From storytimes to live music and more, What’s Up Weekly lays out all of the family-fun events happening during the week in the Greater Austin-area.
Happening All Week
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Monday, February 16 – Friday, February 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Exhibit is open until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.) The Ransom Center celebrates 150 years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with an exhibition for the curious and curiouser of all ages. Learn about Lewis Carroll and the real Alice who inspired his story. See one of the few surviving copies of the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Discover the rich array of personal and literary references that Carroll incorporated throughout Alice. Explore the surprising transformations of Alice and her story as they have traveled through time and across continents. Follow the White Rabbit’s path through the exhibition, have a tea party, or watch a 1933 paper filmstrip that has been carefully treated by Ransom Center conservators. The Center’s vast collections offer a new look at a story that has delighted generations and inspired artists from Salvador Dalí to Walt Disney. FREE! Harry Ransom Center, 300 W 21st St, Austin.
Monday
Free Admission to The LBJ Presidential Library – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To ensure President Johnson’s wish for the library to “be available to all,” entrance fees are waived on several days during the year, including Presidents Day. FREE! LBJ Presidential Library, 2313 Red River St, Austin.
Signing Storytime (Round Rock) – 10:00 a.m. Join the Baby Signing Time revolution. This class is geared toward children 0-5 years and their parents. Amy from the Signing Connection will lead this storytime that incorporates classic children’s books to help you learn basic American Sign Language signs. FREE! Kaleidoscope Toys, 110 N IH 35, Ste 375, Round Rock.
Mr. Will’s Music Class for Kids (Bee Cave) – 10:00 a.m. Mr. Will is back in action with his weekly kid’s music class. Arrive early to get a seat. FREE! Whole Foods Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave.
Fit Kids Cooking Class (Bee Cave) – 11:00 a.m. After Mr. Will’s concert, join Elena for a kids’ healthy cooking class aimed at the 4-10 year old crowd. This fun and interactive class aims to get kids in the kitchen. FREE! Whole Foods Bee Cave, 12601 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave.
Storytime with Dr. Candra – 11:00 a.m. Dr. Candra will captivate your children with stories, songs, dances, and games. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Ste D-480, Austin.
National Anthem Auditions (Round Rock) – 6-9:00 p.m. The Express is holding auditions for 2015 National Anthem performers. The preferred performance style is traditional military-style in 90 seconds or less. Additionally, performers with musical instruments are welcomed to try out. The audition order will take place on a first-come, first-served basis; fans will receive a number after they have turned in their registration form. FREE! Dell Diamond, 3400 Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock.
Tuesday
Storytime and Crafts – 9:30 a.m. Kids ages 2-5 will hear a new story each week. After the book, they’ll do crafts related to the story. Parental supervision is requested. FREE! Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
Free Admission to Laguna Gloria – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE! Read about Heidi’s experience at Laguna Gloria here. The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St, Austin.
Free TuneBugz Demo Classes (RSVP) – 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Are you ready to sing and play-along with music from all over the world, in a wide range of styles, meters and tonalities? Music is the language of Austin, so why not let some of your earliest conversations with your child be musical ones? FREE but RSVP is requested here. All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
ARTSreach: Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads – 10:15 a.m. Drywater Gulch has a toad problem. Not the hop-down-your-britches, croaking-all-night toad kind of problem. The thievin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, steal-your-gold never-say-thank-you outlaw toad kind of problem. Then hope rides into town. Sheriff Ryan might only be seven years old, and he might not know much about shooting and roping, but he knows a lot about dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs. And it turns out that knowing a thing or two about paleontology can come in handy when it comes to hoodwinking and rounding up a few no-good bandits. FREE! APL – Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St, Austin.
Armstrong Community School Storytime – 10:30 a.m. Sing songs with Walter Tragert, one of the talented Early Childhood Development faculty members from the Armstrong Community School. Mr. Walter will engage your child with music and movement, plus he’ll read some stories too. Perfect for kids up to 6 years old. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Music with Mr. Will – 11:30 a.m. Rock out with local children’s singer, “Mr. Will” Dupuy. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy Suite D-480, Austin.
