Monday, October 12, 2015
Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm (Marble Falls) – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Harvest the fall fun at Sweet Berry Farm with mazes, Berry Bouncers, pumpkin painting, stuff your own scarecrow, hay rides, horse rides, ice cream and lots more. Admission and parking are FREE, but activities have a fee. Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls.
Signing Storytime with The Signing Connection (Round Rock) – 10:00am – 10:30am., Join the Baby Signing Time revolution! This class is geared for 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 North IH35, Ste 375, Round Rock.
Mr. Will’s Music Class for Kids (Bee Cave) – 10-11 am. Mr. Will is back with his popular kid’s music class! Kids get to sing along to old favorites and Mr. Will originals! FREE! Whole Foods, 12601 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave.
Storytime with Dr. Candra – 11:00 am. 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.
Homeschool Teens: Bleached T-Shirts (Pflugerville) – 1:30-2:30 p.m., Use bleach pens to design your own T-shirts. Any teens ages 12-18 who are being homeschooled are invited to attend this weekly program. Register beginning October 1 to reserve a T-shirt. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library – Lantana room, 1008 W. Pfluger Street, Pflugerville.
Books and Babies – 2 p.m., A lapsit storytime program especially for babies and their caregivers. Very short stories are interspersed with songs, rhymes, and fingerplays for babies and parents. A brief playtime follows. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch.
Baby Play Group (Round Rock) – 3:30 – 4:15 pm. We sing songs, play with musical instruments and let babies have lots of interactive, social, free-play time. Since this class is designed for our smallest of customers to socialize, we encourage families with non-mobile, crawling and/or cruising babies to attend. Older children are welcome to attend our free-time play, dance, music and story time classes. Baby Earth, 106 East Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock.
Lego Lab - 3:30 p.m., With Legos, 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! FREE! APL – Howson Branch.
Dual Language Storytime – 6 p.m., All ages storytime which uses both English and Spanish to present books, rhymes and songs. It differs from a traditional bilingual storytime in that some material is presented in English while other material is presented in Spanish, allowing for a natural transition between stories and activities and exposing children to both languages in an inviting environment. FREE! APL – University Hills Branch.
Paws & Read (Pflugerville) – 6-7 p.m., Independent readers share a good book with a canine member of the Austin Dog Alliance. Grades K – 2. Free! Children register for a shared 15 minute slot. Two children can register for the same slot. They take turns reading and petting the dog. Registration begins 9/14. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger Street, Pflugerville.
Pumpkin Decorating Workshop at IKEA (Round Rock) – 6-7:30 p.m., Bring your favorite blank canvas, a.k.a. pumpkin, and we’ll have fun decorating in the IKEA Restaurant! Supplies provided but RSVP is appreciated. FREE! IKEA, 1 IKEA Way, Round Rock.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm (Marble Falls) – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Harvest the fall fun at Sweet Berry Farm with mazes, Berry Bouncers, pumpkin painting, stuff your own scarecrow, hay rides, horse rides, ice cream and lots more. Admission and parking are FREE, but activities have a fee. Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls.
Whole Foods Domain Kids Club – 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Looking for something fun and free to do with the kids? Come to Kids Club every Tuesday at 9:30 am! We’ll have different crafts and/or story time each week. Appropriate for ages 2-5yrs old. Story-time is held in our community room upstairs (to the left of the elevators/stairway) and parental supervision is requested. FREE! Whole Foods, 11920 Domain Drive..
Books and Babies – 10 a.m., A lapsit storytime program especially for babies and their caregivers. Very short stories are interspersed with songs, rhymes, and fingerplays for babies and parents. A brief playtime follows. FREE! APL – North Village Branch.
Free Admission to Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria - 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visit the exhibits and the grounds of the Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria for FREE! The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th Street.
