October Kids and Family Activities in Austin
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There are so many fun things happening in Austin in October. Enjoy the cooler weather with your families and check out Enriched Family's roundup of kids and family activities happening in the Austin area this month. 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 and true to the best of my knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors or mistakes, and no guarantees are made.)
Featured Resource
Details: Many families struggle with sleep from time to time (our family certainly does). I am happy to share a free resource with parents - The Better Sleep for Kids Summit, brought to you by Go Zen! (the great folks that held the free, online Resilient Child Summit in January) and The Sleep Lady. The Better Sleep for Kids Summit will teach you how to teach your kids ages 5-18 the skills to get a better night's sleep, especially if they are experiencing anxious thoughts and feelings. Each day of the online summit you will receive access to 4-5 expert interviews packed with practical tools to use to help your children sleep better (see the schedule here). For additional information and free event registration, click here.
When: The free, online summit will be held October 8-11, 2018.
Free Educational/Cultural/Fun Activities
Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ 20th Anniversary Party!
Details: Spend the afternoon exploring the Village while you enjoy live music, fun activities for the kids and fellowship for all! Food will be available for purchase from the Goodness Grille, and we hope you will stay for the October Disney classic movie, Hocus Pocus, showing at 7:30pm in the Community Cinema. Complimentary parking will be available at the Travis County Expo Center with shuttle service to transport you to the Village. Free! RSVP here.
When: Saturday, October 20, 2018, 4-7pm
Where: Community First! Village, 9301 Hog Eye Road, Austin, TX 78724
Details: Westbank Libraries is partnering with Austin Senior Resource Alliance to present a year-long series of candid conversations with local experts focusing on the specific concerns faced by senior adults and their families. Join in on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10:30am at Laura’s Library to be part of the conversation. The Tuesday, October 23rd talk will focus on "The Truth About Selling As-Is.”
When: Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018, 10:30am-12:00pm (series occurs on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 10:30am-12pm)
Where: Laura Bush Community Library, 9411 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78733
Details: Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls welcome at the annual FREE family-friendly Halloween celebration. Join the Bullock Museum in partnership with Girlstart for spooky hands-on STEM fun for the whole family. Plus, explore the Museum's exhibits after hours at this FREE event.
Be the first 100 kids in the door at Spooktacular and get a FREE spooky tote bag that's great for trick-or-treating!
Explore scientific fun with Girlstart. Create a stylish LED bracelet to light up the night as you trick-or-treat, chunk pumpkins across the plaza, dissect owl pellets, make ooey gooey slime, program Sphero robots, build spooky structures, and have fun with the always popular Boo Bubbles!
Dance and sing along to live music from the popular Que Pastas.
Get creative with Smudge Studios.
Strike a costumed pose in the Say Cheese photo booth.
Explore the museum exhibits, including Comanche Motion: The Art of Eric Tippeconnic and Rodeo! The Exhibition.
When: Friday, October 26, 2018, from 5-8pm
Where: The Bullock Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
General Events
Austin Symphony Orchestra Presents: Halloween Children’s Concert 2018
Details: It’s creepy, crawly and so much fun it’s spooky! Your little ghost or goblin will help haunt the new location, the AISD Performing Arts Center, for the Austin Symphony’s annual Halloween Children’s Concert. This exciting concert features frightfully fun symphonic music that is stimulating for young eyes and ears (ages 2–10). The entire family is invited to dress up in their favorite costume and enjoy “boo-tiful” music with their Austin Symphony Orchestra! Featured pieces include selections from Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera Hansel and Gretel. Other pieces will be “The Imperial March” from Star Wars, Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre, Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” and many more!
When: Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 1pm and 4pm
Where: AISD Performing Arts Center, 1925 E. 51st St., Austin, TX 78723
Cost: Tickets are $10 for children/$15 for adults. Tickets are available here.
BeeWitching Hour and The Hive’s 1st Birthday Party - Cancelled due to weather. The Hive will post a reschedule date soon.
Details: Come celebrate the the spooky season and The Hive’s 1st birthday on the evening of October 20th with The Hive and Jack's Mom In Austin. They will have enough thrills and chills to get your fill! Their new food truck park will be open so get your taste buds and costumes ready!
- Face Painting
- Photo Booth
- Trick or Treating
- Staci Gray!
- Costume Contest
When: Saturday, October 20, 2018, 4-8pm - Cancelled due to weather. The Hive will post a reschedule date soon.
Where: The Hive Austin, 10415 Old Manchaca Road , Austin, TX 78748
Cost: Tickets are $20 for a family/party of four. Tickets are available here.