Lego Lab – 3:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Discovery! Build a Website – 4:30 p.m. This class will show kids in 3rd grade through middle school how to build their own personal websites. Kids will learn how to add text, pictures, and even videos from YouTube. They will also learn how to add pages, how to structure where everything goes, and then publish it online for everyone to see or make it private. More advanced students they can learn how to create a website using HTML. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Lego Lab – 4:30 p.m. With LEGO, you can build anything you can imagine and tell any story you can dream up. Come to the Lego Lab to hear, see, make, and create different stories, all while building with LEGOs provided by the Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
PJ Story Time – 6:15 p.m. Wear your pajamas, have some milk and cookies, then snuggle in for bedtime stories. All ages are welcome. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Pajama Storytime – 6:30 p.m. Feel free to wear pajamas to this family evening storytime featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Children of all ages welcome. Seating is limited at all programs. Please arrive a few minutes early to gain entrance. FREE! APL – Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr, Austin.
Mardi Gras at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Urban Achievers Brass Band plays part two of Central Market’s New Orleans-style Mardi Gras celebration. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Wednesday
Whole Foods Kids Club – 9:00 a.m. Join Tina for a great story and crafts for the kids. FREE! Whole Foods Arbor Trails, 4301 W William Cannon, Austin.
Dance Party (Round Rock) – 10:00 a.m. Burn off your wiggles to a great dance mix of children’s music and some creative movement activities. Children of all ages, along with their caregivers, are welcome to join the fun. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 10:30 a.m. Bawk! It’s an elephant! It’s an umbrella! No, it’s a … chicken?! Join Literature LIVE! to see how the chickens in this coop make room for a giant new friend in a less-than-traditional puppet show production of Austin author Keith Graves’ wonderful book Chicken Big. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Terrazas Branch, 1105 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
Tiny Tails to You Storytime – 10:30 a.m. If you’re a fan of chinchillas, bunnies, ducklings, guinea pigs, chickens, and stories then you’re in luck. Tiny Tails to You Petting Zoo will read stories and introduce some of the cutest, softest, most adorable little creatures in Austin. What a wonderful way to make new friends. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
ARTSreach: Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads – 10:30 a.m. Drywater Gulch has a toad problem. Not the hop-down-your-britches, croaking-all-night toad kind of problem. The thievin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, steal-your-gold never-say-thank-you outlaw toad kind of problem. Then hope rides into town. Sheriff Ryan might only be seven years old, and he might not know much about shooting and roping, but he knows a lot about dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs. And it turns out that knowing a thing or two about paleontology can come in handy when it comes to hoodwinking and rounding up a few no-good bandits. FREE! Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
The Biscuit Brothers’ Fine Arts Farm Open House – 10:30-11:30 a.m. Meet and greet the spring teachers, do some fun activities, and maybe sing a song or two with Dusty. FREE! Fine Arts Farm, 6036 W US Hwy 290, Austin.
Community Night – 4-8:00 p.m. At the Thinkery, science and families play side by side. Every Wednesday the museum stays open late for families to discover new ideas and learn together. Cost: Admission is by donation only, with a suggested $1 donation. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
Krispy Kreme Family Night - 6-8:00 p.m. Kids can decorate one FREE doughnut each, plus enjoy crafts, balloons, paper hats, coloring sheets and more. Krispy Kreme, 701 E Stassney Ln and 12586 Research Blvd, Austin.
Texas Radio Live – 6-8:00 p.m. Texas Radio Live brings you the very best Texas music with performances from Texas musicians. This week, hear Rich Hopkins & the Luminarios and Aaron McDonnell. FREE, but donations to support the KDRP Radio Mission are appreciated. Read about Catherine’s experience here. Guero’s Oak Garden, 1412 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Thursday
Dance Party (Round Rock) - 10:00 a.m. Burn off your wiggles to a great dance mix of children’s music and some creative movement activities. Children of all ages, along with their caregivers, are welcome to join the fun. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Third Thursday at The Blanton – 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. In addition to offering free admission, The Blanton is open late and offers a variety of activities from yoga to live music. Find the complete schedule of events here. FREE! Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin.
