Fall weather may not have gotten the memo yet, but the fall events definitely have. This is one of the biggest weekends we’ve seen in a while, with festivals, live music, family events, and plenty more happening all over Austin. Basically, good luck choosing! Here are our top picks for the weekend.
Painting with Grandparents @ Delores Duffie Recreation Center
Friday, Sept. 11 | 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm | FREE! Call 512-978-2465 to register
Celebrate Grandparents Day with a little creative time together! Kids and their grandparents can paint side-by-side with an easy, step-by-step project designed for all ages and skill levels. You’ll leave with a colorful keepsake to take home. Get more info here.
Editor’s note: While looking into this event, we realized how much Delores Duffie Recreation Center has going on! There’s a pottery studio, tons of youth programming, and a newly renovated playground right outside. Definitely one to keep on your radar.
via Pease Park
Puppet Show with Small Wonders @ Pease Park
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 10 am – 11 am| FREE with RSVP here
Bring a blanket and settle in at Pease Park for a free puppet show from Small Wonders Entertainment! Kids can sing, dance, and laugh along with the performance at the Kingsbury Commons amphitheater. All ages are welcome, and registration is encouraged. Make some time to play at the park before or after the show, too! Register here.
Art in the Park @ Trailhead Park
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 10 am – 11 am | FREE
Get creative outside with Austin Parks Foundation’s free Art in the Park series! Head to Trailhead Park for a morning of nature-inspired art projects with Painting Pandas. Supplies are provided, and kids of all ages and abilities are welcome to join in. Art in the Park is part of APF’s larger In the Park series, with free family events happening in parks around Austin throughout the year. Check out our guide to the full series here!
51st Annual Pecan Street Festival
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 11 am – 9 pm | Sunday, Sept. 13 | 11 am – 8 pm | FREE admission & parking
The 51st Annual Pecan Street Festival returns for two days at Hill Country Galleria with hundreds of artists and makers, live music, food, kids’ rides and plenty to browse throughout the weekend. Admission and parking are both free, with Blackillac headlining Saturday and Jon Deas and Da Homies on Sunday. Get the full lineup here.
Editor’s note: This is the festival’s second year at Hill Country Galleria, and we’re fans of the new location. Free parking and the open-air Galleria setup make this one pretty easy to tackle with kids. Plus, you can always duck into a restaurant or shop for an AC break!
¡Viva México! @ ESB-MACC
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 4 pm – 9 pm | FREE
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the 19th annual ¡Viva México! at the ESB-MACC. This free, family-friendly celebration includes live mariachi and local bands, folklórico and Aztec dance performances, children’s art activities, games, and a vendor market. Stick around for El Grito, followed by mariachi and a Ballet Folklórico grand finale. The event is alcohol-free and open to everyone. Get more info here.
Austin Farm Sanctuary via UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum
Sunday, Sept. 13 | 11 am – 4 pm | RSVP for FREE here
Head to UMLAUF for a free Family Day inspired by Charles Umlauf’s animal sculptures and the creatures that call the garden home. Kids can make DIY bird feeders, go on a sculpture search, enjoy storytime with an ASL interpreter, and catch a circus performance from The Jungle Movement Academy. Local animal and wildlife organizations will also be there throughout the day. RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-ups are welcome.
More Weekend Events:
- Clue @ Penfold Theatre
- Cassi McCreight: But Art is Awful @ BookPeople
- The Mr. Gabe Music Show: Family, Music & Movement @ Lonestar Dance Center
- Japanese-English Storytime, Crafts & Snacks @ Austin Public Library Milwood Branch
- Peace-N-Rhythm Festival @ George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center
- SEF Dandiya Dhamaka 2026 @ Round Rock Sports Center
Check out our Do512 Family Calendar for more awesome things to do with your family in Austin. Don’t forget to tag us on social!
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