Austin’s own version of the Super Bowl, Dino Day, a Snow Day, and MORE… Feel the love all month long by checking out the best FREE events February has to offer!
Special thanks to this month’s Don’t Miss Events sponsor, Cirque Italia! Cirque Italia’s newest show, Aquatic Spectacular, is coming to Austin! They’ll astound and entertain audiences with a one-of- a-kind production that combines water fountains, jet-skis, pirates, and more in a fun filled atmosphere all ages are sure to enjoy. The show will be held February 2-5 and 8-11 under the blue and white circus tent in the Barton Creek Mall parking lot. Tickets start at just $10, and when you purchase one adult ticket in levels 2 and 3, you can get a child’s ticket (ages 2-12) for free! Just enter FREE at checkout!
Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids
Saturdays in February | from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Lakeshore Learning, 9828 Great Hills Trail
February 3: Rainbow Blower; February 10: Buzzing Valentine Mailbox; February 17: Sweet Dreams Dream Catcher; February 24: Cool Cat Paper Puppet. FREE.
Free Kids’ Music at Cherrywood Coffeehouse
February 4, 11, and 25 | at 10 a.m. | Cherrywood Coffeehouse, 1400 E. 38 1/2 Street
February 4: Big Don; February 11: Groundwork Music; February 25: Staci Gray will be performing FREE all ages shows. Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
Nature’s Numbers Exhibit
ONGOING January 20- May 6, Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sunday noon- 5 p.m. | Nature and Science Center, 2389 Stratford Drive, Austin, TX 78746
Play with math and nature. Create a foundation for mathematical inquiry by exploring repeating patterns, shapes, structures, and puzzles found in nature. FREE
The Austin Humane Society’s 11th Annual Puppy Bowl
February 3 | from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Austin Humane Society, 124 W Anderson Ln
Austin Humane Society’s 11th Annual Puppy Bowl kicks off with a football-themed, family-friendly tailgate fully stocked with adoptable puppies! If you’re not looking to adopt, snuggle up with puppy players while the kiddos enjoy fun activities and local vendors. FREE!
Austin Dinosaur Day
February 3 | from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Austin Nature and Science Center, 2389 Stratford Dr
Dino touch tables, dig for fossils, and lots of dinosaur facts. FREE!
Snow Day at Wolf Ranch
February 3 | from 12 p.m.to 3 p.m. | Wolf Ranch Town Center, 1015 W University Ave, Ste 601, Georgetown
It’s the second annual snow day at Wolf Ranch! Are you ready for a SNOW DAY?! Make snow angels, toss snowballs, tube down a slide, and snow much more FREE fun, until the snow runs out! Park in the area east of Gold’s Gym, in front of the large pond.
Sunday Funday: Pop-Up History
February 4 | from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel St
Sunday Fundays at the Neill-Cochran House Museum feature historically-inspired activities for children, scavenger hunts in the historic house, and informal tours of the museum. Movable image books date back at least to the 18th century, but they were not mass produced until 1930. By designing and building your own pop up, you’ll get to think a little bit about the know-how it took to bring these familiar childhood books into our homes and lives – and have fun being creative, too! Staff and volunteers will be available to help with designs and pop-up book making, and there will also be pre-made pop-ups that younger kids can decorate and take with them. FREE!
Drop-In Tours: Jones Center
February 4 | at 1 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin, Jones Center, 700 Congress Ave
FREE first Sunday of every month. Drop in and view the art via a conversational tour with a knowledgeable docent.
Drop-In Tours: Laguna Gloria
February 4 | at 1 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St
FREE first Sunday of every month. Drop in and view the art via a conversational tour with a knowledgeable docent.
Art of Celebration Opening Reception
February 9 | from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Art for the People Gallery, 1711 S 1st St
Join over 45 Austin Artists and Art for the People as they host their second annual Art of Celebration. With an array of art from ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, water color, and more; 10% of sales will go to Share Art Heal and VSA Texas. FREE Admission, but make sure you register!
