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
Blue Genie Art Bazaar – Monday, December 8 – Friday, December 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The annual four-week holiday shopping extravaganza returns for its 14th year. Featuring more than 200 Texas artists, the bazaar offers FREE admission and a hassle-free shopping environment. All items featured at the bazaar must be handmade and include paintings, photography, prints, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, glassworks, and more. It is one of the best places to find unique gifts with a local touch. Marchesa Hall, 6226 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin.
Heartsong Music Sample Classes (RSVP) – Monday, December 8 – Friday, December 12. Where can you have uninterrupted musical playtime with your child, meet other moms, dads, and families, and be a part of a wonderful musical community while supporting your child’s musical development as she learns important life skills? Heartsong Music! Heartsong Music is proud to celebrate 10 years of family music making in Austin. You’re invited to be a part of their musical community. FREE! RSVP required here. View full schedule and locations here.
Trail of Lights – Monday, December 8 – Friday, December 12 from 7-10:00 p.m. The Austin holiday tradition returns for its 50th year. Gate tickets are FREE Monday-Thursday; $3 on Friday, for ages 12 and up. Find parking and shuttle information here. Read pro tips for planning your trip here. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Baby Bloomers – 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The letter W Will have little ones ages 0-3 and their families Wowed as they create their very own Weather charts, conduct a Walking Water science experiment, explore density with Water and oil, and practice honing their pre-Writing skills. Plus, Staci Gray will get you dancing. Be sure to stick around for the grand finale—bubbles! Cost: Members $2.50 each / Non-Members $4.50 each. All people attending, regardless of age, must purchase a ticket. Purchase a ticket online as limited walk-up tickets will be available. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave, Austin.
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.
Story Time in the Garden: Plants of the American Indian – 10 a.m. Stories are a lovely way to introduce young children to nature and wildlife. Each storytime theme is based on the seasonal happenings found in the garden through the year. After visiting a garden feature and listening to a story, the children will bring the story to life through hands-on activities and a garden adventure. FREE with Garden admission ($1 – $3; kids under 3 are FREE). Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin.
The Girls’ School of Austin’s Art Scarf Sale – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Shop for gorgeous silk scarves, velvet shawls, hipster ties, and knee socks made by students. All sales benefit The Girls’ School of Austin. Tours of the campus will be available. FREE! The Girls’ School of Austin, 2007 McCall Rd, Austin.
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.
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 – Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition Blvd, Austin.
Dickens Day (Pflugerville) – 6-7:00 p.m. Enjoy caroling by Pflugerville High School’s Yuletide Singers, a visit from the Paws & Read dog, refreshments, and a short craft. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W Pflugerville St, Pflugerville.
AHS Robotics & Engineering Team Tech Talks -7:00 p.m. Ever wonder about how a chemical reactor is kept safe and stable? Or how an oil platform is controlled? Or even how food and pharmaceutical products are produced? Process control and process automation. Learn about PID control, process dynamics, and the challenges of implementing a process automation project at Tech Talk, featuring Vice President and Process Manager Dave Imming with Emerson Process Management. FREE and open to all. Anderson High School Theater, 8403 Mesa Dr, Austin.
Game Night at Cafe Ruckus – 7:00 p.m. Sorry, Connect 4, Battleship, Fluxx, Ruckus – The Game, and more. Meet a lot of cool people, enjoy a tasty beverage, and play, Play, PLAY. Everyone who wins a board games gets a prize from Toy Joy. Family friendly – all ages welcome. FREE to play. Cafe Ruckus, 409 W 2nd St, Austin.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
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! The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St, Austin.
Heartsong Music Storytime – 10:30 a.m. Bring your children from birth through age seven to this special storytime with Heartsong Music. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Spot the Monster – 11:00 a.m. Peeking from your scribble art, your monster peers intently. Enliven your imagination with monster books, stories, and art. A family literacy-based art program for all ages. FREE! APL – Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Rd, Austin.
Free Admission to The Jones Center -11 a.m. to 7 p.m. FREE! The Contemporary Austin, The Jones Center, 700 Congress Ave, 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.
