisans at work, demonstrating their handmade wares for both home and family. Preschoolers will find playful and unusual things here. Buy with cash as it's much easier for the vendors. You can also pick up great Seattle t-shirts and other city items here. 

Family-Friendly Great Restaurants

These Pike Place eateries are noted here for their friendliness to preschoolers, appropriate menu selection and easy accessibility within the Market:
Sister’s Café- Sit-down sandwich food (Post Alley). Open 8-6.
Lowell’s Restaurant- Sit-down cafeteria food (Main alley). Open 7-9.
Cutter’s Restaurant- Sit-down seafood/sushi. (very north end). Open 7-10.
Three Girl’s Bakery- Walk-up fantastic desserts (Market Alley). Open 8-6.
Cinnamon Works Bakery- Walk-up goodies (Alley). Gluten-free. Open 9-6.

What Parents Should Know about Pike Place Market

For serious shopping, leave your preschooler at home! The peripheral places at the Market are best for preschoolers. Here are some helpful “Insider Tips” for doing Pike Place Market with preschoolers.

Do not let your preschooler touch any of the produce unless invited. The vendors frown on this. If your preschooler wants to feel something, just ask first!

Avoid getting lost at the Down-Under shops. There are often un-family friendly people hanging around! Since the toy stores are mainly Down-Under, having a Market map and knowing where to go is a good idea!

The diverse crowds and variety of people may be daunting for a shy preschooler. However, this can also stimulate wonderful cultural and ethnic conversation. Come early to avoid the riff-raff. On-line tours are available for familiarity.

Strollers are helpful, but often difficult to use. Front- or backpacks are best. Gear up your preschooler beforehand by getting good rest. There is a grassy fresh air park located at the north end which is very handy for rest stops and picnics (note: public city park - no play equipment).

Note: Market restrooms have long been a sore subject with visitors. As the restrooms are very public, they are not clean. Using bathrooms where you eat is a much better idea. Bring wipes just in case of emergencies.

General Information about Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market (directions)
Downtown Seattle, Pike and Pine Streets
Mon-Sat: 10am to 6pm. Sun: 11am to 5pm.
An information booth is below the big sign at main entrance. Market map

Parking
There is a huge main parking garage/sky bridge at: 1531 Western Ave. Others are on First Ave. or under the Viaduct towards the end of Blanchard Street. On-street metered parking is available if you are lucky! Remember that walking to is easier than walking back!

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