This weekend you can take the kids to a colorful Thinkery Family Night, join us at the Hat Creek Back to School Bash, celebrate Austin’s favorite flying friends at Bat Fest, enjoy free star shows, watch hilarious dog tricks, cheer on the Austin Aztex soccer team, attend the Central Austin Arts Block Party, spice up your Sunday at the Austin Hot Sauce Festival, sing along to pop hits at the Alamo Drafthouse, meet Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws — and much more!
Other stuff:
Here are our Top Austin Family Events…
— Enjoy a special after-hours party at the Thinkery from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. At Thinkery Family Night, you can explore the science and art of color! There will be plenty of hands-on activities such as soap making, catapult painting, rainbow hair coloring, prism play, disappearing ink bubbles & more! Tickets are free for kids under age 2, $13 for members and $15 per adult/child non-members. Click here to purchase your tickets online.
— Check out a hilarious production from Circus Chickendog at the Dougherty Arts Center today at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Wizard of Dogz is a show full of dog tricks, juggling and more. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online here.
— Join us at the Hat Creek Back to School Bash today from 5-8 p.m.! Meet us at the Georgetown Hat Creek Burger Co. location for half-price kids meals, beer specials from Strange Land Brewing, tunes from Paul Renna — and let the kids have a BLAST with a variety of FREE activities, including the Tiny Tails to You petting zoo, an obstacle course, face painting and balloon twisting.
— Celebrate Austin’s favorite furry flying friends at the 11th Annual Bat Fest from 4 p.m. – midnight on the Congress Ave. Bridge! You’ll find 3 stages with live music, more than 75 arts & crafts vendors, plenty food & drinks, fun children’s activities, a bat costume contest and plenty of bat-themed activities! You can purchase tickets online here or at the gate (cash only on-site). Admission is $15 per person. Kids 8 and under are FREE with an adult.
— Kids of all ages are invited to kick off the school year at the GirlStart STEM Center from 9:30 a.m. – noon. GirlStart is hosting Back to School STEM Saturday with hands-on activities, mini planetarium star shows and plenty of fun for the whole family. FREE with RSVP.
— Cheer on the Austin Aztex as the take on the Orange County Blues FB at 7:30 p.m. at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. Enjoy free pre-game inflatables for the kids as well as live music & food trucks. Then check out the exciting soccer action on the field. Tickets start at $10 or you can buy a family 4-pack good for admission, hot dogs & drinks for $59. Click here to purchase tickets online.
— Spice up your Sunday at the 25th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Fiesta Gardens. Sample hundreds of hot sauces, check out live cooking demonstrations, and enjoy live music by Dale Watson & more. This family-friendly event is FREE to the public with a donation of three healthy, nonperishable food items or a suggested $5 cash donation to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.
— Celebrate Austin’s rich arts culture at the Central Austin Arts Block Party today from 1-6 p.m. at the Long Center (as well as some events at ZACH Theatre). Ten area arts organizations are working together to bring you sample performances of upcoming productions & special ticket discounts. You can also enjoy a Kids’ Zone and behind-the-scenes tours. FREE!
— Hear ye! Hear ye! Direct from Sherwood Forest Faire, Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws will be stirring up mischief again at the Austin Scottish Rite Theater in the family show, Robin Hood vs. the Potter. Showtimes today are at 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for children under 12, $12 for ages 12 & up, and free for children under 2. You can get your tickets online here.
— Before the kids & teens head back to class, let them enjoy a fun dance party & sing along before they have to hit the books and get serious about school. The Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline presents a Back to School Sing Along today at 1 p.m. Tickets are $12 (includes fun props you can take home after the show). You can purchase your tickets online here.
Have a fun weekend!