Details: Boo at the Zoo is a fun-filled evening for ghosts and goblins of any age. Come dressed in your Halloween finest (no adult masks, please) and enjoy a Zoo-wide event including the Zoo bedecked in Halloween spookiness, nocturnal animals, an eerie train ride, and unlimited passes through the mansion.
When: Weekends, October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2018 from 6:30-9pm (check the website for train times)
Where: Austin Zoo & Animal Sanctuary, 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin, TX 78736
Cost: Adult and child tickets are $17.50 each, infant admission is free. Call 512-288-1490 to book your tickets. Tickets to certain special items within Boo at the Zoo have limited seating.
Details: Family-run Sweet Berry Farm is lovely and offers a wide range of activities. The girls and I made a visit last Fall and had a wonderful time -- they made colored sand necklaces, jumped on a bounce pad, explored the seasonal kid corn maze, took pictures in the pumpkin patch, checked out the amazing goat "house," and sampled pumpkin ice cream. From September 22nd-November 4th, the farm will be featuring a “Harvest of Fall Fun.” Enjoy hayrides, mazes for all ages, pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing, face painting, horse rides (weekends only), flower picking, sand art, a barrel train, and a berry bounce!
When: Open weekly, M, Tu, Th, Fr, and Sat from 8:30am-5:30pm; Sunday 1-5pm; closed Wednesdays.
Cost: No entry or parking fee. Just pay for your pumpkins or any activities that you want to do. Prices for activities listed here. Check the page for weekend deals to save money.
Where: Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls, Texas 78654
More Fun and Productive Events at The Hive Austin in October
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.
When: Various.
Where: The Hive Austin, 10415 Old Manchaca Road , Austin, TX 78748
Cost: Varies. See website for details.
Wide Variety of October Events at the Toybrary Austin
Details: Kids' theater, music, and dance classes, newborn group class, free baby play dates, baby sign language, chair massages, car seat safety check, a chance to brush and pet ponies, Nappy Time Halloween Portraits, a Halloween Party, date night child care, and more! Toybrary Austin is a toy lending library and kids' birthday party venue that also offers drop-in childcare in Austin, TX.
When: Various.
Where: Toybrary Austin, 2001 Justin Lane, Austin, TX 78757
Cost: Varies. See website for details.
Museum Exhibits and Programs
Comanche Motion: The Art of Eric Tippeconnic
Details: Comanche Motion: The Art of Eric Tippeconnic tells the story of a thriving Comanche culture rooted in the past but evolving toward the future. Co-curated by Comanche artist and historian Eric Tippeconnic, the exhibition blends the past with the present to honor the Comanche people. Filled with symbolism and meaning, Tippeconnic's paintings highlight the strength, beauty, and grace of the Comanche past and present. The paintings are rich with history and the unbroken connection the Comanche people have with their roots, but they are not romanticized or stagnant expressions of a bygone era. Rather, Tippeconnic's art is full of movement, color, and life — a bold statement that Comanche culture is vibrantly alive in the modern world. The exhibition features 34 artworks by Tippeconnic paired with historical Comanche artifacts, a juxtaposition that shows the inspiration for the artworks, as well as the historical evidence that underscores the rich heritage of the Comanche people.
When: On view at the museum through January 2, 2019 (museum hours are Monday-Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 12-5pm)
Where: Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
Cost: Museum admission ($13 adults; $11 seniors; $9 youth for ages 4-17)
Details: STORIED & Pop Japan - Works by Katherine Leung and JU Salvant | Pieces curated by Vincent X. Torres. Stories of heritage have inspired artists Katherine Leung and JU Salvant to create vibrant bodies of work. Tuvan culture is reflected in Leung’s Faces of Central Texas as she incorporates the folklore of golden light gods in her paintings of her Asian American friends while Salvant draws upon the personal history of a young girl’s journey from Vietnam to America and created a stunning visual story, Red Sky in the Morning. Both artists bring relevance to these narratives as they highlight the importance of remembering the journey of a culture whether fable or historical. A group exhibition curated by Vincent X. Torres, Pop Japan depicts an array of notable characters from Japanese television, film, anime, and manga that have left their mark on popular culture. The exhibit is on at the Asian American Resource Center from 10/4-12/14. Join in for the exhibit reception and opening on 10/4 - Hear from the artists and curators! Complementary refreshments will be served.
Museum/Location: Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin
When: Exhibit Reception and Opening - Thursday, October 4, 2018, 6-8pm. The exhibit will be on display October 4 to December 14, 2018 (open M, Tu, F, Sat, 9am-5pm; W and Th, 9am-9pm)
Admission: Free and open to the public.
