H-E-B Free First Sunday: Go West!
October 1 from noon to 5:00 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave, Austin
Enjoy FREE exhibition admission all day during H-E-B Free First Sundays, held the first Sunday of every month. Families can explore the Story of Texas through three floors of exhibitions that showcase artifacts from around the state. Special family programs from 12-3:00 p.m. combine art creation, exploration stations, and gallery activities. You can pose as a bandit, choose your old west name, and make your own wanted poster; create a torn paper landscape inspired by the west; enjoy a live reptile show and learn all about desert reptiles with Capital of Texas Zoo; giddy up for a western themed storytime; and move like animals of the west with The Little Yoga House.
Sunday Funday
October 1 from 1-4:00 p.m. | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel St, Austin
The Neill-Cochran House Museum is presenting a FREE, hands-on, pinhole camera workshop to offer visitors a look at early photographic techniques. Museum volunteers will walk visitors through the total process from assembling their camera to the finished printed image. Due to high demand, it is recommended that visitors reserve tickets online. This workshop is open to all ages, however, children 12 and younger may require the assistance of an older child or adult. Visitors are encouraged to bring their lunch to picnic on the grounds, as the museum cafe will be closed this Sunday. Entry to the museum is FREE for all visitors to Sunday Fundays and includes access to the exhibits on display in the historic house, annex, and grounds. Parking is available free of charge behind the museum.
Harvest of Fall Fun (Marble Falls)
Now through November 8 (closed Wednesdays) | 1801 FM 1980 Marble Falls
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 1-5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Closed all Wednesdays. Parking is FREE. The pumpkins and gourds are individually priced. Admission is FREE, but each activity has a fee. Activities include a hayride, corn maze, and pumpkin painting just to name a few. Payment by cash or check only. (Check the website for exact directions as GPS isn’t always accurate for this location.)
Free Monday Tango
October 2 from 8-11:30 p.m. | Native Hostel and Bar & Kitchen, 807 E 4th St, Austin
Everyone is welcome to a fun Tango Night at Native Hostel and Bar & Kitchen. The evening starts with an intro lesson to authentic Argentine Tango (no experience or partner needed) and follows with two hours full of social dancing with wonderful guest DJs. This is a great way to extend the weekend. This event is 100% FREE, kid-friendly, and two left feet are welcome!
Krispy Kreme Family Night
October 4 from 6-8:00 p.m. | Krispy Kreme Austin Locations
There will be doughnut decorating, arts and crafts, and it is FREE!
Starry Nights
October 5 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. | Girlstart STEM Center, 1400 W Anderson Ln. Austin
Girlstart’s STEM Studio and Mini-Planetarium is a unique space for families to explore astronomy. Starry Nights are held the 1st Thursday of every month (except January, June, July and August), with each month featuring a new astronomy experience and related hands-on activities. This month, you can create a solar system in a jar, engineer a device prototype to take soil samples on other planets, design your own satellite dish, and xplore the planets’ path of revolution around the sun. All ages are welcome to stop by any time between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. RSVP is recommended, but not required, to attend. FREE!
Chalk Walk (Round Rock)
October 6 from 5-10:00 p.m. & October 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Centennial Plaza, 301 W Bagdad Ave, Round Rock
Enjoy chalk artists creating artwork on the streets, plus musicians, vocal groups, theatrical performances, food and drinks, and children’s performances by local organizations and schools. Art is the theme and chalk is the medium. From start to finish, participating artists will create art in full view of the public, who are encouraged to interact with the artists as they use their amazing talents to create beautiful murals. FREE!
Home Depot Kids Workshop
October 7 from 9:00 a.m. to noon | Home Depot Stores
Hands-on workshop where you and your child can build a cute coin bank with a fire station design. Once the bank is built, your child can decorate it with paint and stickers. All kids get to keep their project, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin. FREE!
Pfamily Pfestival & EXPO (Pflugerville)
October 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | 105 Swenson Farms Blvd, Pflugerville
More than 80 merchant booths, door prizes, children’s activities, performers, demonstrations, and public safety displays will be part of the Expo.
