It’s time to take advantage of this gorgeous weather and get outside! From live music and Harry Potter fun to gardening and cultural celebrations, there’s something for everyone on the list this weekend. In the mood for some Easter festivities? We’ve rounded up some of those for you, too!
Weekend Top 10 Free Events in Austin:
- First Friday Block Party – Friday from 6-9:00 p.m. in.gredients is celebrating its final First Friday Block Party with its current nonproft partner, Women’s Community Center of Central Texas, which will receive 1% of the night’s proceeds. Ethan Azarian will be live with his eclectic tunes, along with a special musical guest. The evening will feature samples from ENP Coffee Co., Outlaw Imports Yerba Mate, and Boulanger Fermentations. Plus, there will be a tap takeover by Austin Beerworks. Enjoy craft brews and samples from local vendors in a kid-friendly, dog-friendly environment. Admission is FREE! in.gredients, 2610 Manor Rd, Austin.
- KUTX Live at Mueller – Friday at 7:00 p.m. Pack the blankets and saddle the Rody Horse because KUTX is headed back to Mueller for another round of music and fun for the whole family. KUTX and Mueller will bring you a kid-friendly act – The Que Pastas – followed by rock ‘n’ roll for the grown-ups by Leopold and His Fiction. The music begins at 7:00 p.m., but face painting for the kids and food for purchase will be available before the show starts. FREE! Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin.
- Clean Sweep (RSVP) – Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Join more than 4,000 volunteers for the Keep Austin Beautiful 2017 Clean Sweep, the largest annual city-wide service day spanning 130+ sites throughout the greater Austin area. The network of cleanups is followed by a not-to-be-missed volunteer party featuring FREE t-shirts, lunch, live music, children’s environmental activities, recycled art, a unique object contest, door prizes, and more. Cleanups from 9-11:00 a.m. View cleanup locations and register here. Party follows at Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon St, Austin.
- East Austin Garden Fair – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This fun, hands-on fair involves community members in creative, low-cost ways to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit to improve the family diet as well as information about Earth-kind landscaping. Travis County Master Gardeners will offer University-based information to fairgoers on a diverse variety of horticulture topics, while Community Partner Organizations will provide information on closely-related services, programs, and projects. The fair features an assortment of DIY and demonstration activities, including building a rain barrel, raised bed or compost bin, and information about waterwise irrigation methods and gardening in containers and straw bales. Learn how to care for house plants as well as your garden tools. Booths on backyard chickens and beekeeping are a big hit with all ages and there will be plenty of activities for kids. FREE! Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, 2608 Gonzales St, Austin.
- Sábados en Familia – Saturday at 10:00 a.m. You and your family are invited to enjoy a variety of arts and wellness activities as well as a free healthy lunch. This month, in honor of Earth Day, the focus will be on the significance of “Pachamama,” the Inca equivalent of Mother Earth. Special guest Sevylla del Mazo, founder of Roots & Rhythm, will lead percussion classes to celebrate Pachamama. The event is FREE but pre-registration is encouraged. Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St, Austin.
- 16th Annual South Asian New Year Festival – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The South Asian New Year Festival, or “Pohela Boishakh,” is an annual outdoor celebration showcasing the culture and diversity of South Asia. 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. Admission is FREE! Zilker Hillside Theater, 2206 William Barton Dr, Austin.
- Saltillo Day Outdoor Festival – Saturday from 1-4:00 p.m. Saltillo Day is a celebration of a celebration of the sister city relationship between Austin and Saltillo. This family-friendly outdoor event will feature music, art, and cuisine from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Admission is FREE! Plaza Saltillo, 412 Comal St, Austin.
- Austin Shakespeare Reads Harry Potter – Saturday from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Actors from Austin Shakespeare will kick off the event by reading passages from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. If audience members are interested in joining the fun and reading a 2-minute passage from any book in the series, they can sign up for a slot starting at 4:00 pm. Guests are encouraged to wear their Harry Potter gear. All ages welcome. FREE! Brentwood Social House, 1601 W Koenig Ln, Austin.
- 5th Annual Waller Creek Pop-Up Picnic – Saturday from 6:30-10:00 p.m. This community picnic is an Austin favorite, inviting everyone to experience Waller Creek with friends and family. Picnic baskets prepared by some of Austin’s best restaurants are available to pre-purchase here, or you can bring your own spread. Listen to music, catch up with neighbors, and watch the sunset over the Austin skyline. Admission is FREE! Palm Park, 711 E 3rd St, Austin.
- Zilker Park Free Day – Sunday all day. In celebration of Zilker Park’s 100th Anniversary, all amenities in Zilker Park will be FREE on Sunday, April 9th. From Barton Springs Pool to the Zilker Botanical Garden, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum to the Zilker Zephyr, all of these and so much more, will be FREE for Austinites and visitors alike to enjoy all day long. As part of the event, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum will also be hosting Family Day, inviting you to explore the collection, create art, listen to stories, practice yoga, watch sculpture demos, enjoy live music, and more. View the schedule of special events here. Parking at Zilker Park will be free, but limited. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
Bonus Shopportunity:
- Twice Loved Children’s Consignment Sale − Saturday from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Are you and your family looking for great deals on top-quality kids’ clothing (from infant to size 16), gear, car seats, toys, books, feeding and bathing essentials, bikes, furniture, decor, maternity wear, and more? If so, then this is the sale for you. All items are inspected for quality and safety and all purchases are tax free. Early Bird shopping is from 7–8:00 a.m ($3 entry; includes free coffee). General shopping is from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ($1 entry), with many items 50% off after noon. Get $1 off admission with this flyer. Austin Sports Center, 425 Woodward St, Austin.