*If you and your family enjoy exploring Austin's many fantastic museums, check out Do512 Family's list of free times to visit Austin museums.
Theatre and other Performances
The Mystery of the Green Teeth Ghost
Details: Pollyanna Theatre Company presents The Mystery of the Green Teeth Ghost, by Holly Hepp-Galvan. The residents of Eerie Cove have a new, frightening visitor, and it doesn’t look like it’s EVER brushed its teeth! Can it be a real ghost? Or is someone playing a trick? Cindy thinks she knows something the grown-ups do not. Children in K – 2 will use basic spelling, anagrams, and simple math to help solve the mystery along with its brave, young detective.
When: Weekends, September 29-October 7, 2018 (2:00pm matinees)
Where: Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78704
Tickets: Start at $10.50 and are available for purchase here.
Details: Zach Theatre presents Once. Based on the 2007 Academy Award®-winning film, Once is an enchanting, modern love story about the complexities of relationships and the power of music to connect us all. Once tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. Winner of 8 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, this unique theatrical experience, with breathtaking melodies by Glen Hansard of the Irish band The Frames, will have you falling in love from the very first note. Age recommendation: 10 and up for language.
When: September 19–October 28, 2018 at various times (matinees and evenings).
Where: Zach Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, 78704
Tickets: Start at $30, available here.
Details: The Austin Symphony Orchestra presents Oz with Orchestra - one of the most beloved films of all time, The Wizard of Oz, can now be seen and heard in a magical new production. John Goberman, Emmy-Award winning producer of Live from Lincoln Center, and the creator of the acclaimed A Symphonic Night at the Movies, presents Oz with Orchestra. See this classic film projected on screen while your Austin Symphony Orchestra performs along with the film! This One Night Only performance will surely be a sell-out, so don’t miss out. Come in costume as your favorite character!
When: Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 8pm
Where: Dell Hall at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78704
Tickets: Start at $19, available here.
Rosita y Conchita: a Día de los Muertos Play in English and Spanish
Details: Back by popular demand! Two sisters try to reunite on the Day of the Dead. Along the way Rosita keeps getting lost, but she miraculously finds her way to Conchita through familiar sounds, sights and smells. Kids of all ages will love the rhyming bilingual dialogue and touching images. Based on the award-winning children’s book Rosita y Conchita by Erich Haeger and Eric González. Featuring live son jarocho music!
When: Saturday, October 6-Friday, November 2, 2018 (various times).
Where: Austin Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W 18th St., Austin, 78701
Tickets: $10/children; $15/adults; available here.
Tapestry Dance Company presents Sound & Silence – The Rhythm of Life
Details: Tapestry Dance Company, the world’s only full-time, professional repertory tap dance company in the world premieres an evening of tap dance to astound the eyes and ears with “Sound & Silence.” Presenting some of the best world-class tap dancers right here in Austin, TX, the company will present an evening of “sound wonder.” Utilizing the relationship between silence and sound, the company will experiment with the textures, emotion, and reactions of the sounds of our everyday lives as well as the unspoken relationships we have with each other. Utilizing a palette of diverse music and play, this is tap dance at its finest and most daring. All ages.
When: October 18-21, 2018 (8pm; 2pm matinees available on the weekend too)
Where: Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78704
Tickets: Start at $34 and are available for purchase here.
Details: Zach Theatre's Theatre for Families presents the Tortoise and Hare, a musical based on the story by Aesop. Ancient versus modern. Brain versus brawn. Peace versus war. Reptile versus mammal. The ultimate culture clash between two tribes and a fantastical race to decide the fate of them all. Written by the talented Allen Robertson and Damon Brown, with modern music and energetic re-imagining of the ancient fable that will delight turtles and hares of all ages! Age recommendation: 5 and up. Run time: 55 minutes and a 10 minute intermission.
When: Weekends, September 8, 2018–January 27, 2019
Where: Zach Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, 78704
Tickets: $18 and up, available here.
Also, check out these sites for lists of community activities for kids and families in the Austin area:
http://austinkidsdirectory.com/events/all/
https://www.austintexas.org/events/
Happy exploring Austin's many offerings with your families! Please feel free to send us local kids and 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 and systems), and productivity consulting for busy, professional parents (planning and prioritizing, productivity coaching, and time management coaching). I offer a free, 20-minute initial phone consultation to all new clients to discuss matching your needs and priorities with my services. I invite you to check out my services and click the "Let's Get Started!" button below to contact me with any questions.