Don’t you just love Austin Museum Day? We sure do! Not only are more than 35 local cultural institutions offering free admission on this day, they also present tons of special activities for you and the kids to enjoy. Austin Museum Day takes place on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 with so many exciting things to see and do.

We know you probably already have your favorite museums in mind, but Museum Day is a great time to branch out and try something new. Maybe there’s a place you’ve never been before? Here we’re sharing a few Museum Day highlights that stand out as something extra fun and unique for the family. So before you pack up the kids and head to your favorite go-to spot, check the Austin Museum Day map and browse this list to see if something different is in order this year.

Top Picks for Austin Museum Day:

Lawn Games at the French Legation Museum
Bring a picnic and take the family for a lovely afternoon playing traditional French games on the gorgeous lawn of the French Legation Museum. Take a free tour of the oldest existing home in Austin, built in 1841 by the French chargé d’affaires to the Republic of Texas. Then try your luck at Marbles and, perhaps, Pétanque. 1-5 p.m.

Portraiture in the Park at the Elisabet Ney Museum
You can get a free caricature, make a cyanotype portrait, create masks of your friends and family, have a portrait bust made of you in our photo booth, write word portraits, watch stone portrait carving, and much more. Food and dessert trucks will be on site, or you can pack your own picnic to bring along. noon – 5 p.m.

Farm Animals, Music and Activities at Pioneer Farms
Farm animals, blacksmithing demonstrations, live music and more will be offered at the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms. It’ll be a family-friendly day when you can literally step back in time to see what Texas was like during the 1800s, featuring historical reenactments at several of the five restored heritage sites and more. A special Watkins Products sales party will be underway most of the day at the authentic Jackson & Giles General Store. Food and historical novelties will be on sale in Sprinkle Corner. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Thinkery’s 1st Austin Museum Day
It’s the first Austin Museum Day at the Thinkery! Explore the children’s exhibit galleries focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). They’ll also have special activities all day in Innovators’ Workshop, Spark Shop, & Kitchen Lab. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Demonstrations at Texas Military Forces Museum
If your kids are into tanks, helicopters, and military vehicles and equipment, the Texas Military Forces Museum is a great place to go. Their exhibits showcase artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms and equipment including a running Sherman tank. On Museum Day, you can talk with specialists who will demonstrate leather working, Vietnam era weapons, Civil War uniforms and equipment and a plastic model activity. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Fun with Nature at the Wildflower Center
Take the kids to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s new Luci and Ian Family Garden. Discover nature art, hear a story, and go on a scavenger hunt. Enjoy a BIG Tic­Tac­Toe game along with bubbles and Hula Hoops in the play lawn. Get out and play! 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Games and Re-enactments at Neill-Cochran House
Step into history! Historical re-enactors will interact with guests as they tour the museum to provide a glimpse into what life was like from the 1860s-1900s. Admire the life and work of Abner Cook, master builder of the Neill-Cochran House, displayed in the new exhibition. There will be an old-fashioned lemonade stand in the garden and lawn games for kids out front. noon – 5 p.m.

Family Activities at the Bullock Texas State History Museum
Did you know that Texas has an official state vegetable and an official state flying mammal? At the Bullock Museum, discover the wide variety of symbols that represent the state with hands-on activities perfect for ages 5 and up including art projects, performances, and more. Noon – 6 p.m.

Tour of UT Landmarks
Have you ever stopped to admire the art on the UT campus? Take an hour-long, docent-led walking tour of a selection of modern and contemporary works in the public art collection on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. All ages are welcome to attend these tours that start at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Joel Perlman sculpture, Square Tilt, at the entrance to the Perry-Castañeda Library at 21st and Speedway.

Collaborative Art Activities at Laguna Gloria
Hear a variety of instruments played, inspired by the shapes of the art on view, each hour. Take part in a collaborative activity related to the newest sculpture by Do Ho Suh, check out faculty demonstrations in the studios, and get a treat at a food truck during this family-friendly event. Noon – 4 p.m.

Bilingual Tour and Actvities at Mexi-Arte Museum
Take a bilingual tour followed by all ages activities. Check out the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) exhibition, and view a curated selection of altars made by members of the community. Learn about significance of Dia de los Muertos. Noon – 5 p.m.

Taco Cannon at O. Henry Museum
Catch the final days of the exhibit “As Others See Us: O. Henry’s Unpublished Manuscript.” Preview two forthcoming exhibits: an oral history project exploring the different ethnicities comprising Austin and a celebration of the 200th birthday of Susanna Dickinson, featuring the Come and Take It Cannon. And don’t miss the free tacos shot from the taco cannon and two sets of live music from the Austin Banjo Club. noon – 5 p.m.

Museum Day Instagram Contest
Participate in the Austin Museum Day Instagram contest for a chance to win great prizes. The contest is open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday, September 21.

To play:
1. Follow @TxHistComm and @austinmuseums on Instagram (link below)
2. Take a photograph at one of the participating Austin Museum Day institutions
3. Post it to your Instagram (make sure your profile is public!)
4. Tag the participating institution and #museumday2014 Multiple submissions are allowed. Contest closes at 9 p.m. on Sunday, September 21; submissions posted after 9 p.m. will not be included.

A total of 3 winners – 1st through 3rd places—will be selected by a panel of judges that include staff from Texas Historical Commission and Austin Museum Partnership. Prizes to be announced. Winners will be announced the week following the contest.

–> To see even more of what’s happening on Austin Museum Day, click here.

Have a great time!