Happening all weekend long
Shakespeare at the Market – Friday, May 9, Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11. Seating at 6:30 p.m.; show at 7 p.m. Join Present Company for Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing on the Whole Foods rooftop! All ages welcome. Be sure to arrive early for the pre-show. FREE with a $10 suggested donation. RSVPs are encouraged. Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin.
Ballet Austin’s The Sleeping Beauty- Friday, May 9 at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 10 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. Let yourself get swept away into a sublime world of kings, queens, fairy godmothers and storybook creatures. The timeless tale of The Sleeping Beauty comes to life in the most majestic classical ballet of all time, set to Tchaikovsky’s fabulous and familiar score. On Mother’s Day weekend, experience this gorgeous production featuring grand sets and exquisite costumes. You’ll enjoy special appearances by fairy tale favorites like Puss-In-Boots and Little Red Riding Hood. And of course, that kiss from the handsome prince will create a memory to cherish happily ever after. Tickets: starting at $12. Long Center for Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive.
Shakespeare in the Park – Friday, May 9, Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 at 8 p.m. Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater in coordination with Austin Shakespeare present William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, a romantic comedy. FREE admission. Audience in costume welcome! Zilker Hillside Theatre, 2206 William Barton Drive, Austin.
Gelato World Tour - Friday, May 9, from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sixteen of the best gelato artisans chefs from the United States will compete to create the world’s best gelato flavor. Catch all the action live while each chef will produce a unique flavor right in front of your eyes. Gelato World Tour is open to the public, with FREE entry. You can participate in FREE gelato demonstrations to learn about the culture of gelato, the difference between gelato and ice cream, and meet the best gelato artisans from the United States! To buy a Gelato Ticket for 5 gelato tastings costs $10. Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe, Austin.
Plus and Minus: The Vacation Adventure- Saturday, May 10 at 2 and 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m. with a meet the cast party after the performance. In May of 2013 Pollyanna audiences fell in love with Addy Plus and Minus Takeaway, two very unlikely friends. Well, Addy still loves to put things together and Minus still loves to subtract. But this newest production finds the two friends appreciating their differences and going on their first vacation together. All seems to be going well until they meet up with Slice McGillicutty, a guy who insists on cutting things in half. How will Addy and Minus react to Slice? And is there a way to salvage their vacation once Slice McGillicutty arrives on the scene? Come along and find out. This play, which brings math concepts to life, will be enjoyed by audiences ages 4 and up. Tickets: $7-12.
West Austin Studio Tour - Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. The third annual WEST, also known as the West Austin Studio Tour, is happening over the next two weekends, and there is so much good stuff to see, do and attend — most of it kid-friendly and all of it FREE. WEST offers you and your budding artist a chance to explore working artists’ creative spaces, processes and techniques in a hands-on, or at least up-close-and-personal, way. Plan your own self-guided tour of artists’ galleries.
Pinocchio at ZACH Theatre- Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m. Step into Geppetto’s workshop for a delightful retelling of an ageless classic! Objects in Geppetto’s carpentry workshop become puppets in this imaginative play about love and family told through puppetry and illusion! Tickets: $16 adults, $14 youth. ZACH Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin.(You can read Heidi Okla’s review here).
District Days at Historic Downs Field - Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. District Days at Downs Field will be a weekend-long festival full of events and activities to help raise funds for much needed repairs and upgrades to historic Downs Baseball Field. FREE and open to the public. Downs Field, 2816 East 12th Street, Austin.
Friday:
Movies Under the Stars – Friday, May 9. You have three FREE movies to choose from:
Rio - Friday, May 9 at dusk. Enjoy a movie and FREE s’mores for kids. Ski Shores Cafe, 2905 Pearce Road, Austin.
Frozen (Cedar Park) - Friday, May 9 at 8:15 p.m. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner. FREE! Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd, Cedar Park.
Hook (Leander) - Friday, May 9 at dusk. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner to enjoy this FREE movie under the stars. Concessions will be available. Glass containers are prohibited. Friendly pets are welcomed on a leash. Robin Bledsoe Park, 601 S Bagdad Rd, Leander.
