Enriched Family January 2020 Austin Activities List
Photo Credit: Photo by Emma Bauso from Pexels
Strolling into the new year like….
Happy 2020 y’all! I hope you and your family enjoyed lots of fun and connection over the holiday break thus far. If the kids are driving you and each other crazy, that’s okay too. We've definitely had both in our house. If you are looking for some family activities in Austin in January, Enriched Family's January 2020 Activities List has you covered! As always, our monthly roundup of kids’ and family activities focuses on educational, cultural, and artistic delights in our community, with a special emphasis on both free and fee-based events. So get out there and have a little more fun family exploration before the kids go back to school!
Free events this month include lots of hands-on, family art activities at a variety of locations around town, including Creative Action, Dougherty Arts Center, Laguna Gloria, and UMLAUF Sculpture Garden. Your child can also attend a hip-hop dance workshop for kids at the George Washington Carver Museum or explore the Bullock Museum on HEB Free First Sunday (theme: Stylish) or enjoy a Vietnamese New Year Celebration (Tết Festival). There are also a number of family-friendly ways to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and serve the greater Austin community by volunteering on MLK Day. Fee-based activity options include a variety of craft and sewing workshops for kids and adults at Beehive Craft Studio; ice skating on the Whole Foods rooftop rink; a parent-child movement and music class at Creative Action (pay as you can); infant massage classes offered by Baby Strokes; family-friendly events at The Hive; and a variety of fun activities at Toybrary Austin. Finally, enjoy a kid-friendly museum opening or performance at a number of venues around town. As always, this list is not exhaustive, but includes a sampling of events and activities that caught my eye that I wanted to highlight. Additional good sources for activity lists are included at the end of the post.
(Please note, the following is provided for informational purposes only; the information is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors or mistakes, and no guarantees are made.)
Free Educational/Cultural/Fun Activities
Art in Cahoots: Child & Caregiver Activity
Details: Socialize, cooperate, and connect over art! Further strengthen the one-on-one bond between caregiver and child, while being able to interact with other caregiver-child pairs. Each class will include themed group activities and collaborative, process-based art experiences. Children will build social-emotional skills, familiarize themselves with a classroom setting, and learn about art while still under the wing of a trusted caregiver. This free, recurring event meets every other Friday. Registration is requested on Eventbrite prior to the event date. Unregistered drop-ins may be accepted when vacancies are available, but spots are limited due to space restrictions, so please call ahead. Children must be at least 2½ years of age (30 months) in order to attend. Only one adult caregiver may attend with each child. If an adult caregiver wishes to attend with more than one child (within the activity age range), please call ahead to see if they have the space available for your request. Ages 2.5-5 with accompanying adult caregiver.
When: Friday, January 1oth & 24th, 2020 | 10-11:15am
Where: Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78704
Creative Action Community Art Sunday
Details: Community Art Sunday is a free, recurring event that builds and engages community through live performances, art workshops, and active learning experiences and fun for all ages.
When: Saturday, January 26th, 2020 | 2-5pm
Where: Creative Action, 1023 Springdale Road, Building 3, Austin, 78721
Details: Free dance workshop for kids using the creativity and styles of Hip-Hop to create a healthy body.
When: Saturday, January 4th, 2020 | 12-1pm
Where: 1165 Angelina St, Austin, 78702
HEB Free First Sunday @ Bullock Museum
Details: Enjoy FREE exhibition admission all day during Free First Sundays, held the first Sunday of every month. Families can explore the Story of Texas through three floors of exhibitions that showcase artifacts from around the state. January 5th theme: Stylish.
Join in from 12-3pm for these special activities:
Sing and dance along to some stylish beats with Groundwork Music Project. Join in the musical fun and pick up a ukulele and learn to play.
Design scented sachets and practice sewing with activities for all ages provided by iKids U.
Explore fashion and design with the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.
Channel your inner designer and use fashion plates to create bold and fashionable looks.
Listen to stylish stories about standing out in fashion and in life.
