Weekend Top 10 FREE Events (Oct 10-12, 2014)

1. Movies in Your Park at Mueller: Home Alone – Friday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. Bring the kids to enjoy a family-friendly movie. Make yourself comfortable by bringing snacks and blankets, but please no chairs or other equipment that could block the view of other attendees. Feel free to stop by one of the Mueller food eateries to purchase a quick bite to eat. Activities will start at 6:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk. Rated PG. FREE! Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater, Corner of Aldrich St & Simond Ave, Austin.
2. Shakespeare on the Farm: The Tempest – Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. Present Company presents Shakespeare’s classic tale of love, magic, and one helluva hurricane. Promoting the philosophy of accessible and sustainable art, Shakespeare on the Farm is a FREE event, but a suggested donation of $10-$20 helps support the event and the artists that create it. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or short chair and a picnic, although snacks and donation-based cocktails will be available. Suitable for all ages. Seating starts at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at about 7:30 p.m. RSVP here to guarantee your spot. Rain Lily Farm, 914 Shady Ln, Austin.
3. Star Wars Reads Day – Saturday, October 11. Stars Wars fans are invited to attend FREE storytimes, costume contests, and themed activities all over town. For a list of local Star Wars Reads Day events, click here.
4. Fall Youth Fishing Tournament – Saturday, October 11, from 9 a.m. – noon. Wells Branch hosts the annual youth fishing tournament for ages 17 and under at Mills Pond. Enrollment into the tournament is FREE for all youth and trophies and prizes will be awarded. Fishing poles, hooks and bait will be provided for those anglers who show up without.  The pond will be stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department prior to the event. All state fishing regulations apply. Mills Pond, 15099 Mallard Green Ln, Austin.
5. Storytime at Mexican American Cultural Center – Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m.  The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is proud to offer Leer y Crear, a bilingual storytime for families. The Dead Family Diaz by P.J. Bracegirdle will be read in an interactive setting and then participants will be lead in an art activity related to the story. This program is FREE and all ages are welcome. ESB-MACC, 600 River St, Austin.
6. Dig in! Archeology Day – Saturday, October 11 from 1-5 p.m. This FREE event lets kids explore archeology through hands on activities. Kids get their hands dirty with a mock dig, curating their own museum exhibit, piecing together pottery puzzles, and more. Plan to take a tour of the oldest home in Austin including archeological discoveries of the site (but note that the regular admission cost of $5 per person applies to the tour). French Legation Museum, 802 San Marcos Street, Austin.
7. Literature Live! Not So Scary Stories – Saturday, October 11 at 1 p.m. Not So Scary Stories is a splendiferously snazzy story spectacular that is anything but scary. Children ages 3 and up will have a marvelous time with these interactive stories and puppet tales, leaving the program knowing that they “ain’t afraid of nuthin’!” FREE! Recycled Reads, 5335 Burnet Road, Austin.
8. Classical Music for the World Concert Series – Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12 at 4 p.m. On Saturday, enjoy “From Italy to Russia.” On Sunday, return for the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Music Class Concert. Both concerts are FREE, but donations will be accepted at the door. First Baptist Church of Austin, 901 Trinity St., Austin.
9. Movie at Whole Foods Arbor Trails: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Saturday, October 11 at 7 p.m. Head to Arbor Trails for a FREE movie screening on a giant inflatable screen! The screen will be set up in the field across from Whole Foods Market. Bring your own blankets and chairs. Seating starts at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at sunset. Rated PG-13. Whole Foods Market Arbor Trails, 4301 W. William Cannon, Austin.
10. Dia de los Muertos at the Library – Sunday, October 12, from 1-2:30 p.m. A time for books and stories. A time for fun. With laughing skulls and lively music, maskmaking ‘midst fluttering butterflies. A family literacy-base art program for all ages. FREE! Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe Street, Austin.

Bonus fun in the ‘burbs:

• Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm (Marble Falls) – Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11 from 8:30- 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 12 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Harvest the fall fun at Sweet Berry Farm with corn mazes, Berry Bouncers, pumpkin painting, stuff your own scarecrow, hay rides, train rides, ice cream, and more. Admission and parking are FREE; activities have a fee. Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980 (directions), Marble Falls.
• Pet Fest (San Marcos) – Saturday, October 11, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pet Fest is a celebration of all pets, both large and small. Restrained animals with nice manners are welcome. Costumes are also encouraged! Bring a pet or just come meet pets from shelters and rescues who are waiting to be adopted. The festival is located in the park by the beautiful San Marcos River with events throughout the San Marcos Plaza Pavilion Park. Admission is FREE, but it is requested that attendees bring a donation of dry pet food. Cash donations are also accepted and all contributions are tax-deductible. San Marcos Plaza Pavilion Park, 401 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos.
• TechShop Anniversary Open House (Round Rock) – Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Join TechShop for an Open House as the store celebrates its 2nd anniversary! Tours, equipment demos, The Nerdy Derby, a Maker Market and more!  If you have ever wanted to check out the shop, this is the day to see all the action and magic that happens there! FREE! TechShop Austin-Round Rock, 120 Sundance Pkwy, Ste 350, Round Rock.
• Sacred Springs Powwow (San Marcos) – Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. This event will celebrate the Native American culture that has been part of the San Marcos area for thousands of years. Admission is $3 per adult or FREE with a donation of two cans of food for the food bank. Children, students, elders, and veterans get in FREE. Meadows Center (previously Aquarena Center), 921 Aquarena Springs Drive, San Marcos.
• Hands-On History (Georgetown) – Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Celebrate International Archaeology Day by discovering the archaeology of Williamson County. What is archaeology and what can be found in Williamson County? Learn about Leanderthal Lady and the Gault Site during Hands On History. Children will make their own excavation site with artifacts. FREE! The Williamson Museum, 716 S. Austin Avenue, Georgetown.
• Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Hunt (Elgin) – Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 12, from 1-5 p.m. The Pumpkin Hunt is a family-friendly event where children of all ages can enjoy fall activities. All activities are ongoing throughout the day, allowing families to customize their experience at the farm. Pumpkins of all sizes will be available for purchase. The premier event, the Pumpkin Hunt, includes a wagon ride into the Christmas tree fields where mini pumpkins are hidden in the trees. Afterward, enjoy pumpkin decorating on the pavilion along with the other activities and games: maze, firetruck ride, train ride, face painting and more. Activities are ongoing all day. FREE admission; activities and games cost $2.50 – $5 each. Evergreen Farms, 242 Monkey Road, Elgin.
• Diwali GivingFest (Manor) – Saturday, October 11, from 4-8 p.m. This FREE family-friendly event invites Austinites to peek into Indian culture and traditions and enjoy FREE entertainment! This colorful and festive program will feature an original play on Diwali, performances from Divyathrayam School of Dance, theatrical classical ballet, high energy dances and a musical production. Manor High School Cafeteria, 12700 Gregg Manor Rd, Manor.