Bring on the weekend! Check out our top 10 picks for family events! You can enjoy the music of many marching bands during HONK!TX, see exciting children’s theatre, explore free hands-on events at two Austin museums, check out the annual garden festival as well as a free samba dance show in Zilker Park, enjoy the best of New Orleans at the Cedar Park Center — and so much more!

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Here are our Top Austin Family Events...

 

— See marching bands from all over the world come play in Austin during HONK!TX. This nonprofit, community-driven festival features bands performing an array of genres ranging from European Klezmer and Balkan, to New Orleans second-line brass music. Click here to see the line-up & schedule. This fun event runs through Sunday, but it kicks off tonight from 7-10 p.m. along South Congress Ave. Free!

— Flower show, plant sale, gardening experts, live music, kids crafts, food & more — the Zilker Garden Festival will be bustling with family-friendly fun today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. This annual event, held in the Zilker Botanical Garden, has been a spring favorite in Austin for over 50 years. Click here to view all of the scheduled activities. Admission is $10 for adults, $4  for children (age 4-12), free for kids under age 4. Parking is $5.

— It’s opening day of the latest family musical from the Austin Scottish Rite Theater!  The Town Musicians of Mumbai is an original Bollywood-inspired version of Grimms’ beloved Bremen Town Musicians showing today at 11 a.m. (and tomorrow at 1 p.m.). Tickets are $8 for children & $15 for adults. You can purchase tickets online here.

— Hear ye, hear ye! ‘Tis the FINAL weekend of the Sherwood Forest Faire this year! Located in McDade, Texas, the Faire is set in a 23-acre wooded village that’s bustling with shoppes, pubs and entertainment. Click here to read all about our experience at the Faire. It is open  from 10 a.m. – dusk. Tickets at the gate are $23 for ages 13 & up, $13 for ages 6-12, and children ages 5 and under are free. You can save by ordering your tickets in advance online here.

—  Take the little ones to The Long Center for Pollyanna Theatre Company’s new play for young children.  Jamie Doesn’t Want to Take a Bath is about a little girl and her mother’s struggles over bedtime routines. Kids in the audience will get to interact with the characters while Mommy tries all sorts of things to get Jamie into the tub and to bed on time. Showtimes at shows at 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Show is best suited towards ages 2-4. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased online here.

— Enjoy an exciting evening of free entertainment under the stars on the Zilker Hillside Theatre as Austin Samba presents “Texas! A Horse Opera” at 7 p.m. This unique show features a fusion of classic Texicana and Brazilian Carnaval, a talented company of 50 performers from Austin Samba, sizzling rhythms and beautiful choreography. Take a blanket and a picnic for this free performance that’s open to the public.

— See the world of Peter Rabbit hop to life on stage at the Paramount Theatre today at 2 p.m. Peter Rabbit Tales is a magical show for children (geared towards ages 4 & up) that uses whimsical puppets, masks, dance, beautiful scenery and original music to tell the tales of Beatrix Potter. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with lots of extra fun for kids including planting seeds in pots to take home and petting real bunnies! Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online here or by calling (512) 474-1221.

— The best of the bayou is coming to the Cedar Park Center! Head over to NOLA, Texas Food and Music Festival for a crawfish boil, Cajun favorites, and music from Dr. John, Leon Russell, Asleep at the Wheel, Cowboy Mouth and more. Click here for the event schedule. The event kicks off at 12 p.m., and you can bring the whole family. Kids ages 10 and under are free! General admission advanced tickets are $30, and can be purchased online here. Tickets at the door will be $40.

— Enjoy free admission at the Bullock Museum today! At this month’s H-E-B Free First Sunday, you can explore the new exhibit all about food & culture — Our Global Kitchen. Learn the histories and traditions of the foods we eat, discover the benefits of healthy eating, and take home a tangible reminder of this global food experience. Special family programs will take place from 12-3 p.m.

— The Neill-Cochran House opens its doors today for a free Sunday Funday! Families can enjoy historically-inspired activities for children, scavenger hunts in the house, informal tours of the museum and games on the lawn. This month’s featured activity is simple machines. You can stop by from 1-4 p.m.

These are just some of the fun events happening in Austin this weekend. For more, browse our daily calendar of events!