Free City of Austin Events in November

The City of Austin has free fun aplenty planned for November.  Hold on to your hat, it’s going to be another great month!

Taiwanese American National Celebration – Saturday, November 1 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Entertainment, history, music, stories and presentation celebrating the Taiwan National Holiday presented by the Austin Chapter of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce. FREE! Asian American Resource Center, AARC Ballroom, Community Room 8, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin.

Austin Nature & Science Center Fall Festival – Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit for a FREE family-friendly fall festival! See live owl and bat presentations, find constellations in a planetarium, discover differences between the furs and skulls of different Central Texas animals, and even go on a guided hike in the Zilker Nature Preserve. FREE! Austin Nature & Science Center, 301 Nature Center Drive, Austin.

Dia de los Muertos at Mexican American Cultural Center – Saturday, November 1 from 2-10 p.m. Celebrate the cycle of life remembering our loved ones with respect, honor and joy. Food, live music and dancing for the entire family. FREE! Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., Austin.

National Chemistry Week Celebration – Saturday, November 1 from 12-4 p.m. Hands-on activities and demonstrations. FREE! Zilker Park, Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center, 2201 Barton Springs Road, Austin. 

Susanna Dickinson’s 200th Birthday Celebration – Sunday, November 2 from 1-4 p.m. Live music by the Marshall Ford Swing Band, cannon firing, cake and more! FREE! Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum, 411 East 5th Street, Austin.

AARC Community Art Exhibit – Artists’ Reception – Saturday, November 1 from 2-4 p.m. A special reception for the new AARC Community Art Exhibit including the exhibits: “Dream Image of My Asian Home: Taiwan” presented by the Austin Chapter of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce with works by Peter Chung, Barbara Hsieh, Steven Ng and Thomas You; “Taiwan: From the Outside Looking In” featuring photographs by Kelly Zhu; and “A Viewing” featuring sculptures by Roger Foster. Refreshments provided. FREE! Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin.

Adaptive Outdoor Sports Expo – Thursday, November 6 at 5 p.m. and Friday, November 7 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join a Veterans Day celebration to raise awareness about Austin-area adaptive outdoor recreation, including rock climbing, fly fishing, paddle and trail sports. The Expo will feature adventure sports presentations by Gene Rodgers on November 6 from 5-7 p.m. at Camacho Activity Center (35 Robert Martinez Jr. St.). On November 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Expo will hold a Capital Area Food Bank Drive and host over twenty vendor booths at Fiesta Gardens (2101 Jesse E. Segovia St.). The first 50 people to bring two canned goods will receive a swag bag of donated goodies!

Children and Family Nature’s Workshop – Saturday, November 8 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The purpose of this series is to explore and appreciate nature with children of all ages. Bey Acupuncture seeks to share the sincerity of nature with the community at large, promote a healthy lifestyle, and creative expression. Please dress children in clothing designed for yoga and fun. FREE! George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina Street, Austin.

Children’s Musical Workshop: Traditional Chinese Instruments – Sunday, November 9 from 1-2:30 p.m. Kids will enjoy a short performance and then get to go on stage at this interactive, FREE event! Featuring: Guzheng, Pipa, Guqin, Hulusi (gourd flute) and traditional Chinese Drum. Audience members may browse the different instruments after the program and even play with them in this uniquely Asian musical petting zoo! Featuring the Austin Chinese Chamber Orchestra, Austin Peking Opera Club and Winlanes Education. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin.

Thanksgiving Storytime and Crafts – Saturday, November 15 from 1-3 p.m. RSVP to [email protected]. FREE! George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina Street, Austin.

Master Shao Jing Qun Guzheng Studio Annual Concert – Saturday, November 15 from 7-9 p.m. Classic and modern Guzheng music presented by Master Shao Jing Qun and her students – featured solo, duet, quartet and ensemble. The Guzheng, or “Oriental piano” is a treasured Chinese musical instrument. FREE! AARC Ballroom, Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin.

“Kano” film screening and Q&A with director Umin Boya – Monday, November 17 from 6-9:30 p.m. This film, which was a blockbuster success in Taiwan in 2014, depicts the multi-racial Kano baseball team from southern Taiwan overcoming extreme odds to represent the island in the 1931 Japanese High School Baseball Championship at Koshien Stadium when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. FREE! AARC Ballroom, Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin.

Zilker Tree Lighting – Sunday, November 30 at 6 p.m. The annual Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place in Zilker Park. Enjoy local entertainment, food, novelties and live music by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble and the Barton Hills Choir. FREE! Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin.