This weekend has it all: a movie under the stars, photos with Santa in front of an iconic Austin mural, art, theatre, dance, and trapeze acts!
Weekend Top 10 Free Events in Austin:
- Creek Show – Friday and Saturday from 6-10:00 p.m. Creek Show is a way to celebrate Waller Creek and bring awareness to the future transformation coming to the creek, trails, and surrounding parks. During Creek Show, everyone is invited to experience the creek in a safe, fun, family-friendly environment while viewing five light-based art installations designed by local artists, architects, and landscape architects. FREE! Along Waller Creek between 5th and 8th St, Austin.
- Movie Night at Community Cinema: Finding Dory (RSVP) – Friday at 7:00 p.m. Grab chairs and a blanket, bring family and friends, and enjoy a special screening of Finding Dory. Arrive early to explore Community First! Village, pick your spot, and enjoy a family favorite on the big screen. Candy, popcorn, water, and sodas will be available for purchase (cash only). Concession sales and tips help Community First! friends who will be serving you to earn a modest living income. Movie begins at sundown. Reserve your FREE tickets here. A donation of $5 is greatly appreciated. Community First! Village, 9301 Hog Eye Rd, Austin.
- Lego Derby – Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. This Lego derby race will be largest Lego car race in Austin and potentially the world. The organizers hope to break five world records. Up to 768 racers will compete for the chance to become the Austin’s Lego Derby champion. There will be lots of fun, snacks (please bring a snack to share), and activities at this FREE family event. Children in kindergarten – 5th grade can register to race here. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, 5201 Convict Hill Rd, Austin.
- Dance It Out Party – Saturday from 9-11:00 a.m. You know what time it is? It’s dancing time. It doesn’t matter if you have two left feet, if you’re not a “dancer” or if you haven’t danced in years. What does matter is dancing because you have a lot to give and you have something to dance out, whether it’s love or fear, joy or frustration. Dance it out and share what you have to give. All are welcome at this family friendly event. There will be FREE dancing, light choreography, a soul line, stretching, and giggling. Baby carriers will be available if you want to jam with your little love. Whole Foods Domain, 11920 Domain Dr, Austin.
- Storybook Dance Making – Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Dance with your family, enjoy a reading of Me…Jane, and color your favorite animals. Storybook Dance Making classes include a warmup, check in activity, game, storybook reading, and dance making activity. FREE! in.gredients, 2610 Manor Rd, Austin.
- Community Thanksgiving Dinner – Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season and share a meal with neighbors, family, and friends. Enjoy live music and entertainment performances, a free hot meal, and a great time with others. FREE! AB Cantu/Pan Am Rec Center, 2100 E 3rd St, Austin.
- EAST: East Austin Studio Tour – Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Big Medium’s East Austin Studio Tour is a FREE, annual, self-guided art event spanning across two weekends in November. EAST provides opportunities for the public to meet the local artists and artisans of Austin in their creative spaces. View EAST catalog and map here.
- Paramount Theatre Storytime – Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Enjoy some incredible storytelling by performers from Paramount Discovery Theatre. Petra and the Wolf is a Texas-based retelling of the classic Peter and the Wolf. This new work inspired by the Prokofiev classic introduces young audiences to the journey of the fearless Petra. Her adventures are a showcase of female bravery and leave audiences walking away with a new sense of compassion and empathy. FREE! BookPeople, 603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
- Austin Sister Cities International’s Austin World Tour – Saturday from 2-4:00 p.m. This FREE fall festival celebrates peace and humanity through music, dance, and art. Performances feature music, dance and art of Austin’s Sister Cities including: Austin Taiko Drummers, Love of China School of Chinese Dance, Ebru: the Art of Marbling Paper by Erdem Balikci, Ballet Te Amo ATX, and singer-songwriter Jabu Mbara. The performances will be followed by a reception and information fair to introduce the public to Austin’s sister cities committees. Austin Community College Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Rd, Austin.
- Circus of Hope Flying Trapeze Showcase – Sunday from 2-7:00 p.m. Need something to help you feel connected, inspired, and just a reason to have a great time? Look no further. Circus of Hope will have two flying trapeze acts, a BMX show, an amazing aerial act, the opportunity for you and your family to participate in many of the above mentioned activities after or before the show, and circus workshops for the kiddos. This is a FREE family friendly event. Donations are encouraged to support Circus of Hope’s great cause of providing workshops to at risk and special needs youth. Circus of Hope @ The Stunt Ranch, 13317 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin.
Bonus Nearly Free Fun:
- Anniversary Party with Santa – Saturday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Help La Patisserie celebrate their anniversary and get your family photos taken with Santa. Bring friends and family to get your photos taken with Santa Claus in front of the iconic ‘Greetings From Austin’ mural, and have them in time to make it on the holiday cards. Photos are FREE with a food purchase. La Patisserie, 602 W Annie St, Austin.
- 26th Annual Fossil Fest (Round Rock) – Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learn about the fossils in your backyard at this fun and educational event sponsored by The
Paleontological Society of Austin. The show theme, “What’s in your Backyard? Prehistoric Sharks” seeks to explore and answer that question by focusing on the geologic history of Texas as told by the rock layers beneath our feet and the fossils they contain. Admission is $3.00 for adults; $2.00 for students; children aged 5 and under are FREE. Old Settlers Association. 3300 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock.
Bonus Shopportunities:
- Holiday Craft Bazaar – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Enjoy great shopping with over 75 vendors, food trucks, raffle, garage sale and entertainment. There will be a wide variety of gifts and fun items – gourmet foods, paper items, jewelry, handbags, clothes, wood crafts, beauty products, dog gifts, candles, soap and lotions, Christmas decorations and so much more. Shoppers can also enjoy performances by the McNeil choir. All proceeds fund McNeil Project Grad 2017, a fundraiser that invites all seniors to attend a safe and fun celebration free of alcohol and drugs on graduation night. Admission and parking are FREE! McNeil High School, 5720 McNeil Dr, Austin.
- Art From the Streets Show and Sale – Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Original artwork created by over 70 Austin’s homeless or at-risk artists for sale. Proceeds from the sale go to each artist. Meet the artists. Learn their stories. Experience their joy. These artists have attended free studio times 3 days a week, creating one of a kind pieces all year long for this one-time sale. Art From the Streets is a local nonprofit offering Austin’s homeless or at-risk an encouraging space for artistic expression for those who need it most. Please help “Give Art a Home.” $5 suggested donation at door. Austin Convention Center, 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
More Events Beyond Austin:
- Star Party (Cedar Park) – Friday at 8:00 p.m. Star gaze on a state-of-the art computer guided telescope. View through the telescope, take telescope assisted photos with your smartphone, and learn major stars and constellation positions along with the planets and moons. Learn how to read a star map, and much more. Weather permitting. FREE! Texas Museum of Science & Technology, 1220, Toro Grande Dr, Cedar Park.