Todler Storytime – 10:15 am. A storytime program designed for toddlers and their parents, featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, and games. Ages 18 months – 3 years. FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Keep Austin Weird Storytime - 10:30 a.m., Did you know that Austin has a reputation for being a bit weird? Well it does, and that’s why we love living here so very much. In fact, we have a whole section of books devoted just to stories that walk on the weird side. So put on your favorite mismatched shoes and come to storytime today to read some books that aren’t afraid to get weird, including Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters! FREE! BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.
Preschool Storytime – 11 am. Storytime for preschoolers and their parents featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, and crafts. FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Sensory Storytime – 11:15 a.m., Sensory Storytime features interactive books, singing, and music and will incorporate some sensory activities, like movement and bubbles. It is geared toward children with special needs, their families and friends. FREE! APL – Carver Branch.
Baby Day at The Alamo Drafthouse – Movies before 2 p.m. The lights are up a bit, the sound is down a bit so moms and dads can head to the movies without the babies even knowing that they were at the movies. Infants are welcome to these shows, and of course, are allowed in for free. Take some time for yourself, pack up the kids, and head out to the Alamo Drafthouse for some much needed entertainment! Regular admission applies. Please note: Baby day is only on Tuesdays at the Alamo Village, Alamo South Lamar, Alamo Lakeline and Alamo Slaughter Lane.
Tween STEM Lab - 3:30 p.m., Drop by the library every second Tuesday this fall and be challenged to create a new STEM (Science Technology Engineering, and Math) activity. Mix silly putty, grow crystals, and even build your own scribble bot! Ages 7 and up. FREE! APL – Carver Branch.
Lego Lab - 3:30 p.m., With Legos, 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! FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Goosebumps Party (Pflugerville) 4-5 p.m., Celebrate the upcoming theatrical release of the Goosebumps movie. Vote on your favorite Goosebumps book, design a haunted mask, make your own monster blood, and compete in a mummy wrapping race. Ages 8-18. Materials provided while supplies last. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger Street, Pflugerville.
Teen Tech Club (Round Rock) 4:30-5:30 p.m., TechShop will show us how to create a 3D hologram using CD cases and smartphone. They will provide all the materials for this project, just bring a smartphone. FREE! Must register. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main Street, Round Rock.
Pajama Storytime – 6:30 pm. Feel free to wear pajamas to this family storytime in the evening featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Recommended for ages 5 and under. FREE! APL – Willie Mae Kirk Branch.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Storytime at Whole Foods – 9-10 a.m., Bring the little ones, it’s story time! Each week we will feature a different story, interactive craft and healthy snack. FREE! Whole Foods, 4301 W. William Cannon.
Music with Mar (Round Rock)- 9:15 – 10:15 am. Music with Mar. is a class where a caregiver and child (ages birth through preschool)participate together in musical activities. These classes are focused on the four main areas of development – cognitive, social, motor and language. Classes are drop-in. Baby Earth, 106 East Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock.
Sprouts at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – 10-11 a.m., Bring your little ones to the Family Garden for our weekly Sprouts Preschool program that is geared towards ages 2-6. A Nature Play Guide will lead you through the Family Garden to explore all that it has to offer. Each program will include a hands on activity, story, nature walk and of course, nature play! New program theme each week. Themes and topics are age and seasonally appropriate. Please come dressed for the weather and don’t forget your water bottle! Included in cost of admission. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave.
National Fossil Day- 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., A celebration organized by the National Park Service to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational values. Join Texas Memorial Museum in this nationwide event promoting awareness of fossils and the science of paleontology. Scheduled activities include fossil identifications, a fossil dig pit,and more. FREE! Texas Memorial Museum, 2400 Trinity Street.
All Ages Storytime - 10:15 am. Storytime featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, and crafts. Recommended for ages 5 and under. FREE! APL – Terrazas Branch.
Todler Storytime – 10:15 am. A storytime program designed for toddlers and their parents, featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, and games. Ages 18 months – 3 years. FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Ms Staci Storytime – 10:30 a.m., Ms. Staci is back in the store this morning to read some of her favorite stories and to sing some of your favorite songs. Kids, don’t forget your dancing shoes today! FREE! BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.