When: Sunday, January 5th, 2020 | 12-5pm
Where: 11800 Congress Ave., Austin, 78701
Second Saturdays are for Families: Twisty Totems
Details: Squeeze, squish, swirl! Knead different colors together to concoct your own vibrant clay, then mold it into a new kind of creature during this workshop inspired by Cameron Jamie’s towering totem, hidden on the lower grounds of Laguna Gloria. Drop in and create!
When: Saturday, January 11th, 2020 | 11am-3pm
Where: Laguna Gloria, 3809 W 35th St., Austin, 78703
Details: Tết Festival Austin (TFA20) is the 22nd Annual Vietnamese New Year (Tet) Celebration presented by the Vietnamese American Communtity of Austin, Texas (VACAT) - in collaboration with other Vietnamese American based organizations - for the community to preserve and share the culture with others. This year, greet the year of the Rat with an all day festival and many fun activities for all ages. Lots of authentic Vietnamese food, so bring your cash and empty stomachs. Cultural activities such as giveaway Red Envelope (Li Xi), Cultural Performances, Dragon Dances, and many games/activities for kids and family. Free admission.
When: Sunday, January 19, 2020 | 2-7pm
Where: Greater Austin Merchants Association - GAMA, 8801 Research Blvd., Austin, 78758
Details: Bring your whole family and enjoy a full day of fun activities. This event is free and open to the public. The monthly Family Days are designed for families and friends to explore and create. On the second Sunday of each month, they feature a line-up of activities for families to enjoy together.
Schedule on January 12th:
12:30 Family Yoga
1:30 Singalong with Armstrong Community Music School
3:00 Performance from Small Wonders Puppet Theatre
All-Day:
Art Activities
Sculpture Search
When: Sunday, January 12th, 2020 | 12-4pm
Where: 605 Azie Morton Road, Austin, 78704
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Activities
Details: Join in for the annual MLK Jr. Day of Service street cleanup. Hosted by United Way Greater Austin. MLK Jr. Day of Service will begin with a kick-off breakfast at United Way for Greater Austin at 9am. Please arrive on time to enjoy breakfast tacos, coffee, and juice before opening remarks at 9:15am. Volunteers will then disperse from the kick-off breakfast. Free. Register here.
When: Saturday, January 18th, 2020 | 9-11am
Where: United Way for Greater Austin, 2000 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Austin, 78702
MLK Community March, Community Festival, & Food Drive
Details: The Annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city. The MLK Community March kicks off at 9am with a short program at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus. Participants will then march to the historic Huston-Tillotson University, where exciting activities are planned. All businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals are invited to march and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. The MLK Community Festival kicks off at 11:15am at Huston-Tillotson University and will last until 3:30 p.m.; it will include all types of vendors and local musical artists to make this year’s celebration the best ever! Marchers are asked to help by donating canned goods or non-perishable food items, which will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank.
When: Monday, January 20th, 2020 | 9:00am
Where: MLK Statue on UT Campus and Huston-Tillotson University (900 Chicon St, Austin, 78702)
General Events
Beehive Craft Studio Classes & Workshops
Details: Beehive Craft Studio is a cozy sewing and crafting studio located on Bee Cave Road which offers classes and workshops for kids and adults. Whether you are looking to improve your sewing knowledge or learn a new skill, this is a great place to start.
Thursday, January 2nd - Mixed Media Tween & Teen Camp - She Art (ages 12-16), 3-6pm | Cost: $50
Saturday, January 4th - Open Sew/Craft Day (ages 8 and above, including well-behaved adults), 12-4pm | Cost: $15/$20 with sewing machine rental
Monday, January 6th - Kids PJ Pants Camp (ages 8 and up), 10am-1pm | Cost: $65/$70 with sewing machine rental
Saturday, January 10th - Open Sew/Craft Day (ages 8 and above, including well-behaved adults), 11am-3pm | Cost: $15/$20 with sewing machine rental
Saturday, January 11th - Teen Beginner Sewing Workshop (ages 13 and up), 1-4pm | Cost: $65/$70 with sewing machine rental
Saturday, January 17th - Open Sew/Craft Day (ages 8 and above, including well-behaved adults), 11am-3pm | Cost: $15/$20 with sewing machine rental
Where: 8907 Bee Caves Rd, Cottage 106, Austin, 78746
CultureMap’s Rooftop Ice Skating Rink at Whole Foods Market
Details: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and CultureMap is spreading extra holiday cheer in Austin this season. Grab your family and friends and join in for ice skating at the CultureMap Rooftop Rink at Whole Foods Market’s downtown flagship store, presented by Frost Bank.