Second Saturdays are for Families: Pipe Monsters
February 10 | from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St
A FREE monthly art activity sponsored by HomeAway for ages 2-11. This month make monstrous sculptures, play noodle-y lawn games, and get inspired by the giant new sculptures in the meadow by artist Carol Bove.
Kite Making Workshop
February 10 | from 1 p.m. to 3p.m. | Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E Rundberg Lane
Fly on by and learn how to make a FREE kite for the annual ABC Kite Festival. Children will have the opportunity to make multiple kites and then fly them in the park!
Umlauf Family Day
February 11 | from 12 to 4 p.m. | 605 Robert E. Lee Road
Family Days offer special, hands-on programs designed for families with children, ages four to ten years old. Families have the opportunity to explore the UMLAUF while engaging in creative activities. Listen to stories, do yoga in the garden, watch sculpture demos, enjoy live music and more. FREE and open to the public.
Third Thursdays at the Blanton
February 15 | from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Every third Thursday, the Blanton has a FREE themed event that features extended hours, multiple programs in the galleries, tours, and other offerings.
Social Justice Creative Writing: Building Poems from the Heart Up
February 15 | from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Prizer Gallery, 2023 East Cesar Chavez Street
FREE writing workshop led by award winning poet, Amanda Johnston.
Say Thanks, Closing Ceremony
February 16 | from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Austin City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street
Say a final THANK YOU to the nine amazing Central Texas volunteers and find out the final results of the 2018 Say Thanks Austin campaign. Each recipient of the 2017 RecognizeGood Legend award will be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Austin, and almost $20,000 in pay-it-forward donations will be presented including a $10,000 donation for the first place finisher. FREE!
Liberty! Equality! And Fireworks!
February 17 | at 2 p.m. | LBJ Library, 2313 Red River St
Pollyanna Theatre returns to LBJ Library with their acclaimed production of Gregory S. Perrin’s Liberty! Equality! And Fireworks! The program is FREE, open to the public, and intended for students in grades 3-7.
Austin Alternative School Fair
February 18 | from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Spider House Ballroom, 2906 Fruth St
Join us at the Spider House Ballroom to visit with some of Austin’s most effective educators from innovative learning environments where children and teens thrive. You’ll learn about wondrously different schools and other educational programs serving students from preschool age through high school. Each booth will have something interesting to engage your kids while you talk to the educators about their unique offerings. The Fair is brought to you by the Education Transformation Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and co-sponsored by Spider House Ballroom and Alt Ed Austin. FREE.
Date Night at the DAC: Love Refigured
February 21 | from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road
Bring a partner, friend, parent or even a blind date and work alongside nationally acclaimed artists to learn the art of portraiture, both as the artist AND the model! Paint your partner (figuratively speaking) and be painted in return! Find artistic inspiration through the current exhibit by Austin Figurative, “Refigured: Radical Realism” in the Dougherty’s Julia C. Butridge Gallery. FREE!
Inversion Ensemble presents Colors Harmonic
February 25 | from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Westminster Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 3208 Exposition Blvd
This thrilling concert centers around color as inspiration for the text and music. Explore the full spectrum of visual and musical colors in this fully immersive artistic experience. Arrive early to enjoy an art installation by local Austin artists and bid on pieces in our silent auction. FREE.
Chinese New Year Celebration
February 25 | from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Chinatown Center, 10901 N Lamar Blvd
Welcome the Year of the Dog with special performances, family-friendly attractions, and food. FREE.
Rodney McMillian Teacher Workshop
February 27 | from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | The Contemporary Austin, Jones Center, 700 Congress Ave
A FREE facilitated gallery conversation exploring Rodney McMillian’s timely exhibition and its themes. Attendees earn transportation and substitute reimbursement along with 2 hours of CPE credit.