Preschool Storytime – 11 am. Storytime for preschoolers and their parents featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, and crafts. FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Story Time with CJ the Explorer – 12:30 p.m., Join CJ. the Explorer for her Award Winning Story Time, featuring songs and sign language. Then stay and play in our free Play Zone full of hand-picked toys from around the world! FREE! All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Court.
Books and Babies – 2 p.m., Recommended for ages 0-18 months. A lapsit storytime program especially for babies and their caregivers. Very short stories are interspersed with songs, rhymes, and fingerplays for babies and parents. A brief playtime follows. FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Lego Lab – 3:30 p.m., With Legos, 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! FREE! APL – Carver Branch.
Crafts and Face Painting with GlitteeRee (Round Rock) – 4-6 p.m. Crafts and Face Painting by GlitteRee are included in regular admission. Safari Champ, 1400 East Old Settlers Blvd., # 200, Round Rock.
Community Night at The Thinkery - 4-8 p.m., Admission is by donation only. Entry is based on a first come, first served basis. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Avenue.
Krispy Kreme Family Night – 6-8 p.m., Kids can decorate one FREE doughnut each, plus enjoy crafts and more. Krispy Kreme, 701 E Stassney Lane and 12586 Research Blvd, Austin.
Everything Art – 5 p.m., Explore different art techniques and art media using Caldecott winning titles and other awesomely illustrated children’s books. Ages 7 and up, siblings welcome to attend. FREE! APL – Ruiz Branch.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm (Marble Falls) – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Harvest the fall fun at Sweet Berry Farm with mazes, Berry Bouncers, pumpkin painting, stuff your own scarecrow, hay rides, horse rides, ice cream and lots more. Admission and parking are FREE, but activities have a fee. Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls.The Signing Connection: Baby Sign and Play (Round Rock) – 9:30 am. Baby Sign & Play Classes provide an interactive learning session for child and parent to begin the path to learn basic sign language communication skills. Research has shown how pre-verbal children, who learn ASL, have reduced frustration and stress by being able to convey their needs and feelings. Learning Sign Language is a fun way for the whole family to learn a second language. Baby Sign & Play is designed for children ages 0-3. Cost: $7 per class. Baby Earth, 106 East Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock.
Free Admission at The Blanton – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursdays are free to the public. FREE! Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin.
Todler Storytime – 10:15 a.m., A storytime program designed for toddlers and their parents, featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, and games. Ages 18 months – 3 years. FREE! APL – multiple locations.
Literature Live! Wild and Wacky Weather - 10:30 a.m., If you don’t like the weather in Texas, just wait a few minutes and it will change! Take a stroll through sunny songs, breezy stories, and wintry puppetry when Literature Live! presents their new show, Wild and Wacky Weather! FREE! APL – Little Walnut Creek Branch.
Crafternoon – 3:30 p.m., Drop by the library and make a craft while you search for books, movies and music. We’ve got paper crafts, easy sewing and more fun projects for the whole family. We provide the supplies; you provide the creativity. FREE! APL – Carver Branch.
Explorer’s Club: Exciting Explorations - 3:30-4 p.m., Each Thursday, kids in grades K-5 will meet at 3:30pm to explore a set of rotating monthly programs. Learn about something new or try a new activity. FREE! Cedar Park Public Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park.
Community Halloween Carnival and Haunted House – 5:30-8 p.m., Trick or Treat!! You are invited to come and join the fun at our annual Metz Halloween Carnival. We will provide free music, door prizes and a costume contest. Games will be $0.25 a ticket & haunted house $1.00. Haunted House opens at 6:30 p.m., Costume contest begins at 7:30 p.m., 1-3 Prizes for the following age divisions: 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12. Adult scream contest @ 7:15 p.m., Metz Recreation Center, 2407 Canterbury Street.
