This weekend you can train to be a Jedi, learn about prehistoric sea monsters at the 25th Annual Fossil Fest, peek into art studios & attend several special events during the East Austin Studio Tour, smash piñatas at the first-ever Piñata Picnic, have a blast at a giant pizza party & carnival at Home Slice, get dolled up with the little ladies at the American Girl fashion show — and much much more!

 

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Other stuff:

Here are our Top Austin Family Events...

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— Young Jedi (ages 5 & up) can join the Austin Public Library for crafts and activities as they celebrate the epic saga of Star Wars! FREE Jedi Training Camp will begin today at 4 p.m. at the Twin Oaks Branch. This week’s session will be “Fight the Empire! Storm Trooper Training Camp.” (There will be 4 different sessions of Jedi Training Camp. Click here for the dates and locations.)

— Enjoy a little stroll along Waller Creek between 5th St. & 8th St. to check out the free Creek Show in which Waller Creek transforms into a walkable community space from 6-10 p.m. featuring five illuminating works of art. This light-based art will be on view through Sunday, Nov. 21.

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— Dig into some fun with your budding paleontologists at the 25th Annual Fossil Fest today (and tomorrow) from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Old Settlers Association Meeting Hall (next to the Dell Diamond in Round Rock). Fossil Fest includes hands-on activities, fossil touch tables & dig pits, and the chance to talk with UT scientist, educators & Paleo Society members. This year’s focus is on prehistoric sea monsters! Admission is $3/adult, $2/child (6-12), children under 6 are free.

— Bring the family to Austin’s first-ever Piñata Picnic! Held on the waterfront of Edward Rednon Sr. Park at Festival Beach from noon – 4 p.m., you’ll find piñatas everywhere for the community to view and for children to break! This event is part of the East Austin Studio Tour and will highlight the Las Piñatas art installation. Free event! Click here for more info.

— Drop by The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m for their FREE art-making workshop that’s part of their monthly Second Saturdays are for Families series. Kids can explore the hidden histories of the Driscoll Villa, time-travel with imaginative performances from UT theatre students, and make their own cyanotype print using a unique photography process. Roger Hiorns’s interactive bubble machine will be activated at 1 p.m. for the kids to play in, and theatre performances will take place at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.

— Get ready for a big, crazy pizza party today from noon – 7 p.m. at the 10th Annual Carnival O’ Pizza at Home Slice. Kids of all ages will have a fun time with carnival-inspired games, music, photo booths, raffles, contests, fortune tellers, dancers, mustache painting, hair styling and so much more. Admission is free, but games will cost a small fee, and of course pizza and other concessions will be for sale. Click here for the schedule of events.

— Your little ones will love rocking out at the CD Release Party for Austin children’s musicians, Joe McDermott and Staci Gray, on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. This kid-crazy afternoon will be held at the Austin Scottish Rite Theater, and there will also be a Springfree Trampoline at the party for kids who want to bounce while they jam. Tickets for the show are $7 per person, which you can purchase online here.

 

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— Raise funds for Dell Children’s Medical Center at the 7th Annual American Girl Fashion Show held at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol. Your little ones and their favorite dolls can attend this fun-filled event either at 11 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. Tickets for this fundraiser are $50 which can be purchased online here.

— Austin’s Art in Public Places Program is celebrating 30 years with a big Party for the People  today from  2-4 p.m. at their iconic public art space: Open Room Austin (a.k.a. that giant picnic table near the Seaholm Power Plant). This event is free, open to the public and family-friendly. At this party you can enjoy tunes from Yes Ma’am Brass Band, see the butterfly bike from Austin Bike Zoo, get refreshments from local businesses & more. Free, but RSVP here.

— Take the kids to see their favorite lovable silly bear on stage at ZACH Theatre! Winnie the Pooh is an adorable musical production for families with a show today at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for youth and $20 for adults. You can click here to purchase tickets online or call the box office at 512-476-0541 x1. Click here to read our review.

Have a great weekend!