This weekend you can enjoy free movies and music under the stars, watch thousands of rubber ducks race down Lady Bird Lake, sample lots of frosty treats at the Austin Ice Cream Festival, go to a Carnival of Books, paint with ice cubes, go to a Rock Fest, watch a free musical for kids, show your team spirit at the Texas Longhorns Football Fan Day — and much more!

 

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Here are our Top Austin Family Events…

 

— Take the kids to the Terrazas Branch of the Austin Public Library at 2 p.m. for a Free Magic Show from the Fantastic Kent Cummins and the Amazing Adele. The show is for all ages and will including music, comedy, juggling and audience participation.

— Join the fun at Pfluger Park at 8 p.m. for a free Mary Poppins screening & sing-along! Bring the whole family, a blanket or lawn chair, cash for concessions and be ready to sing about “a spoonful of sugar”!

— See 10,000 yellow rubber ducks float down Lady Bird Lake at the 2nd Annual Austin Duck Derby, hosted by the Austin Boys and Girls Club Foundation. Eco-friendly “adopted” rubber ducks will be launched into the water from the Ann Richards Bridge on Congress Avenue at 11 a.m. During the race, you can enjoy kid’s activities, music and food at the mini festival on the grounds of the Austin American Statesman’s West Parking Lot. Click here to adopt a duck so you can join the fun.

— I scream, you scream, all of Austin can scream for ice cream at the 9th Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival! Families can head to Fiesta Gardens from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., for TONS of ice cream, kids activities, music, contests, food trucks and more. Admission is FREE for kids ages 8 & under and $10 for everyone else. Each attendee entering with paid admission will receive three tickets to redeem ice cream from a huge variety of vendors. You can purchase your tickets on site or in advance online here.

— Check out beautiful rocks, minerals, crystals, fossils & more at Nature’s Treasures. They’re celebrating 15 years in Austin with their 2nd Annual Rock Fest from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. with games and free activities for the whole family along with a huge yard sale.

— BookPeople is throwing a Carnival of Books from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Enjoy a special storytime, bookish carnival games, a family read-aloud, giveaways, a scavenger hunt and cake! Click here for the schedule of events.

— You can take the family to Laguna Gloria where the kids can paint with ice during this month’s Second Saturdays event. Kids ages 2-11 can create drippy watercolor paintings using ice cubes and see a live ice sculpting demonstration. Drop in and create anytime between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The cost is $10 for families ($5 for members).

—  The Austin Summer Musical for Children kicks off today with Junie B. Jones the Musical! Enjoy this free show on Saturdays and Sundays through August 23 at the Boyd Vance Theater at the Carver Museum. Tickets will be available ONLY at the door 30 minutes before show times. First come, first served. Showtimes:

• Saturdays: August 8, 15, and 22 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
• Sundays:  August 9, 16, and 23 at 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.