Music Under the Star – Friday, July 17 from 6-9 p.m. Bring the whole family, camp chairs, and blankets to enjoy live music by Ben Kweller with East Cameron Folkcore. Concessions available for purchase. Free parking in the museum garage, starting at 5 p.m. FREE! Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N Congress Ave, Austin.- Zilker Summer Musical: Hairspray – Friday, July 17 – Sunday, July 19 at 8:15 p.m. Zilker Theatre Production’s summer musical is a cherished Austin cultural event. The 57th Annual Zilker Summer Musical, Hairspray, winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is a high-energy musical comedy phenomenon that will have the whole Hillside on their feet. Set in 1962 Baltimore, this musical is chock full of dazzling, toe-tapping production numbers and soulful rhythm and blues. FREE; donations greatly appreciated. Bring $5 to park in Zilker Park. Zilker Hillside Theater, 2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
- Family Field Day – Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. – noon. In order to gather families and engage them in a fun day that promotes health and fitness, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the first Family Field Day at Muller Lake Park. Enjoy fun field day events like relay races, obstacle course, rock climbing wall and soccer and football activities. There will also be static displays from the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department. All events and activities are FREE. Muller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin.
- Get Pop-Cultured: Star Wars Saturday and Manga Mania – Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. Stop by your local Barnes & Noble for pop culture fun! On Saturday, Star Wars fans of all ages are invited to dress in costume and enjoy activities, trivia, Hans Solo Target Practice, and more. On Sunday, discover Manga, a popular style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, and learn to draw Manga from the pages of Manga for the Beginner. Activities and times vary by location. Check the schedule at your local Barnes & Noble.
- Literacy Luau at Bright Horizons (Round Rock) – Saturday, July 18, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Celebrate early literacy with us at a Literacy Luau! This Hawaiian-themed event will offer fun literacy activities for families and a hula dance performance from Island Rhythms Hula Company. Bright Horizons at Round Rock, 7210 Wyoming Springs Dr, Round Rock.
- Kids Club Music Hour – Saturday, July 18 at 10 a.m. Sing, dance, jump, and shout with Mr. Johnny, Sharon, Nick, Amber and the Hoppettes. Tickets are $3 at the door, but Free Fun in Austin readers can get a FREE family pass here. Scottish Rite Theater, 18th & Lavaca, Austin.
- Ney Day Redux – Saturday, July 18, from 12-5 p.m. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s historic Elisabet Ney Museum will host the third annual Ney Day–a free, fun, family-friendly event–to commemorate Elisabet Ney, her art, her story, and her legacy by celebrating women’s creativity. Ney Day activities will include music, sculpting demos, food trucks, ices, hula hoopers, caricatures, technology activities, clay crafting, health screenings, bookmaking, tours of the museum, and more! The musical lineup includes Yes Ma’am Brass Band, Naga Valli, Elizabeth McQueen and her band EMQ, and The Djembabes. Those attending this event are welcome to picnic on the grounds of the museum’s 2.5 acres. FREE! Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 E 44th St, Austin.
- 1000 Cranes Origami Festival – Sunday, July 19, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. This family-friendly celebration includes cultural performances, music, and origami-based crafts for kids. Asian Families Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) will also unveil its Thousand Cranes of Peace art installation, a multimedia display incorporating 1,000 origami cranes. FREE. AARC Ballroom, Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin.
- Texas Farmers Market at The Domain – Sunday, July 19, from 3-6 p.m. Texas Farmers Market at The Domain is a relaxed Sunday afternoon event where you can look, smell and taste fresh vegetables and artisan foods from local vendors and farmers. It is a festival of foods and fun for the whole family! Surrounding the lawn area in front of iPic Theater, 3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, Austin.
- Austin Symphony Hartman Foundation “Concerts in the Park” – Sunday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. The Hartman Foundation FREE “Concerts in the Park,” presented by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, bring the community together, just as similar events did in town centers years ago. This Sunday, the Woodwinds ensemble will play. Program here (pdf). Free Parking is available at One Texas Center located on Barton Springs Rd. at S. 1st Street. Long Center, 701 W Riverside, Austin.
Bonus “free with admission” event:
- Splash Party Movie Night: Jurassic Park – Sunday, July 19 at dusk. See the original Jurassic Park, while cooling off in the 72-degree water of Deep Eddy Pool, the oldest swimming pool in Texas. Regular admission covers both pool entrance and the movie. Pool admission is free for children under 1 year, $1 for a Child (1-11), $2 for a Junior (12-17), $3 for an Adult (18-62), and $1 for a Senior (62+). Non-residents add $1. Deep Eddy Pool, 401 Deep Eddy Ave., Austin.
Bonus adult event:
- Austin Uptown Dance Open House – Saturday, July 18, from 3-5 p.m. Enjoy FREE beginner classes, followed by Open Dance! No partner necessary. Austin Uptown Dance, 8868 Research Blvd, Suite 706, Austin.
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