Bonus Bunny Fun and Easter Egg Hunts:
- Teen Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt − Friday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Teens can win gift card prizes. FREE! Dottie Jordan Recreation Center, 2803 Loyola Ln, Austin.
- Easter Eggstravaganza (Georgetown) − Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Hippity Hoppity, Easter’s on its way! Grab your basket and join Georgetown Parks and Recreation for their annual Easter Eggstravaganza. There will be candy and toy-filled eggs to gather, and a grand prize egg for each age division. Don’t forget your camera for a free photo with the Easter bunny. FREE! San Gabriel Park, 445 E Morrow St, Georgetown.
- Play for All Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt (Round Rock) (RSVP) − Saturday at 9:00 a.m. This family-centered event focuses on active participation for children with various disabilities or limitations. Hunt for the eggs high and low; look for the golden eggs for special prizes. Special needs children and their siblings can participate in this hunt. The event is FREE but pre-registration is encouraged. Play for All Abilities Park, 151 N AW Grimes Blvd, Round Rock.
- Easter Celebration − Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Enjoy arts and crafts, pictures with the bunny, and the Egg Hunt that begins at 10:30 am. Bring your basket. FREE! Montopolis Rec Center, 1200 Montopolis Dr, Austin.
- Community Easter Egg Hunt ($1) − Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Egg hunt begins at 11:15 a.m. Arrive early for fun Easter activities. $1 per child. Metz Rec Center, 2407 Canterbury St, Austin.
- Egg Hunt (Brushy Creek) − Saturday at 10:00 a.m. You’re invited to enjoy children’s activities, egg decorating, age appropriate egg hunts, pony rides, face painting, a performance by Joe McDermott, and pictures with the Bunny. Bring your camera! FREE! Cat Hollow Park, 8600 O’Connor Dr, Round Rock.
- Easter Egg Drop Extravaganza (San Marcos) − Saturday at 11:00 a.m. 75,000 eggs will be dropped from a helicopter in a designated zone for the kids. There will be multiple drops for different age groups, as well as a specific area just for toddlers. In addition to the Egg Drop, there will be fun activities for the entire family: inflatables, face painting, a photo booth, a live DJ, and the Easter bunny. FREE! San Marcos High School, 2601 E McCarty Ln, San Marcos.
- Easter Fun for Every Bunny − Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Bring the family, pets included, to your nearest PetSmart for FREE photos with the Easter Bunny. Plus, meet cuddly pets and go on a CritterTrail® Scavenger Hunt.
- Easter Egg Decorating Competition (RSVP) − Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Bring your kids to the Delysia Chocolatier Culinary Center for an Easter Celebration, complete with a tasty treat. Each child will get a chocolate Easter egg to decorate with special chocolate markers so they can show off their artistic abilities. Encourage your kids to get creative, because Delysia will be hosting a friendly Easter egg decorating competition. Parents, this will be a fun (and delicious) event for you, too. They’ll have delectable Delysia chocolates available for tasting at the event just for the grown-ups. FREE with RSVP. Delysia Chocolatier Culinary Center, 2000 Windy Terace, Ste 2C, Austin.
- Easter Bunny Bonanza − Sunday from 1-4:00 p.m. Pet real, live bunnies! Enjoy cookies, carrots, and refreshments! Plus, receive a very special, limited edition Terra Toys adoption certificate and care package with each plush bunny purchase. Admission is FREE! Terra Toys, 2438 W Anderson Ln, Ste C1, Austin.
- Kite and Bubble Festival − Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Bring your kites and bubbles and join Texas Oaks Baptist Church for an afternoon of fun. Don’t have a kite or bubbles? No problem! They’ll have plenty for everyone. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Refreshments will be provided. Easter Egg Hunt for all ages starts at 4:30 p.m. FREE! Texas Oaks Baptist Church, 9910 Bilbrook Place, Austin.
More Events Beyond Austin:
- Bluebonnet Festival (Burnet) − Friday from 2-11:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Always taking place the second weekend in April, the Bluebonnet Festival draws 30,000 people annually to Burnet. The weekend is full of activities sure to please all ages. There’s something for everyone such as live music, a carnival, food, races of all kinds, and lots and lots of shopping. View the full schedule of events here. Admission is FREE but some activities do require ticket purchase. Historic Downtown Burnet.
- Bicycle Rodeo (Pflugerville) − Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This event offers bicycle registration, safety instructions, riding instructions, 8 different challenges, Police, Fire and EMS demonstrations, child IDs, and displays by Central Texas Law Enforcement Agencies. FREE! Pflugerville High School Parking Lot, 1301 W Pecan St, Pflugerville.
- Youth Fishing Derby (Round Rock) − Saturday from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Presented by the City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department, bring your children to enjoy fishing and demonstrations. The event is FREE but pre-registration is strongly encouraged and participants must check in before fishing. Appropriate for children ages 3-12 years, and all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Participants will need to provide all of their own equipment. Bright Lake at Old Settlers Park, 3300 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock.
- Hands on History (Georgetown) – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Children can get up close and personal with the history of Williamson County, learn something new, and create their own artifacts. This month, learn all about the 100th anniversary of the US joining World War I. FREE! Williamson Museum, 716 S Austin Ave, Georgetown.
- 13th Annual Spring Powwow (Georgetown) – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. All are invited to this Native American social gathering featuring traditional singing and dancing. Admission is FREE! Southwestern University, 1001 E University Ave, Georgetown.