Pajama Storytime – 6:30 p.m., Feel free to wear pajamas to this family storytime in the evening featuring stories, songs, rhymes, games, crafts, and other activities. Ages 5 and under. FREE! APL – Manchaca Road Branch.
Sunset Music Series – 6:30-8:30 p.m., FREE Family Outdoor Event Live music with Latasha Lee and the Black Ties. Food trucks, kid friendly activities. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Pkwy.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm (Marble Falls) – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Harvest the fall fun at Sweet Berry Farm with mazes, Berry Bouncers, pumpkin painting, stuff your own scarecrow, hay rides, horse rides, ice cream and lots more. Admission and parking are FREE, but activities have a fee. Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls.
Sprouts at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – 10-11 a.m., Bring your little ones to the Family Garden for our weekly Sprouts Preschool program that is geared towards ages 2-6. A Nature Play Guide will lead you through the Family Garden to explore all that it has to offer. Each program will include a hands on activity, story, nature walk and of course, nature play! New program theme each week. Themes and topics are age and seasonally appropriate. Please come dressed for the weather and don’t forget your water bottle! Included in cost of admission. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave.
All Ages Storytime: Dia de los Muertos – 10:15 a.m, Recommended for children aged 5 and under. Storytime featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, and crafts. FREE! APL – Faulk Central Library.
Mariachi & Orchestra Concert (Round Rock) – 10:30 a.m., The Round Rock Public Library welcomes the musicians of Hernandez Middle School for a special performance with the Honors Symphonic Orchestra and the Mariachi Band. Enjoy the music, learn about the instruments, and see what these amazing young musicians can do during this free, half-hour performance for all ages. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main Street, Round Rock.
Storytime Art: Spaghetti – 10:45 am. Storytime Art, or StArt! is a great opportunity for your young child to experience art! Storytimes are geared to the 3 – 5 year old preschooler, but some projects could easily translate into a Mommy and Me project for those a little younger. And, of course, anyone older is welcome, as well! Storytimes always include at least one book and a related art project, but often include surprises like songs, poems, and coloring pages. Cost is $12 per child, or buy a punch-card and get 6 classes for $60! The Art Garage, 11190 Circle Drive.
Music with Mr. Will - 12-12:30 pm. His sing-along style incorporates equal parts of teaching and performing for energetic young audiences. Infectious melodies combined with upbeat lyrics make him beloved among pre-schoolers and early-elementary students, who clap, march, jump and dance along to their favorite songs. Plus, the entire family can enjoy the music. FREE! Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 701 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Ste D-480.
Story Time with CJ the Explorer – 12:30 p.m., Join CJ. the Explorer for her Award Winning Story Time, featuring songs and sign language. Then stay and play in our free Play Zone full of hand-picked toys from around the world! FREE! All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Court.
Boo at the Zoo – 6:30-9 p.m., Wear a costume (no adult masks, please), ride the Haunted Train, explore the Haunted House and see the animals by the glow of your flashlight! Plus, bring a picnic to enjoy in the Picnic Grove. Austin Zoo will be illuminated and decorated for the occasion. Tickets are $12.50 and include a train pass and unlimited Haunted House visits. Austin Zoo, 10808 Rawhide Trail.
Haunted Halloween Trails – 7-10 p.m., This year’s theme will be “Grimm’s Ghostly Tales,” featuring three separate spooky trails each night — one for young children (amusing, rated G), another for those who want spooky surprises (rated PG) and a scary, scary trail for the adventurous (frights galore, rated PG-13). Spook lights, ghoulish stories, pumpkins, food, drinks and souvenirs promise to add to the fun. Palm readers and fortune tellers will be on site all nights to give visitors a peek into their past or future. Admission is $12 a person, a real 1800s bargain for this spook-tenaous family fun event, Austin’s legendary Halloween experience for all ages. It’s family friendly, to boot. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Decorate a Pumpkin at Kaleidoscope Toys - 10 a.m. – 1p.m., We will have mini pumpkins for you to decorate with all kinds of craft items, including googly eyes, feathers, markers,and more! Click here to register through Eventbrite. Admission is a non-perishable food donation for the Round Rock Area Serving Center. Kaleidoscope Toys, Round Rock.
