Austin.com Weekend Top 10 FREE Events: October 21-23, 2016

Celebrate Arbor Day, Diwali, world music and more! There is plenty of outdoor fall fun to be found this weekend in Austin!
Weekend Top 10 Free Events - Free Fun in Austin

Weekend Top 10 Free Events in Austin:

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. The tradition of Shakespeare in Ramsey Park continues with this new fall show. Something for Nothing Theater company produces the plays with minimal props, costumes, and lighting, focusing on storytelling and the wonderful language of Shakespeare. FREE! Donations accepted. Ramsey Park, 4301 Rosedale Ave, Austin.
25th Annual Austin Arbor Day – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Volunteers will plant 100 native trees along the newly built Walnut Creek trail. There will be a brief ceremony to read the Arbor Day Proclamation, tabling events, DJ music, and refreshments. Families are encouraged to participate in tree related activities including tree planting, educational booths, and seed ball making. FREE! Southern Walnut Creek Hike & Bike Trail Entrance, 7800 Johnny Morris Rd, Austin.
Boo-Fest – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Celebrate Halloween with Jack’s Mom In Austin and Staci Gray. Staci will be performing some of her fantastically spooky songs while you and your little enjoy treats from Magnolia Lee Baking & Sugar Art, some costume fun from It’s My Party, free facepainting, and carnival games. JMIA will be providing treat bags with healthy and organic treats from Happy Family and Eats For Tots. There will also be a costume contest for the little ones, plus amazing raffles and giveaways to benefit the four Community Partner finalists. Boo-Fest admission is FREE! in.gredients, 2610 Manor Rd, Austin.
Nature In Motion – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Join 4H CAPITAL for a family friendly event with hands-on activities exploring motion and nature including: animal locomotion, seed dispersal, nature walks, robotics demonstrations, citizen science, and more. FREE! Austin Nature & Science Center, 2389 Stratford Dr, Austin.
Texas Archeology Month Fair – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. In partnership with the Texas Historical Commission, UT’s Texas Archeological Research Laboratory is hosting this public Archeology Fair. The Fair will feature hands-on activities for kids and adults, demonstrations from the community of professional archaeologists, and displays that highlight Texas’ rich archeological history. FREE! Main Soccer Field at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Rd, Austin.
Diwali Festival of Lights – Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. Sparkle up your Diwali with joy and ignite the flame of spirituality in your heart. Join Radha Madhav Dham for the magnificent festival of Diwali, the festival of lights. Festivities include: food stalls, fireworks display, games, sparklers, chanting, keynote speech, colorful performances, outdoor dandiya (dancing), and live music. Admission and parking are FREE! Radha Madhav Dham, 400 Barsana Rd, Austin.
Movie Music in the Park: Willy Wonka – Saturday from 6-9:30 p.m. Enjoy a night under the stars as the Grammy Award-winning McCallum Orchestra takes you on a journey of movie music through the years. This year’s music will be played to a newly re-edited movie montage that will feature old favorites along with new arrangements and movies. This fun musical montage will begin just after dusk and immediately following (at dark) will be a screening of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. FREE! Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin.
Pit Bull Awareness Day Festival – Sunday from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Local non-profit Love-A-Bull is hosting this festival, which is open to everyone including well behaved leashed dogs. It is a great kid friendly event including over 40 vendors, FREE pet vaccination clinic, food, fun and entertaining demos, Pit Crew Therapy Dogs reading with children, face painting, dog costume contest, and more. Admission is FREE! Rosewood Park, 2300 Rosewood Ave, Austin.
Last Straw Fest – Sunday from Noon to 5:00 p.m. This festival will feature pumpkin carving, fall activities, games, music, food trucks, crafts, yoga and more. Admission is FREE but donations will be accepted. UMLAUF Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E Lee Rd, Austin.
Our World Family Music Festival – Sunday from 4-8:00 p.m. Celebrate Austin’s diverse cultures on one stage with an afternoon of music, dance, and cultural booths. COA’s Museums and Cultural Programs will be onsite with family fun activities and sharing the awesome stories Austin has to tell. Plus, get information on ways for you to get involved. FREE! Zilker Hillside Theatre, 2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.

Bonus Shopportunities

Fairytale Threads Austin – Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hundreds of families are selling the clothes, toys, and gear their kids have outgrown for prices that will make you smile. You’ll find clothes from newborn through teen sizes, shoes, books, gear, toys–tens of thousands of items, all clearly priced, organized, and under one roof. Items marked “reduce” will be 25% off on Friday and 50% off on Saturday. Admission is FREE! Austin Sports Center South, 425 Woodward St, Austin.
Children’s Business Fair – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. See 117 young entrepreneurs in action. Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup businesses. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at this one-day marketplace. Admission is FREE! Pease Mansion Lawn, 6 Niles Rd, Austin.

More Events Beyond Austin

Star Party (Cedar Park) – Friday at 8:00 p.m. (Please note new start time.) 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.
Touch a Truck (Round Rock) – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Touch a Truck provides a unique opportunity for children to explore vehicles of all types – public service, emergency, utility, construction, transportation, delivery, and just plain cool – all in one place. They will be allowed to touch, climb on, and ask questions about their favorite trucks in a safe, supervised environment. Accompanying personnel will teach the children about the equipment displayed and how these machines help our community. There will be a “no horn hour” from 11:00 a.m. to noon. FREE but guests are encouraged to bring a canned food item donation to donate to the Round Rock Serving Center. Old Settlers Park, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock.
Pumpkin Hunt (Elgin) – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5:00 p.m. The Pumpkin Hunt includes a wagon ride into the Christmas tree fields where mini pumpkins are hidden in the trees. After the Hunt, enjoy pumpkin decorating on the pavilion (pumpkin purchase required) along with great concessions and other activities and games. Admission and parking are FREE! Some activities require ticket purchase. Evergreen Farms, 242 Monkey Rd, Elgin.
Pumpkin Patch Family Festival (Dripping Springs) – Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 7:00 p.m. Offering fun and activities for the whole family, the pumpkin patch will feature kid-friendly programming, vendors, and live music. Admission is FREE! Proof & Cooper, 18710 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs.
Fall Concert: Great Orchestral Movie Themes – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a family-friendly evening of exciting music. Listen to the music of your favorite movie themes, from the classics to recent blockbusters. FREE! Sweet Home Baptist Church, 3200 Sunrise Rd, Round Rock.