This weekend you can take your pick of Halloween parties, have tons of free family fun at the Texas Book Festival, try a new trail on your bike, listen so “boo-tiful” music at the Long Center, go to an Austin Film Fest family screening, participate in a pumpkin carving contest and much much more!

Other stuff:

Here are our Top 10 Austin Family Events…

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Friday:

— The Bullock Texas State History Museum is hosting a family-friendly Spooktacular from 5-8 p.m. Put on your costumes and head over to the museum for the Halloween extravaganza, featuring performances, games, activities, art, and more for kids ages five and up. Free!

– Take a trip to Halloween Town at the Northwest Recreation Center from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. This annual Halloween event features a Trick or Treat Path & Carnival for all ages. Free!

Saturday:

— The Texas Book Festival takes place on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol both Saturday and Sunday with tons of free, family fun for kids of all ages! These two days are jam-packed with all kinds of activities, food, book signings, story times, author sessions and a whole lot more. Free!

–  Throw on your costumes and head over to The Domain for a big Halloween Party on the Plaza from 3-5 p.m. Check out frightfully fun activities from Halloween crafts and a cake walk to live music by Superband and a balloon twister. Kids can trick-or-treat, get their face painted, or stop by the mini pumpkin patch for a photo, too. Free!

– Dittmar Recreation Center will be hosting its annual Halloween Spooktacular at 7:45 p.m. which will consist of a carnival with food and games; a haunted house, and a Movie in the Park showing of Hocus Pocus. Free!

— Get your bikes ready and plan on enjoying the day outside at the Southern Walnut Creek Trail Grand Opening and celebrating the inaugural Austin BikeFest! Check out the trail and enjoy live music, food trucks, kids activities and even taste some Texas-made microbrews from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free!

— A Year with Frog and Toad at ZACH Theatre is a “must see” show for kids! Take the whole family to this high quality musical production at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. where the characters from Arnold Lobel’s books come to life on stage! Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online here.

— Get a sneak peek at a family films showing for free during the Austin Film Festival. Disney’s Big Hero 6 is playing at 3 p.m. at Galaxy Highland 10 Theatre and Shipwrecked in 4D is playing at 12:30 p.m. at Texas Spirit Theatre in the Bullock Museum. Each of these films is suitable for the whole family, but be sure to get there really early. Seating will be first come, first served. Free!

Sunday:

–The Austin Symphony presents its annual Halloween Children’s Concert at 2 p.m. at the Long Center, featuring mindchilling songs that are entertaining for all ages! The entire family is encouraged to join in on the fun and dress to impress in their favorite costumes while attending a concert full of “boo-tiful” music. Tickets from $8.

– Check out the Pumpkin Carving Competition at Umlauf Sculpture Garden from noon – 4 p.m. Learn the tricks of the trade to carving a jack-o’-lantern from Professor Pumpkin. Then enter your masterpiece in the competition to win bragging rights and prizes. Admission is free when you bring three healthy, nonperishable food items to donate to the Capital Area Food Bank.

— Enjoy some outdoor family time at the Fall Festival & Corn Maze at Barton Hill Farms where you’ll find games, a “Go Horns” corn maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals and more. Open Saturdays 10 a.m. – 10 pm. and Sundays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Nov. 9, 2014. Admission is $8 for ages 3-10 and $11 for ages 11 and up and includes entry into the corn maze. An Adventure Pass can be purchased for an additional $5 and includes unlimited access to a jumping pillow and train. Children ages 2 and under are free. SAVE $1 by ordering tickets in advance here. Check out our review for more info!


Have a fun weekend!