When: Through Monday, January 20, 2020 | Open 10am to 10pm daily (Holiday hours: January 1, New Year’s Day - 10am to 8pm)
Where: Whole Foods Market | Rooftop Plaza, 525 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, 78703
Cost: $12 in advance online; $15 at the door. Ticket prices are for all ages. All tickets include skate rentals and require a signed waiver. Purchase tickets online in advance for the designated time slot. Tickets purchased in advance online for the correct day/time will be given priority access to the rink. Tickets available here.
Fun and Productive Events at The Hive Austin in January
Details: Looking for a cool coworking space with childcare? A fun place to meet up for playdates with your kids? A place to get your fitness on? Or maybe get your happy hour on? All this and more is available at The Hive. Feel free to come sans kiddos OR reserve a spot in the supervised childcare area for only $10/hr. Productivity here we come! There is a beautiful cafe area and lounge where any and all are welcome to visit or work at no charge. This month’s activities include The Hive Grand Re-Opening (Saturday, January 11 | 3-8pm); Head Shot Happy Hour: Head Shots, Vision Boards, Wine & Friends (Thursday, January 23 | 5-7pm; Tickets $125); and more.
When: Various.
Where: The Hive Austin, 10542 Manchaca Rd, Austin, 78748
Cost: Varies. See website for details.
Infant Massage Classes by Baby Strokes
Details: Private and weekly infant massage group classes offered at Precision Chiropractic ATX. Class rates include handouts and a bottle of massage oil. Wear comfy clothes, bring your yoga mat, a towel or blanket, diaper bag and baby essentials, and your baby or favorite doll.
When: Private classes offered Wednesdays | 9-10:30am. Group classes are offered Mondays | 9-10:30am & Wednesdays | 10:30am-noon.
Where: Precision Chiropractic ATX, 300 W Highway 290 Building A, Austin, 78736
Cost: Group Class - $69; Private Session - $99. Schedule here.
January Creative Action Parent and Child Music & Movement Class
Details: Dance, sing, and play with your family at Creative Action. Music & Movement classes are active and are designed to inspire creativity, encourage physical and emotional development, and support bonding and connection for parents and children. Singing, rhythm making, instrument playing, and music of all genres is explored throughout the class. Classes include multi-sensory play and bring out the individual creativity of both parent and child. Parents & children (ages 0-5). Space is limited, classes are pay-what-you-can.
When: Saturday, January 11, 2020 | 10-11:30am
Where: Creative Action, 1023 Springdale Road, Building 3, Austin, 78721
Wide Variety of January Events at the Toybrary Austin
Details: Toybrary Austin is a wonderful toy lending library and kids' birthday party venue that also offers drop-in childcare in Austin. Check out their website for a list of family-friendly events in January.
Where: Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane, Austin, 78757
Cost: Varies. See website for details.
Museum Exhibits
Courage to Be: The Saheli Story
Details: Explore the history of how Saheli, an anti-domestic violence community group, has worked to pursue a cycle of peace and become the first organization of its kind in the U.S. South to serve the Asian community.
When: Exhibit on display January 10-March 28, 2020. Opening reception: January 10, 2020 | 6-8pm
Where: 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, 78754
Admission: Free
Kingdom Arts: Citywide Art Show for Teen Anime, Manga and Video Game Enthusiasts
Details: Presented by the Asian American Resource Center. Experience the fantasy worlds of anime, manga, and video games with a new exhibit featuring work from teen artists that celebrates Asian pop culture genres. Central Texas-area middle and high school students explore new possibilities with their imaginative creations, which include cosplay photography, product design, drawings, paintings, digital prints, fiber art, and metal sculpture work. The collection’s title, Kingdom Arts, pays homage to the groundbreaking video game series, Kingdom Hearts, which combines storylines of famous Disney characters with protagonists from Final Fantasy, a popular Japanese video game series from Square-Enix. The exhibit features pieces from artists 12 to 18 years old.
