This weekend you can enjoy Halloween fun at the Austin Zoo, walk haunted trails at Pioneer Farms, play with bubbles at Laguna Gloria, dig for artifacts at the French Legation Museum, watch Annie in Mueller Lake Park, enjoy storytime with your favorite Star Wars characters, see a Dia de los Muertos play, rock out with the kids at ACL Music Festival, enjoy some fall fun on a farm — and much more!
Other stuff:
- Pumpkin Patches Around Austin
- Halloween Events
- Tips for Taking the Kids to Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Top 10 Family Friendly Restaurants
- Win Free Stuff
- Review: Barton Hill Farms
Here are our Top Austin Family Events…
— It’s opening night at the annual Boo at the Zoo at the Austin Zoo! Children can put on their costumes and stroll the through the zoo and peek at the animals by flashlight from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Kids can also ride the Haunted Train and explore the Haunted House. Tickets are $12.50 per person which can be purchased by phone at 512-288-1490. (Please note that this event happens every Fri. & Sat. through Oct. 30.)
— Things are getting spooky at Pioneer Farms tonight (as well as Fridays & Saturdays through Oct. 24) from 7-10 p.m.! Their annual Haunted Halloween Trails feature “Grimm’s Ghostly Tales” this year with three separate spooky trails each night — one for young children (amusing, rated G), another for those who want spooky surprises (rated PG) and a scary, scary trail for the adventurous (frights galore, rated PG-13). Admission is $12 per person and can be purchased online here.
— It’s a great night for a Movie in the Park at Mueller Lake Park Amphitheater. See a free screening of the newest version Annie at dusk. Popcorn will be served at 6:30 p.m., and you’re also welcome to bring picnics and blankets to spread out (no chairs). Free parking is available in the McBee Parking Garage near Simond Ave.
— It’s weekend two of Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park! Amazing music, great local bites, drinks, art vendors and some of the best people-watching ever. If you’re heading to ACL, keep in mind that kids ages 10 & under can tag along for free. Check out our Tips for Taking the Kids to ACL for all to consider before you go and look through our Guide to ACL for info about the lineup, getting there, shopping, eating & more at the festival.
— Kids are in for a really fun time at a Bubble Blowout at The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. As part of their monthly Second Saturdays are for Families series, everyone’s invited to this free event where kids can learn how to sculpt a unique bubble wand, test their bubble-making skills, then catch a magical performance by a local bubble artist!
— In celebration of Texas Archeology Month, the French Legation Museum is hosting Dig In! — a free, fun event for families from 1-5 p.m. Children will get to excavate artifacts in a mock dig plus many more hands-on activities.
— Fall Family Fun Days start today at Crowe’s Nest Farm (and continue every Saturday this month) from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Take the kids for hayrides, cow milking, FaerieWood, pumpkins, homemade foods and more! $9 for adults, $7 for ages 3-12, $3 for 2-year-olds, free for under age 2.
— It’s Star Wars Reads Day — a celebration that pairs the joy of reading with kids love of that galaxy far, far away. Bookstores, libraries, and retailers will participate in this event, featuring storytimes, costume contests and more. Click here to check out the list of Austin area events where you can join the fun on Star Wars Reads Day!
— The Scottish Rite Theatre is celebrating el día de los muertos with this stage version of Yuyi Morales’s award-winning books Just a Minute and Just in Case. You can catch a show of Just a Minute! A Dia de los Muertos Play at 12:30 p.m. today. Tickets are $7 for children 12 & under and $13 for ages 13 and up. You can order your tickets online here or get them at the box office before the show. This weekend, they are offering Buy One Get One Free tickets! Use promo code “BOGOJAM” at checkout.
— Go enjoy some fall fun at the Barton Hill Farms’ Fall Festival & Great Pumpkin Corn Maze from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. General admission is $8 for ages 3-10 and $11 for ages 11 & up and includes entry into the grounds, the corn maze, pumpkin patch and slides. An Adventure Pass can be purchased for $11 for ages 3-10 and $15 for ages 11 & up and includes unlimited access to the jumping pillow, cow train, trike track, pumpkin painting, and pony hops. Children ages 2 & under are free. SAVE $1 by ordering tickets in advance here. Read our review here.
Have a great weekend!