Chicken Big, A Puppet Show – 10:15 a.m. Bawk! It’s an elephant! It’s an umbrella! No, it’s a … chicken?! Join Literature LIVE! to see how the chickens in this coop make room for a giant new friend in a less-than-traditional puppet show production of Austin author Keith Graves’ wonderful book Chicken Big. Recommended for ages 4 and up. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Amazing Mandarin Story Time – 10:30 a.m. Join Mei Szeto, a teacher with over 20 years of experience, as she introduces the Chinese language and culture with stories, games, and song. All ages welcome. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Hola, Hola! – 10:30 a.m. Ann Benson, expert in bilingual education, will teach you how to effectively use books as a tool to teach your child Spanish. Each parent will learn to read a Spanish book to their child and take it home for Spanish reinforcement. For parents and their children ages 0-5. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Free Noon Concert – Noon. Take a 30-minute lunchtime break to hear pianist Joseph Kingma play the music of Chopin. FREE! Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E 8th St, Austin.
Explorers Club (Cedar Park) – 3:30 p.m. Each Thursday, kids in grades K-5 meet to explore a set of rotating programs. This week, it’s Exciting Explorations. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Kids Club (Pflugerville) – 3:30 p.m. Kids ages 5 – 8 are invited to craft Chinese lanterns. Materials available while supplies last. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W Pflugerville St, Pflugerville.
A Path Appears: Screening & Panel Discussion (RSVP) – 6-7:30 p.m. A Path Appears uncovers the adversities faced every day by millions of women and girls, while also presenting glimmers of hope and change. The screening will highlight stories of women breaking the poverty cycle through education and opportunity for their young children. After a short segment from the film, a panel of local early childhood experts will discuss issues from the documentary as well as challenges and solutions here in Austin. Light refreshments will be served. FREE but RSVP is required here. KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, Studio 6A, 2504-B Whitis Ave, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Vocal Jazz by Danielle Reich. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. John Arthur Martinez plays Americana and Texas Country. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Pajama Storytime – 7:00 p.m. Feel free to wear pajamas to this family storytime featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Children of all ages welcome. Seating is limited; please arrive a few minutes early to gain entrance. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd, Austin.
Friday
ABC Children’s Sale: A Big Consignment – 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 6-8:30 p.m. The MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at Austin Oaks Church in south Austin is hosting its fourth annual consignment sale. Quality kids, baby, and maternity items will be for sale. Receive a free raffle ticket when you bring a donation for the South Austin Pregnancy Resource Center (accepted items: baby formula, wipes, diapers sizes 3-6). Admission is FREE! Austin Oaks Church, 4220 Monterey Oaks Blvd, Austin.
Yoga Story Time (RSVP) – 9:30 a.m. Join in a Story Time Yoga adventure where participants will stretch, read, and breathe. All ages are welcome. RSVP requested here. FREE! The Little Yoga House, 1211 Parkway, Austin.
Fun Fridays – 10:00 a.m. Sing! Dance! Play! Fun Fridays are a fun musical and entertainment hour featuring local Austin musicians. Complimentary refreshments will be served. FREE! Millie & Mox, 5145 North FM 620, Ste B110, Austin.
Free TuneBugz Demo Classes (RSVP) – 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Are you ready to sing and play-along with music from all over the world, in a wide range of styles, meters and tonalities? We know that music is the language of Austin, so why not let some of your earliest conversations with your child be musical ones? FREE but RSVP is required here. All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
Story Time with Princess CJ – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy the play zone before and after the reading. FREE! All Things Kids @The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
Friday Family Films – How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 4:00 p.m. This thrilling second chapter of the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy returns to the fantastical world of Hiccup and Toothless as they unite to save the future of men and dragons! Rated PG. FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Flamenco with Juerga ft. Christian Fernandez. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Lone Star Swing. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Community Movie Night: The Lego Movie – 7:00 p.m. Enjoy delicious pizza and a family-friendly movie. Rated PG. FREE! The Fellowship at Scofield Farms, 12424 Scofield Farms Dr, Austin.
Head for the Hill’s: Free Music Fridays – 7-9:00 p.m. Hill’s Cafe is excited to announce the return of a live, local music series to the historic Hill’s stage. This week, Shawn Nelson Band performs. A special backyard menu will be available for purchase. Family-friendly and FREE! Hill’s Cafe, 4700 S Congress Ave, Austin.
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