Saturday
Mueller’s 10th Birthday Celebration – Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mueller is inviting the Austin community to a FREE 10th birthday celebration at the Browning Hangar and Lake Park. The birthday celebration will include human hamster balls, a live DJ, food trucks, a tower-shaped birthday cake and a giant hangar piñata. Free giveaways and exciting surprises will join several other family-friendly activities. Mueller Austin, 4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin.
Safari Champ (Round Rock) – Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. All kids can play for $1 during the Small Business Fair. On Sunday, May 11, kids can play for $3 all day. 1400 East Old Settlers Blvd # 200, Round Rock.
Michaels – Saturday, May 10, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Kids can express their undying love for Mom at the Everlasting Flower Mother’s Day Event. The event is $2 per 30-minute session (includes supplies). Ages 3 and up are welcome to this event. See a store associate to reserve your spot. Also on Saturday, from 1 – 4 p.m., kids can paint a portrait for Mom. This event is FREE with the purchase of a canvas and no RSVP is required. Be sure to take along this coupon for 40% off one regular priced item.
Mother’s Day Celebration at Whole Foods Market – The Domain – Saturday, May 10, from noon – 3 p.m. Calling all moms and kids who love their moms! Celebrate with some store-wide sampling of some favorite foods. Make gifts for mom from noon-3 pm. Silly Angel Cards will be leading a card-making activity at 1 p.m. FREE! Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
A Mostly Handmade Mother’s Day at Whole Foods Market – Gateway – Saturday, May 10, from noon – 3 p.m. Show Mom you care with ideas from Whole Foods Market Gateway. Enjoy live music, store-wide sampling, custom Terrariums by Local supplier Slavonk and Hortus, and more! FREE! Whole Foods Gateway, 9607 Research Blvd, Austin.
A Mostly Handmade Mother’s Day at Whole Foods Market – Bee Cave – Saturday, May 10, from noon – 3 p.m. The store will feature stations to help you plan the best Mother’s Day yet! Kid’s Handmade Crafts for Mom–Bring in the kids to make a FREE, special craft for Mom! She will melt for these adorable gifts! Food demos–try some of Whole Foods’ favorite foods to make for a special brunch for Mom! Whole Foods Market Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Austin.
Youth Arts Festival - Saturday, May 10, from noon – 5 p.m. View exhibits in visual art, theatre, dance and film. Learn how to become involved and take FREE workshops in Dance, Visual Art, and Improvisation led by some of Austin’s best professional artists. FREE! Lamar Middle School, 6201 Wynona Ave, Austin.
Mother’s Day Tea Party (Pflugerville) – Saturday, May 10, from 2 – 3 p.m. Enjoy a FREE Fancy Nancy Marvelous Mother’s Day Tea Party! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger Street, Pflugerville.
Musique dans le Parc – Saturday, May 10, from 6 – 8 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with music beginning at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5; children under 5 years of age are free. Come enjoy classical music by French composers and performed by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble. Musique dans le Parc is part of this year’s French concert series with ACWE. There will be kids’ activities, concessions, including wine and beer for sale. Remember to bring your picnic blankets and chairs. Pets on leashes are welcome. French Legation Museum, 802 San Marcos Street, Austin.
Sunday
Planet K Concert at Bullock Museum – Sunday, May 11 at 6 p.m. Bring your family, a picnic dinner and a blanket or chairs to the Bullock Texas State History Museum’s Lone Star Plaza to enjoy a FREE concert by the Staehely Brothers Band and Casual Interference. Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave., Austin.
Austin Symphonic Band Mother’s Day Concert – Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. What better way to close out a great day with Mom than by taking her to a FREE concert at the Texas State Capitol in her honor? The band will perform well-known tunes, including marches and musical numbers, that you and your Mom are sure to enjoy! Get there early to select the best seating… this concert gets more popular every year. Texas State Capitol South Steps, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin.