This weekend we hope you have a very happy Valentine’s Day! Besides sharing time with loved ones, you can watch major league soccer, visit a brand new science center, go hunting for fairies, learn all about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, have tons of ye olde fun at the Sherwood Forest Faire, enjoy a children’s play about a rabbit & coyote, talk to city lamp posts and much much more.

Other stuff:

topfamilypicks

Here are our Top Austin Family Events

friday

 

— Take the kids over to Terra Toys, to make your own valentines from 2-4 p.m. Kids can decorate to their heart’s content with paper, glitter, stickers, and all other supplies provided. Free!

— Soccer fans, get ready for some awesome action beginning at 5:45 p.m.! Major League Soccer is coming to Austin as the Austin Aztex present the inaugural ATX Pro Challenge. This four team tournament will also be held on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015 at UT’s Mike A. Myers Stadium. For ticket info and pricing details, click here.

 

saturday

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

— Visit the brand new, family-friendly science center opening today in Johnson City. The Hill Country Science Mill will open it’s doors for a Grand Opening Celebration from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Everyone’s invited in to “fall in love with science” in a whole new, unique environment that sparks creative learning with hands-on science fun. Admission is free for children under 2, $6.50 for ages 2-18 and students, $8 for adults, $6 for Seniors (65+) and Military.

— Check out the new exhibit at UT’s Harry Ransom Center that celebrates 150 years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The exhibit is centered around Lewis Carroll’s beloved book, and runs through Monday, July 6. Learn about the real Alice who inspired the story and much more. Free! Weekend hours from noon – 5 p.m.

— Families are invited to The Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. where they can make a miniature underwater ecosystem to explore how nature affects art. This hands-on art-making workshop is geared towards children ages 2 – 11. $10 per family, $5 for museum members.

— The Earth Native Wilderness School in Bastrop, TX is hosting a fun workshop from 10 a.m – 3p.m. where kids ages 6-12 can build Forts and Fairy Houses. $35 per child. You can register online here.

 

sunday

 

— Take a family outing to the 6th Annual Sherwood Forest Faire! Be magically transported back in time at this fun-filled, charming Renaissance Faire based on the tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Enjoy faeries, swordplay, theatre, magic, comedy, and games. The Faire will run every weekend through Sunday, Mar. 29 from 10 a.m. – dusk in McDade, Texas. Tickets at the gate are $20/per adult and $10/per child. If you order online here, you tickets are only $17/adult and $9/child. For more info and ticket options, click here.

— Enjoy a fun afternoon in the Zilker Botanical Garden talking about Faeries and their Flowers from 1-4 p.m. Kids will go on a scavenger hunt through the garden in search of faeries’ favorite plants, herbs, and flowers. They can also help plant flowers that attract faeries and learn about the healing and mystical qualities of plants. This special family event is free with regular Garden admission. $1 for children (ages 3-12) and seniors (62 and over), $2 for adults, Austin resident (ages 13-61), $3 for adults, non-resident.

— Families are in for a treat when Duncan Tonatiuh’s award-winning children’s book, Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale, comes to life on the stage at the Scottish Rite Theatre at 2 p.m. In this play, Pancho Rabbit meets danger at every stage of his journey to find his missing Papá. Tickets are available online here and will also be sold at the door. $8 for kids 12 and under, $12 for adults. Read our review of the show

—  “Wake up” lamp posts, mail boxes, hydrants, or even buildings all over Austin and discover what these objects have to say. The hidden life of Austin’s street furniture comes to light with Hello Lamp Post, an art project created by London-based designers Pan Studio. You will be able to strike up conversations with familiar objects by texting. For info on how to do it, click here.

Have a fun weekend!