Texas Book Festival – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., One of the largest and most prestigious literary festivals in the country, the annual Texas Book Festival features 250+ nationally and critically recognized authors, 20+ venues including the State Capitol, 80+ exhibitors, live music, local food trucks, family activities, and countless opportunities to meet authors and fellow book lovers. FREE! Texas State Capitol and surrounding areas.
Kitchen Lab: Cooking with Goodnight Moon – 10:30-11:30 a.m., Have you ever wondered what a “Pot full of Goo” or a “Big Bowl of Mush” might be? Join us in Kitchen Lab as we read Goodnight Moon and its Halloween version, Goodnight Goon, while cooking up some tasty goo and mush for ourselves! For Ages 4-7 years. Price: 1 Child $29 | 1 Member Child $25 | 1 Extra Child $17 | 1 Extra Member Child $15. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave.
Oktoberfest at German-Texas Heritage Society – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Take a stroll through our beautiful historic gardens. Bring your whole family: Oma and Opa, Mama and Papa and all your children, friends and neighbors -enjoy the day with us! Dance to live music from Lorelei & Schatzi, Joe Klaus Band and the Sieker’s Band. Many Vendors with arts and crafts and our German Souvenir Shop are open for shopping. Great food from Frank’s and Pfeifers’s Bakery and outstanding German Beer are also at your fingertips during this fun filled event. The kids will have a great time in our Chidlren’s Area with Face Painting, Chess Play, arts and crafts and a photo booth. Cost: $10, 12 and under are free. German Free School, 507 East 10th Street
Crowe’s Nest Fall Family Fun Days (Manor) – 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., The whole family will enjoy a fun day at Crowe’s Nest Fall Family Fun Days this fall. Activities include visiting with farm animals & wildlife, cow milking demonstrations, animal shows, hayrides, veggie cannon, children’s theme gardens, butterfly house, Faerie Wood, story time, pumpkin patch, great homemade food, crafts, gourds and more. Cost: adults, $9; children ages 3-12 $7; 2-year olds $3, under 2 FREE. Crowe’s Nest Farm, 10300 Taylor Lane, Manor.
Winnie the Pooh - 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., Winnie-the-Pooh finds himself involved in all sorts of frantic adventures, assisted by such friends as the dismal Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit. Pooh’s intentions are always the best, but his passion for honey and condensed milk keeps getting him into trouble. Come see A.A. Milne’s beloved characters in this charming musical adaptation. Tickets: starting at $15. ZACH Theatre, 1510 Toomey Road.
North by Northwest Oktoberfest - 11:30 a.m. – midnight. NXNW’s two day Oktoberfest celebration is more than just a party. It is also a chance for revellers to learn about and raise funds for non profit organizations. During the weekend festival, Chef George Powell will prepare German bratwurst, homemade sauerkraut, fresh red cabbage, pretzels, and Bavarian cobblers. NXNW also will brew onsite a special Oktoberfest beer to complement the feast. Live music, from high energy polka band Terry Cavanagh and the Alpine Express, along with Oma and the Oompahs, will bring the authenticity of Oktoberfest to Austin. There will be fun activities for the whole family. Festivities include: bounce houses, face painting, Nate the Great Balloon Artist and a bratwurst eating contest Saturday evening. There will also be an all-breed dog costume contest and a wiener dog costume contests held on Sunday afternoon. FREE! North by Northwest, 10010 Capital Texas Highway.
