The world is a nutty place right now and it's pretty?overwhelming. We're taking it one day at a time over here, trying to focus on kindness, honesty and humility. A pause for pumpkins, playgrounds or pancakes with our kids sounds good — we've got all those and the rest of the best weekend ideas below. Mask up and stay strong, friends.

10 ideas for family fun this weekend and beyond:

1. Finally!?Playgrounds in City of Seattle parks have *officially* reopened for play. Read up on the rules and go get those wiggles out (ongoing).
2. Prep for Día de los Muertos with online songs and stories in Spanish, lotería?and a puppet craft; preregister to receive the Zoom link (Friday).
3. When the forecasted thunderstorms blow in, check out Storybook Theater's free online performance of "The Little Engine That Could"?— this theater is known for putting a modern, comic twist on traditional tales (Friday–Sunday).
4. Grab your kids and your coffee and head out to?feast on Swedish pancakes at Bothell Sons of Norway's drive-through pancake breakfast (Saturday).
5. It's World Mental Health Day this weekend?and Washington State Parks invite you to experience the tranquility of nature for free, with no Discover Pass required to park (Saturday).
6. Join a virtual Luminata fest this year to celebrate autumn with light. Get creative with lanterns, light art or costumes and tune in to share (Saturday).
7. Take a virtual trip to Turkey with Turkfest, featuring music performances, shadow theater and cooking demos, all online (Sunday).
8. Learn about — and support — global initiatives to empower women and girls around the world on International Day of the Girl Child (Sunday).
9. Head to Kelsey Creek Farm for a new pop-up story walk featuring a tale about?loveable bunnies?who encounter a friendly monster (ongoing).
10. Another new story walk invites South Sound-area families to Decatur Woods Park to stroll and read "Tiny Perfect Things" (ongoing).

More any-time fun ideas:

• Scare yourself silly in one of the region's frightful haunted attractions, reinvented to adhere to COVID safety guidelines.
• Looking for indoor fun? Book a visit to the dino-tastic reopened Burke Museum or teen and tween favorite MoPop.
• Try for a sun break and book a visit to the pumpkin patch; check out our list of Seattle- and Eastside-area pumpkin patches and South Sound-area pumpkin patches.
• Catch another sun break, or just suit up for the weather, and head outside; we've got guides to Seattle and Eastside fall family hikes?and South Sound?fall family hikes.

Our family fun calendar now features great virtual events alongside?in-person events! There are plenty of engaging activities to fill your days with fun. If you do go out, please stay safe — which includes mandatory wearing of face coverings in public spaces.