The Austin Symphony Presents Christmas in the Community: Brass Quintet – 1:00 p.m. Christmas in the Community is a series of twelve concerts held throughout the city of Austin featuring different ensembles of the orchestra playing familiar holiday music. Also featured on this series are members of the Austin Youth Orchestra, who will perform side-by-side with the Austin Symphony. FREE! Macy’s at The Domain, 11701 N MoPac, 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 – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Free Play Gaming – 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free play gaming using one of the Library’s video game consoles and a variety of games that could include Mario Kart, Rock Band, Dance, Dance Revolution, and many other favorites. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, Austin.
Discovery Writing Workshop: It’s the Thought that Counts -4:30 p.m. We’ve all heard the expression, “It’s the thought that counts” about gift-giving. At Laura’s, that saying has never been more true. Participants will craft small gift boxes for someone special and fill them with sweet thoughts – memories, observations, and drawings – about the person who will receive the present. This holiday season, think of someone you love, and give them a gift that will mean more than anything that comes from a store. Especially designed for older kids (third grade and up). FREE! Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd, Austin.
Hour of Code (Round Rock) – 4:30 p.m. Tweens (ages 8-12) can celebrate Computer Science Education Week by learning the basic concepts of computer science with games and drag and drop programming. There is no pre-registration for this event, however, space is on a first come/first served basis. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Visit With Santa – 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bring your camera for a photo-op with Santa, and enjoy candy canes and holiday crafts. FREE! APL – Southeast Branch, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd, Austin.
Texas Edition Launch of The Oxford American: Southern Music Issue -6:00 p.m. The Oxford American is proud to announce the release of its 16th annual Southern Music Issue, which honors the profound musical history of Texas in 160 pages of writing and art, along with a 25-song CD compilation. OA contributors Margaret Moser, Joe Nick Patoski, and Louis Black will be there to read a selection from their featured work, followed by a Q&A, and autograph session to chat with readers about the new issue. FREE! Waterloo Records, 600A N Lamar, Austin.
Family Movie Night: How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 6:30 p.m. When Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Rated PG. FREE! APL – Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S Fifth St, Austin.
Holiday Celebration – 6:30 p.m. Make crafts, sing carols, and enjoy refreshments. You won’t want to miss the special guests! FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
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.
Whole Foods Storytime – 9:30 a.m. Enjoy a story reading, an activity, and a snack. All ages are welcome and parents can participate, too. FREE! Whole Foods Mezzanine, 525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
“Oh No, Santa!” Holiday Puppet Show (Round Rock) – 9:30 a.m. (baby-friendly show) and 10:30 a.m. (18 months+) Mrs. Claus needs to choose a substitute Santa when her husband catches a cold and is too ill to make the Christmas Eve deliveries himself. How will she decide? FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Itty Bitty Playtime & Yoga – 10:00 a.m. Itty Bitty Playtime & Yoga is a playful, educational, and relaxing time for babies and toddlers up to 18 months. Learn new ways to connect with your with your baby through movement, stretching and song. Complimentary juice and coffee served. FREE! Millie & Mox, 5145 North FM 620, Ste B110, Austin.
Ms. Staci Storytime – 10:30 a.m. Ms. Staci will be back to read some of her favorite stories and to sing some of your favorite songs. Don’t forget your dancing shoes. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar, Austin.
Spot the Monster – 11:00 a.m. Peeking from your scribble art, your monster peers intently. Enliven your imagination with monster books, stories, and art. A family literacy-based art program for all ages. FREE! APL – Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center Dr, Austin.
Story Time with CJ the Explorer – 12:30 p.m. Enjoy the play zone before and after the reading. FREE! All Things Kids @ The Domain, 3220 Feathergrass Ct, Austin.
Thinkery at the Library – 3:30-5:30 p.m. Youth can create electric circuits, learn to craft with redstone in Minecraft, and participate in fun physics activities. Recommended for ages 8-14. FREE! APL – Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr, 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.