Aki Matsuri - Noon-4 p.m., Taiko drums, Japanese traditional and festive dance, traditional musical instruments, the beauty of the Chanoyu ceremony, Japanese martial arts, and Okinawan traditional dance — all this will bring the aesthetic gifts of Japanese culture to Austin and Central Texas during the 2015 Aki Matsuri, the Ninth Annual Japanese Fall Festival. Visitors will enjoy a range of Japanese food and sweets, drinks, arts and Japanese goods, yukata booth, calligraphy, hands-on origami, Japanese games and entertainment. Cost: $5 for non-members. O. Henry Middle School, 2610 West 10th Street.
Pflugerville’s 8th Annual Chili Festival – Noon – 5 p.m., The sweet and spicy aroma of chili cooking lingers over the streets of downtown as 30-40 teams compete for the title of “Best Chili.” Compete also in the Jalapeno Eating Contest. Activities for adults and children include Heat Wave Car Show, Kids’ Zone with bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painters, balloon artist and live music on stage! Free admission. Chili cook-off tasting cups = $5 for 20 cups, 5 spoons and 20 tickets to vote. Downtown Pflugerville.
Fun Family Craft Time: Spellbinding Duck Tape® T-Shirts – 1-4 p.m., Get in the Halloween spirit with projects featuring Duck Tape®! Choose a ghoulish skull or a charming cat design. While you are here create a tote bag to enter in Duck Tape’s® Spookducular Contest. Visit spookducular.com for more info. Bag supplies not included. Free with purchase. All participating Michael’s locations.
AustOberfest (Austin + Oktoberfest) – 3-11 p.m., Celebrating Central Texas German heritage with all your can eat sausage tasting, bier tasting contest stage, bowling & live music with proceeds benefiting Foodways Texas. Price of ticket includes unlimited German-style sausage and sides from some of Central Texas’ best meat purveyors: Salt & Time, Miller’s, Freedmen’s, Stiles Switch, Louie Mueller, Black’s BBQ, Southside Market, Meyers Elgin Sausage, Hoovers, School House Pub, Smokey Denmark and Micklethwait Craft Meats. German bier tastings are also included along with live music entertainment with full access to the 17th street biergarten and bowling alley. BANDS INCLUDE: Minor Mishap Marching Band, Brave Combo, White Ghost Shivers. Admission: $45 (plus fees) per person. Children under 13 years of age are free. Austin Saengerrunde, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.
Leander’s Fall Fun Festival – 5:30-10 p.m., Come join Leander Fire Department at our Annual Fall Fun Festival. LFD has carnival style games, vendors, food, haunted house, silent auction and more at this family event. All proceeds go to our Health & Safety Fund and the Benevolent Fund. Tickets for games start at just $.50 and touring the Tower of Terror is only $5! Leander Fire Department, 101 E Sonny Drive, Leander.
Boo at the Zoo – 6:30-9 p.m., Wear a costume (no adult masks, please), ride the Haunted Train, explore the Haunted House and see the animals by the glow of your flashlight! Plus, bring a picnic to enjoy in the Picnic Grove. Austin Zoo will be illuminated and decorated for the occasion. Tickets are $12.50 and include a train pass and unlimited Haunted House visits. Austin Zoo, 10808 Rawhide Trail.
Haunted Halloween Trails – 7-10 p.m., This year’s theme will be “Grimm’s Ghostly Tales,” featuring three separate spooky trails each night — one for young children (amusing, rated G), another for those who want spooky surprises (rated PG) and a scary, scary trail for the adventurous (frights galore, rated PG-13). Spook lights, ghoulish stories, pumpkins, food, drinks and souvenirs promise to add to the fun. Palm readers and fortune tellers will be on site all nights to give visitors a peek into their past or future. Admission is $12 a person, a real 1800s bargain for this spook-tenaous family fun event, Austin’s legendary Halloween experience for all ages. It’s family friendly, to boot. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Texas Book Festival – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., One of the largest and most prestigious literary festivals in the country, the annual Texas Book Festival features 250+ nationally and critically recognized authors, 20+ venues including the State Capitol, 80+ exhibitors, live music, local food trucks, family activities, and countless opportunities to meet authors and fellow book lovers. FREE! Texas State Capitol and surrounding areas.