When: Exhibit on display January 10-March 28, 2020. Opening reception: January 10, 2020 | 6-8pm
Where: 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, 78754
Admission: Free
Motown: The Sound of Young America, A 60-Year Retrospective
Details: Curated by the GRAMMY Museum®, Motown: The Sound of Young America is the first major museum exhibition to embrace all facets—music, culture, and politics—of the 1960s biggest sounds in soul. Visit the exhibition at the LBJ Library to explore the evolution of the label, view personal artifacts from some of its biggest artists, and do your take on some of Motown's biggest hits.
When: Exhibit on display through January 26, 2020. Open daily from from 9am-5pm.
Where: LBJ Presidential Library, 2313 Red River St., Austin, 78705
Admission: Adults - $10; seniors (62 and over) with valid ID - $7; former military with valid ID - $5; college students with valid ID - $3; Youth 13-18 - $3; children 12 and under - free.
*If you and your family enjoy exploring Austin's many fantastic museums, check out Do512 Family's list of free times to visit local museums.
Theatre and other Performances
Details: The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago and are recognized around the world as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company. World renowned impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty.
When: Sunday, January 19, 2020 | Doors: 6pm; Show: 7pm
Where: The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin, 78701
Tickets: $20 and up, available here.
Details: PJ MASKS LIVE is back with an all-new super-heroic, live musical show, featuring the heroic trio from your favorite series—The PJ MASKS! Watch Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko along with their new friend PJ Robot, as they try to save the day from the sneaky villains, including Romeo, Night Ninja, and Luna Girl. Fluttering Feathers! Leaping Lizards! What a CAT-tastrophe! Complete with your favorite music and brand new songs you’ve never heard before. Don’t sleep through it—watch the PJ Masks save the day, live on stage! All ages.
When: Friday, January 17, 2020 | 6pm
Where: Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, 78704
Tickets: $29.50 and up, available here.
The Rock and Roll Playhouse presents Music of The Beatles for Kids
Details: The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children ages ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll. This concert for kids and families shares the music of the artist named above with a new generation of music lovers, but is not associated with or endorsed by the artist. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. All ages.
When: Sunday, January 11, 2020 | 11am
Where: Mohawk, 912 Red River, Austin, 78701
Tickets: $12 (in advance); $15 (day of show), available here.
Details: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his menagerie of animal friends have arrived at ZACH! Little ones will go wide-eyed with excitement as they recite along to their favorite Eric Carle classics like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, and The Very Lonely Firefly. Each story is brought to life by an array of faithfully recreated puppets that will enchant and engage both adults and children as they leap off the page and onto the stage. Age recommendation: 3 and up.
When: January 18–March 14, 2020 | Weekends; mostly matinee performances.
Where: ZACH Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, 78704
Tickets: $19 and up, available here.
Also, check out these sites for good lists of community activities for kids and families in the Austin area:
http://austinkidsdirectory.com/events/all/
https://www.austintexas.org/events/
http://austin.thinkbilingual.org/events/
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Happy New Year! Please feel free to send us local family events to: hello[at]enrichedfamily.com.
Esha/Enriched Family
Enriched Family is a unique, custom research and consulting business dedicated to providing families with the information, tools, and systems they need to live more organized and joyful lives. Services include: Custom family-focused research (child care, education, health and wellness resources, camps, and enrichment activities), family organization solutions (stuff & family systems, such as meal planning, household division of labor, daily routine lists for kids…), and productivity consulting for busy, professional parents (planning and prioritizing, productivity coaching, and time management coaching). Enriched Family is offering 15% off services during the months of January and February. Additionally, we offer a free, 30-minute initial phone consultation to all new clients to discuss matching your needs and priorities with our services. Check out our services and click the "Let's Get Started!" button below to contact us with questions.