Teen Craft Night – 5:00 p.m. Make cool stuff! All supplies will be provided. FREE! APL – University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln, Austin.
Holiday Music at The Driskill – 5-7:00 p.m. Ring in the holidays with seasonal music from the Arundel Ensemble String Quartet. FREE! The Driskill, 604 Brazos St, 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 music by William Clark Green and The Xmas Men. FREE, but donations to support the KDRP Radio Mission are appreciated. Guero’s Oak Garden, 1412 S Congress Ave, Austin.
Austin Carriage’s Annual Blue Santa Toy Drive – 6:30-10:00 p.m. You can exchange a new unwrapped gift ($10 value or more, please) for each passenger to receive a FREE carriage ride. The rides are about 15 to 20 minutes long depending on demand. Seating capacity is up to 6 adult passengers. Children under 4 may sit on a lap and are not counted as a seated passenger. Please help provide a merry Christmas to a deserving child. Central Downtown Fire Station, 401 East 5th St, Austin.
The Austin Symphony Presents Christmas in the Community: Woodwind Quartet - 7:00 p.m. Christmas in the Community is a series of twelve concerts held throughout the city of Austin featuring different ensembles of the orchestra playing familiar holiday music. Also featured on this series are members of the Austin Youth Orchestra, who will perform side-by-side with the Austin Symphony. FREE! ESB-MACC, 600 River St, Austin.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Free Admission to The Blanton – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FREE! Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E MLK Jr Blvd, Austin.
Music Bats Class with Gene from the Que Pastas (RSVP) – 10:15 a.m. Based on the idea that music makes every day a little better, The Music Bats encourages young children and their caregivers to spread their wings through music and play. Through singalongs, dancing and hands-on time with instruments and props, Music Bats wants kids and their families to learn one thing in the class: music=fun. Donation-based trial class; suggested donation of $10 per family. Reserve your FREE spot here. The Little Yoga House, 1211 Parkway, 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.
Holiday Recorder Concert – 10:30 a.m. Enjoy holiday music performed by a local Westlake recorder group. FREE! Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr, Austin.
Forrest Creek Elementary School Choir – 10:30 a.m. Forrest Creek’s kindergarten and first grade students sing the songs of the season. FREE! Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
KinderDance Class – 11:00 a.m. (for 2-year-olds) and at 11:30 a.m. (for ages 3-5). KinderDance encourages children to have fun and gain a love for learning by associating it with something that comes naturally — movement, music, dance, and fitness. Experience a FREE sample class. Rattan Creek Community Center, 7617 Elkhorn Mountain Trail, Austin.
Brown Bag Lunch – Noon. Join cast members of Anything Goes for a brown bag lunch. FREE! Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St, Austin.
Free Noon Concert – Noon. Take a 30-minute lunchtime break to hear Christmas music performed by the Austin Handbell Ensemble. Family-friendly and FREE! Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E 8th St, Austin.
Caroling at Noon: St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Select Choir – Noon. The Select Choir from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, under the direction of Michael Rosensteel, is an acclaimed high school chorus with a long-standing tradition of choral excellence. The ensemble performs in a multitude of styles and genres, mostly a capella. FREE! St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 E 8th St, 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 – Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr, 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 a puppet show. FREE! Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park.
Holiday Party/Fiesta de Navidad – 3:30 p.m. Celebrate with holiday stories, songs, and crafts. Say hello and take a picture with Santa Claus, too. FREE! APL – Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W Rundberg Ln, Austin.
‘Tis the Season Holiday Story Time – 4:00 p.m. Celebrate the spirit of Christmas with storyteller Bernadette Nason. All ages are invited to attend. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Holiday Music at The Driskill – 5-7:00 p.m. Ring in the holidays with seasonal music from the Arundel Ensemble String Quartet. FREE! The Driskill, 604 Brazos St, Austin.
Holiday Party/Fiesta de Navidad – 6-7:30 p.m. Enjoy crafts, music, stories, and snacks. Bring your cell phone to take a selfie with Santa. Books and stories by special guest author Tim Tingle will be featured. FREE! APL – Cepeda Branch, 651 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin.
