Spring is here and the events going on around town just keep getting better and better! Here are the top 10 FREE events happening in and around Austin this weekend.
Weekend Top 10 FREE Events: April 6-9, 2018
- Chalkboard Poets at Central Market Westgate
Friday, April 6 | from 6 to 9 p.m. | Central Market Westgate, 4521 West Gate Blvd.
Join Chalkboard Poets for a family friendly evening of folk rock and good times at Central Market Westgate. FREE to attend. FREE parking. Food and beverages available from Central Market Cafe. Bring your dancing shoes! - First Friday Art Walk
Friday, April 6 | from 6 to 9 p.m. | Twyla, OLA Gallery, Art.Work Austin, Den Property Group, Various Locations in Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin’s art galleries are teaming up to bring you First Friday Art Walk, a special night designed to celebrate the Austin arts community taking place in downtown Austin from 6 to 9 p.m.! Enjoy extended hours, special performances, live music, art giveaways, drinks and bites at some of Austin’s most up and coming downtown art venues. Hosted by Twyla, OLA Gallery, Den Property Group and Art.Work Austin, First Friday Art Walk is a night to foster friendships between locals, artists and the downtown businesses that support them.
- JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE Free Outdoor Screening
Friday, April 6 | from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. | The Community Cinema at Community First! Village, 9301 Hog Eye Rd.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes invites you to a FREE movie night at Community First! Village. Grab chairs and a blanket, bring family and friends, and enjoy this special screening of Jumanji. Get there as early as 6:30 to explore Community First! Village, pick your spot, and enjoy your favorite movie snacks. Hot dogs, milkshakes, popcorn, candy and drinks will be available for purchase (cash preferred). The event is free, however a $5 donation would be highly appreciated. - The Trail Foundation’s 15th Birthday Party
Saturday, April 7 | from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Festival Beach, 2101 Jesse E Segovia St.
Join The Trail Foundation as it celebrates its 15th anniversary with a fun, family-friendly Birthday Party featuring refreshments, live entertainment, a birthday cake, children’s activities and games, yoga session, swag giveaways, and more! Grab a picnic blanket and meet out at Festival Beach along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail for this community-wide celebration.
- 17th Annual South Asian New Year Festival
Saturday, April 7 | from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Zilker Ampitheater, Zilker Park
The South Asian New Year Festival, or “Pohela Boishakh”, is an annual outdoor celebration showcasing the culture and diversity of South Asia. Now in its 17th year, the South Asian New Year Festival draws over 5,000 people each year. The Hillside Theater Stage will feature live dance and music performances along with authentic programs highlighting the colorful diversity of South Asian Culture. Off stage, visitors will be enticed to enjoy the wonderful foods and merchandise available in the Bazaar. With food, ethnic clothing, jewelry, crafts, henna, and more, this festival has all the ingredients to represent the rich tapestry of South Asian culture! FREE admission. - Kitten Shower
Saturday, April 7 | from 12 to 3 p.m. | Austin Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Ln.
Kitten Season is nearly here and the Austin Humane Society needs your help to be prepared for the hundreds of tiny kittens that will soon be coming through their doors! This family-friendly event includes cuddly kittens available for snuggles and adoption, as well as, fun music, games, and tasty treats from the bake sale! This is a FREE event, but please bring an item to donate from their wish list and you’ll receive a discounted ($20) adoption rate for cats, dogs, and kittens. - 2018 Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off & Heritage Festival (Cedar Park)
Saturday, April 7 | from 1 to 5 p.m. | Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd., Cedar Park
Enjoy live music, free inflatables, pony rides, petting zoo, sack races, stick horse rodeo for ages 3 – 8, and a corn on the cob eating contest.. Fees apply for face painting, carnival games and rides. The Heritage Festival will be held in conjunction with the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-off. - BEE WILD! Stories of the Science and Conservation of Pollinators
Sunday, April 8 | from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave.
Join The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Integrative Biology at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for the 2018 Jean Andrews Lecture! A FREE reception including science and conservation exhibits, activities, snacks, and native plant prizes will begin at 11:30 a.m., and will be followed by a science talk at 1 p.m. about the fascinating world of pollinators and the work being done to protect them. The talk will be given by Dr. Laura Burkle, a professor at Montana State University. The reception and talk are FREE and open to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend! - April Family Day
Sunday, April 8 | from 12 to 4 p.m. | UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd.
JWelcome Spring at the UMLAUF with trampolines, dance, music, balloon art, popsicles, and more! Children’s Yoga w/ Leti at 12:15 p.m., followed by a performance from DANZA, Center for the Arts, at 1 p.m. A sing-along with Armstrong Community Music School at 1:30 p.m. and the afternoon ends with a performance from B TRU ARTS at 3 p.m. The event is totally FREE and open to the public. - Edible Austin Children’s Picnic
Sunday, April 8 | from 1 to 5 p.m. | Rosewood Park, 2300 Rosewood Ave.
Bring a blanket, sit in the sunshine, plant a square foot garden, meet farmers and enjoy bites from local food vendors. There will be live music, storytelling and endless activities!