North by Northwest Oktoberfest - 11:30 a.m. – dusk. NXNW’s two day Oktoberfest celebration is more than just a party. It is also a chance for revellers to learn about and raise funds for non profit organizations. During the weekend festival, Chef George Powell will prepare German bratwurst, homemade sauerkraut, fresh red cabbage, pretzels, and Bavarian cobblers. NXNW also will brew onsite a special Oktoberfest beer to complement the feast. Live music, from high energy polka band Terry Cavanagh and the Alpine Express, along with Oma and the Oompahs, will bring the authenticity of Oktoberfest to Austin. There will be fun activities for the whole family. Festivities include: bounce houses, face painting, Nate the Great Balloon Artist and a bratwurst eating contest Saturday evening. There will also be an all-breed dog costume contest and a wiener dog costume contests held on Sunday afternoon. FREE! North by Northwest, 10010 Capital Texas Highway.
Just a Minute! A Día de los Muertos Play - 12:30 & 2:30 p.m., Celebrate el día de los muertos with this staged adaptation of Yuyi Morales’s fantastical award-winning books Just a Minute and Just in Case. Señor Calavera wants Grandma Beetle to leave with him right away, but she still has one house to sweep, two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas – and that’s just the start! Kids of all ages will love these bilingual counting and alphabet tales. Cost: $7 for kids 12 and under, $12 for adults. Available online at Brownpapertickets.com and sold at the door. Free show parking as available in Austin’s uptown museum district. Metered street parking also nearby. Tickets available online and at the door. Recommended for all ages! Austin Scottish Rite Theater 207 W. 18th Street.
Ashley’s Playhouse Fall Fun Festival - 1-4 p.m., Enjoy a bounce house, games, playhouse tours, train rides and more BYOP: Bring your own pumpkins for decorating with our supplies! Or, be one of the first 200 kids in line to receive a FREE mini pumpkin from APH! FREE! Ashley’s Playhouse, 13343 N Hwy 183, Suite 200.
The Flying Theater Machine – 2 p.m., “Super Buddies!” is where multiple comic book stories come to life! What will be their powers? How did they get them? What are their weaknesses? The audience helps decide in these epic stories of Hero vs Villain, Sidekick vs. Henchman, and super buddy vs. super buddy! These fully improvised stories will need your help! Kids and adults alike will be asked to lend their aid with their suggestions, creative input, and acting powers so that these strange tales can be completed. Help us, brave Heroes! (and villains!)
Cost: $5 per person. Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Avenue.
Groundwork Music Project’s Fall Family Fun-raiser – 3- 6 p.m., The 6th Annual Family FUN-raiser will feature local favorite Elizabeth McQueen as Master of Ceremonies, a performance by Parent’s Choice Award winner Joe McDermott, Groundwork Music Project, and other local family-friendly musicians. Come early and participate in a ukulele workshop from 2:30 to 3:30. Those who register make a $25 per person payment on line and participate in a beginner group lesson. Ukes will be provided, and there will be a list of registrants at the door. The latter part of the lesson will double as a community style sing along, as the first people arrive. Register here. More activities include children’s games, a bouncy castle, face painting and balloon animals, silent auction and more. All proceeds from this event will go to the Groundwork Music Project. $5 admission. Nutty Brown Cafe, 12225 Highway 290 West.
Interested in seeing more theatre? Check out all of the shows for both kids and adults in our monthly Austin Theatre Roundup.
Looking for more ways to celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin? Look at our roundup of family-friendly Oktoberfest happenings in Austin for 2015. Yes, many are kid-friendly!
Get out and explore parks in Austin this fall! Take a look at our Five Best Parks in South Austin and Five Best Parks in North Austin & the ‘Burbs.
Halloween is right around the corner but events are already in full swing! Check out our list of Halloween Events happening in Austin here.
Looking for more fall fun? Check out our list of Top 10 Fall Events in the Austin area here.
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