Adult Craft Night (Pflugerville) – 6-7:30 p.m. Create unique wrapping paper for your gifts using stamps, fun cutouts, and more. Anyone age 18 and up is welcome. Materials provided while supplies last. FREE! Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W Pflugerville St, Pflugerville.
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. All-female acoustic trio The Carper Family Band play Americana and Bluegrass tunes. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Instrumental Jazz from Blackbird 3. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Yoga Story Time – 9:30 a.m. Join in a Story Time Yoga adventure where participants will stretch, read, and breathe. All ages are welcome. RSVP appreciated here. FREE! The Little Yoga House, 1211 Parkway, Austin.
Fun Fridays – 10:00 a.m. Sing! Dance! Play! Fun Fridays is 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.
Happy Birthday, Madeline! Celebration (Round Rock) – 10:30 a.m. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first Madeline book with Madeline-themed stories and activities just right for toddlers and preschoolers. FREE! Round Rock Public Library, 216 E Main St, Round Rock.
Spot the Monster – 11:00 a.m. Peeking from your scribble art, your monster peers intently. Enliven your imagination with monster books, stories, and art. A family literacy-based art program for all ages. FREE! APL – North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave, 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.
Lego Lab – 4:00 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 – Terrazas Branch, 1105 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
Eddie Dickerson Family Holiday Concert – 4:00 p.m. Growing up in a musical family, Eddie was introduced to many styles of music like bluegrass and country. By the age of fourteen Eddie was playing in his own rock band. FREE! Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin.
Free Mobile Food Pantry – 4-6:00 p.m. East Austin Children’s Promise, in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank, hosts one of the largest mobile food pantries in Central Texas at Southwest Key’s El Centro de Familia. ALL families are eligible to receive food available: no ID required and there are no income or zipcode guidelines. You may also get help applying for Food Stamps upon request. FREE! Southwest Key, 6002 Jain Ln, Austin.
Trail of Lights (Buda) – 6-10:00 p.m. Get in the holiday mood by strolling through the park and enjoying the lights. The trail is approximately 1/2 mile long. Free shuttle parking is available at Cabela’s; no parking is permitted in the park. Walk-in visitors are welcome. Hot beverages and concessions will be available for purchase. FREE! Historic Stagecoach Park, 880 Main St, Buda.
Christmas Towne (Round Rock) – 6-10:00 p.m. Featuring amazing light displays, light maze, Kiddie Express train rides, petting zoo, holiday food, holiday entertainment, and more. FREE! Fees apply for activities. Find carnival fees here. Old Settlers Association, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock 78665
Live Music at Central Market North – 6:30-9:00 p.m. Latin rock by Billy Wilson. FREE! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Live Music at Central Market Westgate – 6:30-9:00 p.m. The McMercy Family Band plays Americana/Gospel. FREE! Central Market Westgate, 4477 S Lamar Blvd, Austin.
The Elf on the Shelf Storytime – 7:00 p.m. Children will enjoy a storytime, scavenger hunt, and crafts. FREE! Barnes & Noble Arboretum, 10000 Research Blvd #158, Austin and Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley, 5601 Brodie Ln, Ste 300, Austin.
Living Nativity – 7:00 p.m. Watch Christmas come to life in this presentation of the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ while enjoying a free cup of hot chocolate and a petting zoo. FREE! Park Hills Baptist Church, 900 S Mopac, 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, Folk Family Revival performs. A special backyard menu will be available for purchase. Family-friendly and FREE! Hill’s Cafe, 4700 S Congress Ave, Austin.
In her life before kids, Emily held jobs as a zookeeper, a middle school teacher, and a tour bus driver in the wilds of Montana–not one of which prepared her for the adventures of motherhood. Now she’s living the good life in Austin with her husband, two sons and a Great Dane. When she’s not off gallivanting with her boys, you might find Emily baking up a mean batch of cupcakes, recalling obscure 80s song lyrics, or dreaming of peace and quiet.
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