Pumpkin Hunt (Elgin)
Weekends in October | Evergreen Farms, 242 Monkey Rd, Elgin
Visit for the Pumpkin Hunt, a special day with the Down Home Ranch Friends at Evergreen Farms. Hours: Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sundays, from 1-5:00 p.m. Admission is FREE, but some activities cost $2.50 to $5.
Texas Teen Book Festival
October 7 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | St Edward’s University, 3001 S Congress Ave, Austin
This year’s Festival will feature nationally and critically recognized authors, writing workshops, and workshops for educators. The Texas Teen Book Festival is FREE, open to the public and, no, you don’t have to be a teen to attend. All ages are welcome.
Cars and Coffee
October 8 from 8:00 a.m. to noon | The Oasis on Lake Travis, 6550 Comanche Trail, Austin
Enjoy a low-key display of classic cars. FREE!
UMLAUF Family Day
October 8 from noon to 4:00 p.m. | UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Robert E Lee Rd, Austin
Family Days offer special, hands-on programs designed for families with children ages 4-10 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!
Texas Archaeology Month Fair
October 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | JJ Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Rd, Austin
The University of Texas’ Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory and the Texas Historical Commission are partnering to host the annual Texas Archaeology Month Fair, a FREE, family-friendly event that offers fun and educational hands-on activities for kids, older students, and adults. Bring your kids, scout troops, and friends of all ages to learn about the archaeology that’s happening around us all the time. See examples of Texas’ rich archaeological legacy and see how archaeology plays an important part in environmental conservation and scientific research. Visitors will get the chance to view artifact displays, see presentations by professional archaeologists, and check out activities including stone tool making, rock art, blacksmithing, spear throwing (in a very controlled environment!) and a mini mock excavation.
Second Saturdays are for Families: Tree Tales
October 14 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Laguna Gloria, 3809 W 35th St, Austin
What do the trees have to say? Learn about Austin’s towering residents from the educators of environmental nonprofit TreeFolks, and use them to make beautiful prints to take home. Check out some tree-themed works of art and play on our temporary tree stump playground! The Contemporary Austin offers FREE monthly hands-on art-making activities, brought to you by HomeAway. Recommended for ages 2-11. Reservations are requested for family art-making workshops; please reserve your spot here beginning the 1st of the month.
Red Barn’s Annual PumpkinFest
October 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Red Barn Garden Center, 12881 Pond Springs Rd, Austin
PumpkinFest 2017 will be FREE and will feature a bounce house, candy, pumpkins, and more!
Diwali Festival of Lights in Austin
October 14 from 5:00 p.m. to midnight | Radha Madhav Dham, 400 Barsana Rd, Austin
Austin: Sparkle up your Diwali with Joy at Radha Madhav Dham! Ignite the flame of spirituality in your heart. Join in the magnificent festival of Diwali, the festival of lights, at Radha Madhav Dham Austin. This is one of the most favorite Indian festivals of the year. Admission and parking are FREE!
Koo Koo Kanga Roo
October 15 from 3-6:00 p.m. | The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin
Koo Koo Kanga Roo is the dance-a-long comedy show from Bryan and Neil, two friends who set out to experiment with live music and make it more fun. Armed with nothing more than an iPod, two mics, one giant rainbow, and some gold sneakers, Koo Koo Kanga Roo puts on an all-ages dance party that invites everyone to join in. Whether you know them from “brain break” videos in your classroom, the Warped Tour, or a late night bar show, you’ve probably gotten sweaty dancing to their jams at some point. The concert will also feature Riders Against the Storm at 3:30 p.m. and Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship at 4:15. Koo Koo Kanga Roo plays at 5:00 p.m. All ages welcome. FREE!
Third Thursdays at the Blanton
October 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin
Every third Thursday, the Blanton has a FREE themed event that features extended hours and multiple programs including yoga in the galleries, tours, and other offerings. Thursdays are always FREE at The Blanton.
Movie in the Park: Death Becomes Her
October 19 at 7:15 p.m. | Pan Am Park, 2100 E 3rd St, Austin
Get in the Halloween spirit with this camp-tastic throwback starring the incomprable Meryl Streep, Godlie Hawn and Bruce Willis. The movie starts around 7:15, but arrive early to grab your spot! Bring your blanket or lawn chairs (and a picnic dinner!) for a fun and relaxing evening under the beautiful Austin night sky. Rain Date: November 2nd.
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